Of course, yer man Sting has many jazzy connections (Branford Marsalis, etc. In fact, now that I come to think of it, he once even appeared on a Joe Henderson album). Lesser known, but probably more musically interesting, are Andy Summers’s excursions into jazz territory with albums like Peggy’s Blue Skylight and his Thelonious Monk tribute album. Really. Still, when …
In Praise of Pork
Far too much talk of turkeys, lately, so here’s an apt little homage to my favorite food. Not, I should add, that I’ve been suffering from any noticeable swine deficit over Thanksgiving. We’ve just come back from a brief but fabulous trip to D.C. to visit some wonderful friends who broke our hearts this summer when they moved away from …
Alone Again, Naturally
Little late with the Thursday post this week, so here’s a good one that I’ve been saving up. This week’s example of pop/jazz crossover is one of the oddest songs I know. It was written by Irish songwriter Gilbert O’Sullivan, he of the alarming 70s ‘fro. You wouldn’t know from the jaunty, upbeat feel of the original version that this …
College Sports – a Bemused Foreigner Writes
A couple of years ago, for a funny five minutes – actually it was about a week – the Missouri Tigers, the University of Missouri football team, was ranked the number one college football team in the nation. It had been nearly fifty years since it had last happened. People wandered about with slightly dazed, disbelieving expressions on their faces. …
Beatles, Jazz, or What?
Finally, on this Thursday morning spot, some Brad Mehldau. Mehldau is perhaps the musician most responsible for the recent vogue of adopting pop songs and transforming them into a jazz idiom. I could do several months’ worth of posts just with him. He’s covered everything from Oasis and Paul Simon to Radiohead, Nick Drake, and Soundgarden. And he does it …
Last Minute Reminder…
… about the reading at Orr Street Studios, Columbia, Missouri tonight. Afterwards we shall be going to Cafe Berlin for wine and other good stuff. Should be a fun night. Do come if you can!
Orr Street Reading – November 10
A quick reminder that I will be reading from the new book, AMERICAN LOVE SONG, at Orr Street Studios on November 10, at 7.00. I’ve chosen two never-before-heard extracts to read. Should be a lot of fun – for me, anyway. I’d love to see you there.
Last Train…
Jeepers. It is Thursday again already? Time for some more pop/jazz confection, then. I have written before in these pages about Cassandra Wilson. I actually met her once, backstage at the Royal Festival Hall, when she performed with Wynton Marsalis. Clang. Drop that name, son. Anyway, this is from one of her earlier albums, New Moon Daughter, and I love it. …
Sick.
I’ve got the flu. In honor of sick men everywhere, here’s a cautionary tale about the perils of men getting ill.