Tuesday, April 5, 2011: Guru feat. Donald Byrd - Loungin'

Released in 1993, Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 is a jazz rap album, one of the first albums to combine a live jazz band with hip hop production and rapping.

This is one of those records where I know exactly where I was and who I was with when I first heard it.

Some songs I post on my humble blog to make you get up and dance, or go to the window and shout.

Today, however, I implore you, gentle reader, to just stop what you are doing and learn the lesson of Loungin'.

It seldom gets more chill than this.

Enjoy

Monday, April 4, 2011: Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting

Are you complaining about it being Monday? Really?

Do you think Bruce Lee complained about Mondays?

Hell, no! He was a fighter, and that cat was fast as lightning

So buck up, little trooper, and find yourself some expert timing

Take a bow and make a stand, start swaying with the hand

The sudden motion makes you skip now you're into a brand new trip

It's a new week. Kick it's ass.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

No blogging on a Sunday.

See you Monday!

Saturday, April 2, 2011: Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind

Ok, yes, I know I'm a couple of weeks past Covers Week but, well . . . . here we are

Here's to you, gentle reader. Please know that you, friend, are always on my mind.

And I hope this blast of pure disco glory will brighten up your Saturday, and the rest of your weekend.

Enjoy!

Friday, April 1, 2011: The Stone Roses - Love Spreads

No April Fools Day shenanigans here, gentle reader

We've got the full-on, full-bodied, full-throttle answer to all those who would prank and punk you today.

Let me put you in the picture: It's April. It's Friday. It's Spring.

Crank this up and go

Thursday, March 31, 2011: Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five - Heebie Jeebies

The Hot Five was trumpet player Louis Armstrong's first jazz recording band led under his own name. The Music of the Hot Five (and his later group, Hot Seven) is considered by most critics to be among the finest recordings in Jazz history.

And probably the most important jazz recordings of the 1920's.

Not only were these informal sessions breakthrough records, but they also managed to begin a whole new musical style - scat sining.

The story goes, Louis invented "scat", or vocal improvisation with wordless vocables and nonsense syllables, in November 1925 recording this tune, “Heebies Jeebies” with his Hot Five.

In “Jazz on a High Note,” published in Esquire in 1951 he wrote: “…the day we recorded “Heebie Jeebies,” I dropped the paper with the lyrics—right in the middle of the tune…And I did not want to stop and spoil the record which was moving along so wonderful…So when I dropped the paper, I immediately turned back into the horn and started to Scatting…Just as nothing had happened…When I finished the record I just knew the recording people would throw it out.. And to my surprise they all came running of the controlling booth and said—“ Leave That In”…

Thus, a whole new musical style is born.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011: Jimi Hendrix - Red House

Ok, so it's Wednesday.

Midway through the week.

It seems like a long way till Friday, and you've probably got the blues.

Well, I know a man who feels just the way you do.

So roll on over, and let Jimi take over. He'll make it all seem right.