[Monday Notes no. 81] The spiritual is the oldest music in the African-American tradition, older than jazz and blues. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child is one of the most moving and intense examples, a song about loneliness and separation. Let’s listen to Mildred Bailey’s interpretation.Continue readingSometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, Mildred Bailey sings the spiritual
[Monday’s Notes No. 80] The picture of the slacker who stays at home drinking while his wife works to support the family is recurrent in the blues. In fact, in certain historical periods it was easier for a black woman to find work as a servant than for a man. Thirsty Mama Blues by Hot…Continue readingHot Lips Page, Thirsty Mama Blues. A classic blues tale.
[Monday Notes no. 79] Pete Johnson was one of the greatest boogie-woogie pianists, Roll ‘Em Pete was one of his favourite pieces. On this recording he is accompanied by singer Joe Turner, another blues specialist. The two musicians provide an outstanding performance, a duet that sums up the most salient features of the blues.Continue readingRoll ‘Em Pete, Pete Johnson & Joe Turner. Simply, the blues.
[Monday Notes no.78] Silent Night is a classic Christmas song, the original version entitled Stille Nacht is Austrian and dates back to the early 1800s. We hear how American singer Mariah Carey reinterprets the song, giving it a strong gospel flavour.Continue readingMariah Carey, Silent Night becomes a Gospel
Categories
Bruno Martino, E la chiamano estate
[Monday No. 77] Bruno Martino was one of the greatest Italian songwriters. A musician by vocation from a very young age, he found a unique style that made him the greatest Italian nightclub musician. Let us listen to and analyse one of his great classics, E la chiamano estate.Continue readingBruno Martino, E la chiamano estate
[Monday Notes no. 76] Bunny Berigan was one of the greatest trumpet players of the 1930s, esteemed and requested by many musicians including Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. In the song entitled I Can’t Get Started we can appreciate his prowess as a trumpeter, but also his personality and charisma as a singer.Continue readingBunny Berigan, I Can’t Get Started. The Chet Baker of the 1930s
[Monday Note No. 75] Valzer per un amore is a song by Fabrizio De André written on the Valzer campestre from the Suite Siciliana by Gino Marinuzzi, a Sicilian composer and conductor. The song was released as a single on the B-side of the more famous La canzone di Marinella and shows how interested De…Continue readingFabrizio De André, Valzer per un amore – Valzer campestre
[Monday Notes no. 74] The 1930s were the heyday of the great jazz dance orchestras. In the midst of the severe economic crisis, music had a consolatory function, providing cheap entertainment to forget the hardships of everyday life. Let us analyse a classic of the time, I’m In a Dancing Mood by Tommy Dorsey.Continue readingTommy Dorsey, I’m in a Dancing Mood. Jazz music for dance
[Monday’s Notes no. 73] Chant of the Weed was composed by Don Redman in 1931 and is a curious anticipation of psychedelic music of the 1960s, since the song is dedicated to cannabis.Continue readingDon Redman, Chant of the Weed. Psychedelic music of the 1930s.
[Monday Notes no. 72] Fats Waller was one of the greatest interpreters of the stride piano. A pupil of the great James P. Johnson and precocious in playing and composing music, as was often the case with black musicians he came to success more because of his skills as an entertainer than his value as…Continue readingFats Waller, I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter