bobby mcferrin is a vocalist. better yet, he is the ultimate vocalist. his voice is truly an instrument.
bobby grew up in new york city, and from birth, he was surrounded by music. his father, robert, was an opera singer and the first african american to sing at the metropolitan opera.
most of us know bobby mcferrin for his 1988 grammy award winning hit, “don’t worry, be happy,” but some of his best work was a capella, or done together with mega stars like chick corea and yo yo ma. check out a few samples…
there were three unique things my dad and i bonded over as a kid - bugs bunny, kasha and flash gordon. for those of you who haven’t seen flash gordon, i implore you, please. see it as soon as you can. it’s a classic. and the music is amazing. performed by one of the best bands of all time - queen.
if you don’t know the music of queen, you’re in for a treat. their lead singer, freddie mercury, has one of the most pure voices ever heard - on par with roy orbison. consider buying Queen’s Greatest Hits. it will quickly become one of your favorite albums, and you’ll never remember what your life was like without it.
anyway, a bit about the band…
queen (brian may - guitar, freddie mercury - lead vocals, roger taylor - drums, and john deacon - bass) got their start in 1969 and quickly became one of britain’s top bands of the ’70’s. in 1974, they achieved international fame with the release of “sheer heart attack,” and since then, have sold over 30 million records.
even if you’ve never heard a song by queen (and if that’s the case, shame on you), you’ve heard their influence. remember vanilla ice? you know that song, “ice ice, baby?” well, that song is built atop the chord progression and rhythm of a song queen wrote with david bowie called, “under pressure.” oh yeah, and then there’s the headbanger scene in “wayne’s world” where wayne, garth and friends rock out to queen’s “bohemian rhapsody.”
there are two things people tend to remember most about queen in addition to their music. first, queen was a band made up of four homosexual men (which, during their rise to fame in the mid-70’s and early 80’s was quite a cross to bear). and second, their lead singer, freddie mercury. freddie was one of the first public personalities to die from AIDS, and his death brought an important awareness of the disease to the british and american public.
but what’s most important to remember is that freddie, brian, roger and john - four openly gay men - changed the world. their music touched everyone, transcending pre-conceived notions and making the world realize that sexual orientation didn’t matter. anyone could inspire a generation with their art, passion and music. and they could be proud of who they were in the process.
freddie was one of those rare souls who was both macho and compassionate. he was a famous, well-liked musician, and after becoming sick, he even shared his angst with the world through songs like “who wants to live forever.”
so please, explore the music of queen. freddie’s was one of the best voices we’ll ever hear. and working with a band as talented as queen, he created an experience the world will enjoy forever. here are a few of queen’s best. happy listening…
chet atkins is the most recorded solo instrumentalist of all time. known as “mr. guitar,” chet was one of the most influential country artists in history. he laid down tracks for the likes of elvis presley and hank williams, and his innovative, finger picking style influenced such legendary musicians as mark knopfler and george harrison. chet defined what is now known as “the nashville sound,” which, by minimizing the role of the steel guitar and fiddle, gave country music broader appeal. tip your hat, shania, and carrie, and faith…
chet played mostly gibson and gretch, and one of the most beautiful acoustic-electric guitars ever made bears his name - the gibson chet atkins. throughout his career, chet won 9 cma musician of the year awards, 13 grammies - the most ever for a country artist - and in 1997, received billboard magazine’s most prestigious honor, the century award. chet’s first hit tune was one we all know and love, “mr. sandman.”
as an executive at rca records, chet launched the careers of numerous country artists, including waylon jennings and dolly parton, and he produced albums for the likes of perry como, skeeter davis and bobby dare. after his time at rca, chet signed on with columbia records. in the 80’s and 90’s, he continued his brilliant career, making several albums, including a cd of duets with one of his proteges, mark knopfler. chet recorded nearly 150 albums during his career, playing on countless others.
throughout his career, chet was quoted several times as saying, “years from now, after i’m gone, someone will listen to what i’ve done and know i was here. they may not know or care who i was, but they’ll hear my guitars speaking for me.” in 2001, chet passed away at his home in nashville. indeed, the musical world knows chet was here. he changed its landscape perhaps more than any other person in the 20th century. now let’s hear what chet’s guitars have to say…
as you’ve probably noticed, i include a video clip with each post. the thing each of these clips has in common — it’s from a live performance. and that’s not a coincidence. it’s actually representative of the music i like the most — clean, simple, honest, pure and a true reflection of the artist. yes, i know, some recording artists really are overproduced personalities, but this blog isn’t a place to rant about the declining quality of popular music.
anyway…this week, i’ve picked some of my favorite live recordings to share with you, courtesy of youtube. i hope you enjoy them as much as i do. write a comment to let me know which artists you’d like to learn more about, and i’ll cover them in a future post.
this first clip is from fleetwood mac’s reunion concert. it features lindsey buckingham on the guitar doing his song, “big love.”
if you’ve seen the movie “once,” you’ll recognize the musicians in this next clip, which features glen hansard and marketa irglova performing the van morrisson classic, “into the mystic.”
a few months ago, we explored the works of singer/songwriter martin sexton. here’s a recording of martin doing jimmy hendrix’ “hey joe.”
joined by paula cole, here’s peter gabriel doing an old favorite - “in your eyes.”
coldplay is perhaps the best band to come out of britain in the past 30 years. here’s a live recording of “fix you” from their album, “x&y.” enjoy…
a genuine troubadour, neil young has written some of the most memorable songs of our time - tunes like “harvest moon,” “rockin’ in the free world,” and “hey hey, my my” just to name a few. here’s an early recording of neil doing another gem, “old man.”
like neil young, james taylor is another brilliant singer/songwriter. here’s james doing a cool, mellow version of the classic beatles tune, “help from my friends.”
this next performer is my favorite, hands down. after watching this next clip, perhaps you’ll feel the same…
raise your hand if you’ve heard of pete huttlinger. your hand still down? up until a few months ago, mine would’ve been, too. but then i came across this sick, solo rendition of “superstition” that pete plays on the guitar.
paolo nutini is an italian scotsman whose inspired lyrics, catchy music and passionate performances are winning him fans worldwide and paving the way for a remarkable — and very durable — musical career.
as a kid, paolo always assumed he’d join the family business and sell fish ‘n chips in paisely, scotland, when he finished school. but while he was growing up, paolo’s grandfather — a big music lover in his own right — introduced him to a wide variety of music, ranging from scottish folk songs to r&b. exploring on his own, paolo found he really connected with the stylings of the troubadours, like van morrison and john martyn.
at 16, paolo tagged along with a friend’s band, selling t-shirts and occasionally sitting in, and by the end of the tour, paolo had found his calling. he dropped out of school, traveled the 400 miles southeast to london, and started gigging around town.
within two years, atlantic records signed paolo and brought him up to liverpool to record his first album with producer ken nelson — who, incidentally, produces records for such stellar acts as coldplay and ray la montagne. in liverpool, paolo created “these streets,” an autobiography that traces his experiences moving from paisley, and beginning a new life in london.
there are too many great tracks on this album to pick a favorite, but to give you an idea of what you’re going to get when you pick up this album, check out a few of paolo’s live recordings on his web site. and unless you’ve been living on mars for the past year, you’ve heard at least a couple of his top 5 singles - “last request” and “these streets.” make sure to check out “jenny don’t be hasty” too. it’s a pretty funny tune about paolo’s experience with a 23-year-old girl he met when he first moved to london. long story short, he told her he was 23, and after a few weeks of “hanging out,” he finally fessed up that he was only 18. she slapped him and said goodbye. man, what a mistake that was. every woman i know is crazy about this kid, and i’m sure jenny’s new squeeze doesn’t have paolo’s earning potential. here’s a video of “jenny don’t be hasty” recorded at bush studios in west london.
oh, and when you listen to this kid’s stuff, keep in mind that he recorded his album at 18, and now, he’s only 20 years old. yeah, that’s right. 20. kinda sick, don’t ya think?
keri noble is a singer/songwriter from minneapolis, via chicago and detroit. the pianist daughter of an inner-city pastor, keri’s style is a bit sarah mclachlan and a bit sheryl crow. poetic lyrics infused with blues and gospel are what make her music emotional, inspiring and unique. check out two of her best tunes (free!) at kerinoble.com. (direct links: born again & oooh oh)
keri’s debut album, fearless, starts strong with three good tracks, but overall, only gets a B from this critic. the record is definitely a commercial release. “look at me” is a great love song. just keri and her piano, it shows off her vocal range and songwriting talent. the second single, “talk to me,” is a catchy pop tune you’ll find yourself tapping your toe to from the first verse. “piece of my heart” is equally enjoyable, introducing a melancholy cello that complements the piano beautifully.
the rest of the album is much of the same, but not quite as good. if you’re an audiophile, it’s worth getting the cd for the first track alone. (pick it up at amazon.com). if not, i’d just grab the first three tracks off of iTunes.
if keri sticks to her roots, and brings us more of the raw, gospel and blues that lace her best efforts, she’s going to be a superstar.
eva cassidy was an american singer/songwriter and celebrated artist. she sang with a sublime sensitivity and an effortless power that pierced the heart. ms. cassidy is best known for her unique way of interperting and arranging other people’s music. “over the rainbow,” “imagine,” “time after time,” “fields of gold,” “yesterday”, “songbird,” “ain’t no sunshine,” “true colors…” the list goes on. have a listen.
the daughter of a part-time musician and teacher of learning disabled children, eva came by her talent and compassion honestly. she began performing at age 9 and shared her musical talent with the world until her death at the young age of 33. after years performing in bands of little renown, eva connected with chuck brown. together they would create some of eva’s best work, including a performance at washington dc’s “blues alley.” nearly all of eva’s records were released posthumously, and each is a master class in modern folk, soul, r&b or vocal jazz. if you only buy one more album this year, consider making that one “live at blues alley.” this recording highlights cassidy’s unique style, creative interpretations and pristine vocals on songs you know and love. i hope you enjoy these tunes as much as i do.
shortly after this 1996 performance, eva was diagnosed with advanced melanoma and given only 3 to 5 months to live. during her treatment, friends and fans brought a steady stream of fruit and flowers. because of the rigor of her treatment, eva often was unable to enjoy these gifts. rather than let more go to waste, she gave paper and crayons to her visitors so they could express their feelings to her through art. eva had every picture hung on the wall at the foot of her bed.
in september, 1996, a tribute concert was held for eva. near the end of the show, she came out on stage with her long time friend and collaborator, chuck brown. together they performed, “red top,” a tune by ken kynard and lionel hampton. brown did most of the singing; eva joined in when she could and afterwards, shocked the audience with an inspiring, solo performance of louis armstrong’s “what a wonderul world.” it would be her last.
in november, eva passed away. over 400 people came to pay their respects at her funeral.
eva cassidy left behind a legacy of warmth, compassion, inspiration and love. listen to her music, and you’ll share in her beautiful experience.
new york city has turned out another musical genius in raul midon. counting among his influences masters as diverse as stevie wonder, donny hathaway, jose feliciano and richie havens, raul has mastered a style all his own. he combines the “slap attack” with lightning-fast finger work to create both rhythm and harmony on an acoustic guitar, and his soulful voice often takes the place of a trumpet in solo breaks. check out his handiwork in this performance of “state of mind” from his debut album of the same name.
blind since birth, raul midon brings the same indomitable spirit that’s enabled him to overcome his handicap to all of his music - jazz, r&b, soul, latin, folk and pop alike. check him out - you won’t be disappointed.
a child of privileged upbringing, including a cambridge education, nick drake didn’t seem to be at risk for overdosing on anti-depressants. sadly, that is the fate that befell this incredibly talented, english bard. though critically acclaimed, nick’s music never achieved widespread popularity. his first album, five leaves left, only sold 4,000 copies. some believe that the limited success of this release triggered nick’s depression. in 1970, drake released bryter layter, a record with melancholy overtones and hints of opportunity lost, offset by rays of hope in the form of sweet strings, mellow horns, a jazzy flute, melodic percussion and light piano riffs. the best known tune from this album is “one of these things first,” a track reintroduced to a new generation on zack braff’s garden state soundtrack. the happiest moments shine through on “northern sky,” where nick expresses his love for a woman by comparing her to the most beautiful one - mother nature:
i never felt magic crazy as this
i never saw moons knew the meaning of the sea
i never held emotion in the palm of my hand
or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
but now you’re here
brighten my northern sky
two years later, nick released his last album, pink moon - a collection of simple music and beautiful imagery, tainted by lost love, cynicism and contempt. with a running time just under 30 minutes, some might think nick didn’t have much to say. you be the judge…
from “pink moon”
i saw it written, i saw it say
pink moon is on its way
and none of you stand so tall
pink moon gonna get you all
from “which will”
which do you dance for
which makes you shine
which will you choose now
if you won’t choose mine
which will you hope for
which can it be
which will you take now
if you won’t take me
from “things behind the sun”
please beware of them that stare
they’ll only smile to see you while
your time away
and once you’ve seen what they have been
to win the earth just won’t seem worth
your night or day
after “pink moon,” nick sank into a deep depression and moved back in with his parents. in 1972, had a nervous breakdown and checked himself into a psychiatric hospital. his time away served him well, and in 1973, nick was happy again. he met a girl and started writing again; some say the 4 tracks he recorded at home before his death were the best he’d ever done. but at 6am on november 25th, 1974, nick died from an overdose of his anti-depressant medication, tryptizol. some say his death was accidental; tryptizol is a tricyclic anti-depressant, and overdosing on tricyclics is unfortunately easy. others say he was overcome by his illness and took his own life. either way, nick’s was a journey that ended way too soon. fortunately for us, we are blessed to have his music and musings to guide our own.
black sheep by martin sexton. martin is an incredibly talented singer/songwriter out of boston via syracuse, ny. influenced by greats ranging from stevie wonder and van morrison to led zeppelin, sexton made his debut in 1996 with ‘black sheep’ - a work of genius with tracks as diverse as his influences. track #3 - ‘diner’ - brings together country and folk stylings, creating a sound that borders on modern bluegrass. ‘caught in the rain’ is a gentle ballad that features martin on the piano, backed by soft, soothing strings. perhaps the most lyrically interesting tune on the album is ‘candy‘ - a tawdry tale of a man’s infatuation with a much younger woman - done in a style reminiscent of early dylan. sexton’s about as good a singer/songwriter as you’ll find these days, on par with another master of his craft - amos lee.
amos lee
this man is a genius. check him out on blue note records at http://www.bluenote.com/amoslee. originally from philly, amos spent his youth between the city of brotherly love and #47 on money magazine’s best places to live in the u.s. - cherry hill, nj. not exactly a place typically associated with the kind of effortless, funky soul amos graces us with, eh?
amos made his way down to the university of south carolina in 1995 where he began playing the acoustic guitar. about south carolina, amos said, “i met my kind of people there - down to earth, sincere folks who didn’t belong to any club. they were all musicians, and they taught me how to treat my music with sincerity and integrity.” amen.
amos’ voice is angelic and filled with passion. his music begs to be heard, not just listened to. take in a performance by amos lee, and you’ll witness an effortless, transcendental display of soul, folk and blues. amos counts among his influences stevie wonder, donny hathaway, john prine, dave van ronk, bill withers, neil young and james taylor. some of my favorite amos lee tunes include, “colors”, “black river”, “arms of a woman” and “give it up.” check ‘em out on amos’ eponymous release.
. it will quickly become one of your favorite albums, and you’ll never remember what your life was like without it.
