Seasonably Appropriate Music
I don’t do Christmas music per se, but on tomorrow’s highly eclectic program will include what I will simply call seasonably appropriate music. Yes, the show will be without a specific theme or themes. I will merely be covering several artists and songs I want to present before the year’s end. This will include a preview of Friday’s Nona Hendryx/Mamafunk fundraiser for WPFW at Bethesda Blues and Jazz, along with several versions of a few songs. I hope, with some adept transitions, I can weave everything into a coherent show. If not, it will still be good music.
Nona Hendryx/Mamafunk
Please see the previous post of 16 December 2019 regarding the WPFW Holiday Bash & Fundraiser featuring Nona Hendryx and her current band Mamafunk. I will play a couple-few tunes by both Labelle and Ms. Hendryx as the headlining.
A Child is Born
A Child is Born was composed by trumpeter and bandleader, Thad Jones, in 1969 shortly after forming the Thad Jones – Mel Lewis Orchestra. Lyrics were added by Alec Wilder a short time later. Messrs. Jones & Lewis and their orchestra first recorded A Child is Born for their 1970 album, Consummation. It was actually record first by Richard Davis and Roland Hanna in 1969, with the latter of them initially claiming authorship of the tune, https://www.kuvo.org/a-child-is-born-stories-of-standards/. I read somewhere that Mr. Jones had not originally intended it to be about the Christ Child, and that this ballad’s peaceful melody was merely representing the tranquility of a newborn. Many Jazz artists have covered the tune in the following five decades. Perhaps my favorite being Mr. Jones’s brother, Hank Jones, and the pianist’s Great Jazz Trio featuring Ron Carter (b) and Tony Williams (d). I plan on playing that version with a couple others.
River
Singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell’s tune River from her 1971 Album Blue – one of the greatest LPs ever released in any genre, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_(Joni_Mitchell_album) – is certainly not a Christmas song by any standard definition thereof.
However, it is a great tune, and it perfectly captures how hard this time of year can be on those not feeling the spirit. Please keep that in mind while spreading peace and joy this season. I think it is a beautiful, seasonably appropriate song. It has been covered by many, many artists in all manner of musical genres. I intend to present this variety tomorrow.
My Favorite Things
Regular, loyal listeners of Morning Brew – Classic Jazz Edition know we start every program with John Coltrane playing a version Rodgers’s and Hammerstein’s My Favorite Things, a tradition started by the previous host and programmer Jim Dombrouski (Happy Holidays Jim and Patty!) Messrs. Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote the tune for the musical The Sound of Music, which debuted on Broadway in 1959. Mr. Coltrane’s then new quartet – McCoy Tyner (p), Elvin Jones (d) & Steve Davis (b) – recorded their instrumental version at Atlantic’s New York studios in October of 1960. I am going to assume that this was the first jazz cover of the Broadway tune that, like many show tunes, went on to become a Jazz standard. Tomorrow, we will sample a few, in addition to opening with one of Mr. Coltrane’s from Newport.
That about covers it, no pun intended. I hope you tune in and enjoy! And, a PC Happy Holidays to you all. See you all at Bethesda Blues and Jazz on Friday.
