Trane-ing Day

Body and Soul is my favorite song right now. Several artists have recorded the tune and here is my list in order of preference: Carmen McRae – Live at Newport, Esperanza Spalding – singing in Spanish Cuerpo y Alma, and the instrumental rendition from virtuoso saxophonist John Coltrane. [tweetmeme source=”ileane” service=”ow.ly]
Carmen is one of the greatest jazz singers of all time and Esperanza is new on the scene and surely destined for similar fame and fortune. John Coltrane was something else entirely.

John Coltrane

Like many artists who aren’t truly appreciated until they’re gone it was 40 years after his death (1967), when in 2007 the Pulitzer Prize Board awarded Coltrane a posthumous special citation, for his “masterful improvisation, supreme musicianship and iconic centrality to the history of jazz”.

Wow, that’s a mouthful, 40 or more years overdue, yet an appropriate, awesome accolade. I can’t say enough about how his music has affected me. It has become part of my psyche. I rise in the morning with the sound of his horn dancing around in my head, before I even realize that I am awake. His outpouring of harmony inspired me to write song lyrics for the first time in my life.

Coltrane’s unique brand of saxophone playing is referred to as “sheets of sound”. When I first heard the technique I asked a friend “who else is playing sax on that tune ?”. Remarkably, there was no other sax player. Only Coltrane.  Man, how did he do that?! 

Over the last few years I have come to learn why Trane’s music is in a class all by its self. You’ll never be bored listening to this great body of work. There’s classic jazz, smooth jazz, avant-garde, be-bop, ballads, spirituals and plenty more. John dedicated the 40 short years of his life to perfecting his craft. I’m hooked, so I’m going to finish listening to The Wise One again before I turn in. In the morning I want to hear Afro Blue, and of course Body and Soul.

Trane-ing Day Part 2, My Favorite Things 1961

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In Trane-ing Day you learned something about John Coltrane, now what are your favorite things?

A Time and Place for all Music

There are certain songs that everyone else seems to like, but not me.  Well, let me rephrase that – I like some songs only at certain times.  Don’t get me wrong I am a true music lover but I’m just not too fond of what is commonly referred to as “Oldies”.  But at the right time and place they sound great. 

For example, if I’m in the car listening to the radio and that iconic old 60’s tune comes on:

Jimmy

Jimmy

OH Jimmy Mack

Why don’t you hurry back

Trust me I change the station quick, fast and in a hurry.  I just feel like “been there, done that” when it comes to most of those ol’ skool tunes. I mean how many times must I listen to that same sound year after year and be expected to go out somewhere and party to it.  And if I walked into a night club and heard that song I would turn right around and leave. Face it, I don’t like the “oldies” crowd, I don’t like the line dances they do, I probably won’t like the smell of beer and watered down alcohol either.

On the other hand…If I’m at the supermarket, or the waiting room at the dentist’s office, or if I walk into an elevator and hear:

When are you coming back,

Please Jimmy Mack

Come on and hurry back.

I’ll sway back and forth to the beat, shake my hips, do a little foot work, sing a few words and blurt out loud – Now that’s my Jam! 

Please hurry back