John Coltrane

*photo from grammy.com

I can truthfully say that My One and Only Love jumpstarted my love affair with jazz.  The moment I heard John Coltrane's opening notes, I was entranced.  Before that, I was a casual listener to the songs that Tito Jay would play, and while I enjoyed the music, I had never been so crazy about as song as the John Coltrane rendition.  Yes, memories of yore...

Lou Rawls

 

* photo from wikipedia

His distinctive voice lives on in so many of my LSS moments.  That stands for Last Song Syndrome in which the last song you hear plays on and on in your head.  Songs like I'll See You When I Get There, Lady Love, You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine, and the enchanting Pure Imagination brings back a lot of good memories.  Karaoke moments even (of course, we never came close to replicating his sound, but it was worthwhile to try reaching that bar).  I was listening to my YouTube playlist this morning and found one of his early recordings, that of God Bless the Child by Billie Holiday.  Oh my...love it so much!  It's my LSS for today...

Khatia Buniatishvili

 

* photo from francemusique.fr

The charm is so evident.  This French-Georgian lady has been called the Betty Boop of classical music.  Khatia Buniatishvili displays a wide range of emotions when she plays the piano, and watching her video clips makes me feel so light and bubbly.  Truly amazing!

Yuja Wang

 

* photo from orlandomagazine.com

Electrifying.  Watching Yuja Wang in action is simply electrifying.  She has some of the fastest fingers on the planet; this piano prodigy is one remarkable cookie!  I've been watching her YouTube clips with awe and excitement, and I must say the experience is truly a thrill.  Prepare to be amazed!

Alice Sara Ott

* photo from amazon.com

I just spent some time binge watching on YouTube, and I've been absolutely gleeful just watching the renowned German-Japanese concert pianist Alice Sara Ott!  She has a depth of emotional empathy that communicates the music so intimately to her audience.  She closes her eyes, entranced; she smiles and nods to her orchestra.  She flirts, she dances her way around the chords, she commands the piano to weep.

Bubbly young lady with a zest for life.  The best part?  True genius--she can solve a Rubik's cube in under a minute.  Can you believe that!

The Autumn Leaves

 

It's a haunting song that I can listen to over and over again.  When I was young, I first heard the version of Doris Day, followed by the version of Nat King Cole.  I was up on You Tube playing  several versions of the song the other night, and it was only then that I learned that the English lyrics (Johnny Mercer) are not the direct translation of the original French lyrics (Jacques Prevert).  And as I read the direct translation, I realized just how deeply emotional and heart-wrenching the song actually was.  While I had heard the original French version many years ago, I had always assumed that the French lyrics (which I could not understand) were directly translated into English.

I probably watched around 25 versions of the song in YouTube, and here are the top 10 vocal versions of the song that I consider my favorites:

1.    Yves Montand

2.    Eric Clapton

3.    Paula Cole

4.    Edith Piaf

5.    Matt Monro

6.    Bobby Darin

7.    Perry Como

8.    Tony Bennett

9.    Caterina Valente

        10.    Andy Williams

Mark Knopfler

* photo from thetimes.co.uk

I was in high school when Dire Straits came out with Sultans of Swing.  Listening to that was pure heaven.  Front man Mark Knopfler was the key behind it all, but it was only much later on that I learned to appreciate his guitar playing abilities.  It was funny, because when the song came out, I thought the band's name was the "Sultans" because the lyrics talked about the band, "...we are the Sultans of Swing."

Roy Clark

* photo from USA Today

Watching musicians on YouTube has kept me occupied and contented over the quarantine period.  I've reconnected with some music that I sort of have forgotten, and some of these songs just placed me in a melancholy mood.

I remember reading a magazine article that someone once asked Jimi Hendrix what it felt like being the best guitarist in the whole world.  Hendrix replied to the man, "I don't know... you should ask Roy Clark..."

I never saw any episode of his TV Show Hee Haw, and I only remember him from his rendition of Yesterday When I Was Young.  I've been pretty lucky in love, so the specific lyrics don't apply to me, but the disheartening pall of the Coronavirus can make one think back on the errors in one's life...

Yesterday When I Was Young (Charles Aznavour)

It seems the love I've known
Has always been the most destructive kind
I guess that's why now
I feel so old
Before my time

Yesterday, when I was young
The taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue
I teased at life as if it were a foolish game
The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame
The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned
I always built to last on weak and shifting sand
I lived by night and shunned the naked light of the day
And only now I see how the years ran away

Yesterday, when I was young
So many happy songs were waiting to be sung
So many wild pleasures lay in store for me
And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see
I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out
I never stopped to think what life was all about
And every conversation I can now recall
Concerned itself with me and nothing else at all

Yesterday the moon was blue
And every crazy day brought something new to do
I used my magic age as if it were a wand
And never saw the waste and emptiness beyond
The game of love I played with arrogance and pride
And every flame I lit too quickly, quickly died
The friends I made all seemed somehow to drift away
And only I am left on stage to end the play

There are so many songs in me that won't be sung
I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue
The time has come for me to pay for
Yesterday, when I was young

Glen Campbell

* photo from amazon.com

When most people talk about Glen Campbell, the song that automatically comes to mind is Rhinestone Cowboy.  In my case, however, the song that I associate him with is Wichita Lineman, which was penned by Jimmy Webb of McArthur Park fame.  In the late sixties, I wasn't allowed to tinker with Kong's turntable, so when I got my first cassette player, I would rewind the tape over and over to listen to the song.  I've had time during the COVID-19 lockdown to listen to a lot of the old music on YouTube, and I've revisited the song a few times.  Yes, it is a melancholy song, and yes it is haunting.

And I need you more than want you... And I want you for all time...

Few people know that Campbell was an exceptional guitar player, one of the best in the business.  He's worked on studio sessions for a lot of musical acts like the Beach Boys, the Everly Brothers, the Cascades, the Monkees and also recorded with Hollywood royalty including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Lou Rawls and Elvis Presley.  If you listen to him play the William Tell Overture (Lone Ranger song) live in concert, you will know exactly what I mean:

Tommy Emmanuel

This is one gentleman who carries on the guitar playing traditions of Les Paul and Chet Atkins, my favorite one-man band, Mr. Tommy Emmanuel!  I love the artistry at work here, warm tones coupled with wild rides, very entertaining and his finger style technique is top notch, bar none.  I found this remarkable video which shows the rich human warmth and open, gentle wisdom of this wonderful musician.  Enjoy!

Yiruma

*photo from tunefind.com

The COVID-19 lockdown has given everyone a lot of time for introspection, and having the soothing melodies of Yiruma as my background music has given me a great measure of relaxation and comfort.  This South Korean artist is famous worldwide and his music is regularly featured in Halyu-wave telenovelas.  Hope springs eternal...

Brian May

* photo from AFP News

With the millenials going gaga over the recently released Freddie Mercury biopic, I've come to reminisce over the good old days when the first release of Bohemian Rhapsody went on the air locally.  Made me smile!  Interestingly enough, I just read a news article that Queen lead guitarist Dr. Brian May, who holds a doctorate in astrophysics, will release a guitar track on New Year's Day to commemorate the flyby of the mysterious cosmic object Ultima Thule.  The New Horizon space ship of NASA will "zip" by the object, which is a billion (yes you heard that right) miles away from Pluto.  Such a wonderful way to reconcile the two ends of the spectrum (rock music and astrophysics; artist and scientist) of a truly gifted man!

The New Minstrels

* photo from allmusic.com

Jack Jones

* photo from eil.com

OPM Duets

Some OPM duets that warm my heart:

1.     Magkasuyo Buong Gabi (Rico Puno & Elisa Chan)
2.    Please Be Careful With My Heart (Jose Mari Chan & Regine Velasquez)
3.    Points of View (Joey Albert & Pops Fernandez)
4.    Smile (The New Minstrels)
5.    Umagang Kay Ganda (Tillie Moreno and Ray-An Fuentes)
6.    I Don't Love You Anymore (The New Minstrels)
7.    Everlasting Love (The Company)
8.    Lagi na Lang (Basil Valdez & Leah Navarro)

Al Jarreau

(photo from Wikipedia)

Al Jarreau

(1940 - 2017)

Sportsman, psychologist, Grammy Award winner; his lifelong legacy never ceases to amaze.  It was such a pleasure to listen to his albums, he made singing jazz seem so cool, so effortless. Al Jarreau has left us; he has finally "reached out his hand and touched the face of God."  I am such a fan, and he will be sorely missed.

The King's Singers

* photo from wimpmusic.com

I was first introduced to the King's Singers by Tito Jay with a copy of their 1988 release, New Day.  I have been a fan ever since.  From classical music to jazz, to pop, their vocal harmony is simply pure listening pleasure.  It's a pity that the local CD stores don't carry their music, but don't worry, much is available on streaming via internet.  I understand that membership constantly changes; while I have a soft spot for the old groups, I must say that you can hear a vibrancy from the current group, and yet, the blending is still cozy on the ear.  True enjoyment!

Tadao Hayashi

* photo from blog.livedoor.jp

Side A

* photo from youtube.com

A CD of Side A has been playing on Vicky's car stereo system for the past couple of weeks. They were a fresh young band when they started playing in the late eighties.  I remember that the Kalapana watched them playing Kalapana songs, and were amazed at their cover versions. They have a whole lot of good songs on their repertoire, and they've managed to keep a healthy image up to today. 

English OPM Songs

Here are some OPM songs in English that I really appreciate:

1.       No One Throws Away Memories  (Richard Tann)
2.      Can We Just Stop and Talk A While  (Jose Mari Chan)
3.      Closer You and I  (Gino Padilla)
4.      Let The Pain Remain  (Basil Valdez)
5.      Be My Lady  (Martin Nievera)
6.      Points of View  (Pops Fernandez & Joey Albert)
7.      Show Me A Smile  (Apo Hiking Society)
8.      Till I Met You  (Kuh Ledesma)
9.      See You There  (Ding Mercado)
10.    Together, Forever  (Rico J. Puno)
11.     Take Me Out of the Dark  (Gary Valenciano)
12.     Tell Me  (Joey Albert)
13.     Beautiful Girl  (Jose Mari Chan)
14.     Jealous  (Nina)
15.     Even If  (Jam Morales)
16.     Give Me A Chance  (Ric Segreto)
17.     Till My Heartaches End  (Ella Mae Saison)
18.    Kaleidoscope World  (Francis Magalona)
19.     Friend of Mine  (Odette Quesada)
20.    I'll Always Stay in Love This Way  (Baron Barbers)
21.     Just a Smile Away  (Jaime Garchitorena)
22.    Hang On  (Gary Valenciano)
23.    To Love Again  (Sharon Cuneta)
24.    I'll Never Say Goodbye  (Nonoy Zuniga)
25.    Love At 30,000 Feet  (Jose Mari Chan)