Jazzing it up

Let's jazz it up a little?

So, Jazz is, one of those genres that grows on you, slowly. I remember having a full album of Miles Davis, and not being able to get through the first three tracks, because, I was just not ready I guess. Eventually, thanks to my cousin down in Chandigarh, I came back in touch with it, and I think after attending the Jazz Fest in all its glory a few years ago in Delhi, I was hooked.

Noah Jones has been one of my favourite contemporary jazz artists, and from her many tracks, two that always string up an emotion inside of me are Here We Go Again (ft Ray Charles) and What am I to You, The latter being the chosen one for this post.

I look in your eyes,

I can feel butterflies.

Anyone who hasn't been to the Jazz Fest should totally do so whenever they get a chance to, They set up massive screens all over the place (reverse projectors) and you can see people lazing around, grooving and indulging, it is almost magical.

From Norah Jones, it's time to go a little back in time and hit up Nina Simone and her Feeling Good. For me, the route of discovery for this track has been a long and interesting journey, I heard it for the first time in the movie Seven Pounds (Will Smith), it was the Muse version at that time, having never heard the track before, I waited for the movie credits, to try and track the song. The search led me instead to Michael Buble's version and it was a while before I was blown away by Nina Simone singing this one. Of course, that wasn't it, a very talented singer-friend of mine, finally directed me to my current favourite cover of this stunning track, by the talented, Nikhil D'Souza.

Find the Nina Simone version here, Michael Buble's version here and Muse's version here.

Seven Pounds is one of those movies that left a dent in my universe, It was also the film after which I used to go around calling Will Smith my favourite actor, yes, those impressionable days. But it is quite the film, and the idea of guilt driving you to the edge of yourself truly left a lasting impression on me.

Anyway, coming back to Jazz, I'll never forget the quip by the legendary Louis Armstrong; “If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know.” It reminds me of this scene from a movie with Konkona Sen (I can't place the film, if someone can chime in? I think it was Wake Up Sid) where she is taken to Not Just Jazz by the Bay, and she is all awkward, unable to enjoy the music. I've been there Konkona, and I get it.

Moving on, this Vintage 1940's Jazz cover of Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" is currently on my play-on-loop list. 

Postmodern Jukebox is a concept that Scott Bradlee came up with, and you can find the channel here. It wasn't until February of last year that it actually blew up, when Robyn did her first video with the group, a cover of "Thrift Shop" which went viral over night.

Robyn Adele's insane vocals, and a delight of a camera presence is, quite something. Oh and did I mention the video/song features tap dancing as an instrument of music? Everytime I watch the video, I can't help notice how everyone in the video is genuinely enjoying being a part of the video, and the shoulder wiggle in the end is just an added bonus. I was able to catch up with Robyn and talk to her about being a part of something so brilliant,

 How long have you been performing professionally?

I had only ever sang in school choirs and at karaoke, so that first video was the first time I really got to sing for a large audience. We started going gigs in June of last year, so I've only been "professionally performing" for about a year or so! 

How has it been like creating Jazz covers of such pop music? 

 I have always loved pop music and never really listened to jazz, so it was a bit of an experiment and a great learning experience for me to interpret these contemporary songs as jazz. I really enjoy the original tracks that we cover, so it's really fun for me to put a unique twist on them. I'm also trying to learn more jazz standards and perfect my jazz technique.

And what is your favourite Jazz track to sing?

 Well, I love singing, "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" 

What was the toughest part of recording this cover?

For "Just Dance", well, the original version of that song is one of my favorite pop songs, which sometimes makes covering them in such a different style difficult because I love the original so much, but that's also part of the challenge, which I enjoy! 

I can't help notice that you are extremely emotive in the videos! Are you into theater?

I do love musical theater, and I always auditioned for the musicals in high school but never got in. In the last two years of high school I got in but was cast in the ensemble and never got the chance to have a lead role, so I think I'm making up for that now.  

You can find, Robyn and her music here.

In the same stride, is the Vintage 1930's Jazz cover of Careless Whisper. Careless Whisper goes a long way back in my family, many years ago, when I was watching the VCR Tape of my parent's wedding, I noticed that the overlaid background score on the video was that of Careless Whisper, I asked them about it, and they were quite clueless.

I was also able to catch up with Alex Macdonald, the brilliant tap dancer from the video above, his website describes him as Tap Dancer, Globe Prancer, Songwriter, Fulbrighter, Dog Lover, Kid Brother, Hat Wearer, Fun Sharer, and he sure is all of those things.

How did you and Scott begin collaboration?
I first met Scott Bradlee on a gig at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in 2011. We quickly discovered that we were neighbors in Astoria, Queens and he suggested that we collaborate on something. At the time, Scott was creating fun musical mashups of different songs and styles for his YouTube channel. He suggested we do a ragtime/tap dance version of the Super Mario World theme. I was actually unfamiliar with the song when I arrived at his apartment, so we quickly created an arrangement that suited us and did a bunch of takes. Since then, I've continued to sit in on taps with his live band at the Manderley Bar in NYC.

And Postmodern Jukebox, where did that come in?
Over the last few years, the success and growth of his YouTube channel led to the inception of Postmodern Jukebox - a project that challenges the boundaries of style and hierarchies of taste in contemporary music.

What about the "Just Dance" video? Pop music fan?
When Scott invited me to be a part of the "Just Dance" video, I was once again unfamiliar with the original song haha! (Notice a pattern here?) The band played me their arrangement once or twice and we started filming takes. 

How was it like doing a Jazz song?
It is always a blast to dance with great jazz musicians. Tap dance and jazz music of course have a long history together - Bunny Briggs danced with Duke Ellington, Jimmy Slyde danced with Count Basie, Baby Laurence danced with Charles Mingus, etc. Also, did you know that many of the great jazz drummers were also tap dancers? Philly Jo Jones, Max Roach, and Buddy Rich to name a few. 

You look absolutely in the groove of it, how does it work with such an arrangement?
My dancing in this video was different in every take because I rely a great deal on improvisation. However, there are certain moments where I chose to 'quote' a classic tap dance phrase, since it fit the mid-tempo shuffle of the song. The stop-time segment (around 1:50) begins with a few steps from the Copasetics Soft Shoe. Tap dancers are always paying tribute to the masters and pioneers whose shoulders we stand on.

You can find Alex's work here.

Finally, coming back to the present, the current Billboard Number One for Smooth Jazz, Brian Culbertson's Fullerton Ave. is another track to catch, The instrumental masterpiece, is still one of the undiscovered gems (With just 34k views on YouTube) But definitively one to sit back, shut your eyes and enjoy.

Coming back a little homeward, a few months ago, I was able to witness one of the most amazing jazz pianist's in the world, perform live, Kyle Shepherd. Staying at our campus at MICA, in Ahmedabad as a resident musician, not only did he indulge in many evenings full of musical styles mixing and colliding, as his au revoir to the campus, he delivered a soul stirring performance, and frankly, you had to have been there to be transported to the different dimension we all went away to.

To get a taste of his music, listen to this live recording of Dream State, which this photo of his next album's potential track list shows is going to be there too!

While Kyle was in India, one night an impromptu jamming session with a few old rusty guitars, thigh tapping for drums and high spirits courtesy the not-so-trained bartender (me) led us to discovering traditional South African tunes, acclaimed film maker Aryan Kaganof was there too and did record the entire escapade, and I have dropped him an e-mail for the video, so that I can share it with you all.

Till next time,
Cheers!

Been a While

Yes I have been absconding, and yes I promise to be regular now.
-


Alt-Rock fans would know of them as the phenomenon that swept all of 2012 with "Sweater Weather", but for me the discovery came in when a friend of mine recorded the chorus of the song, acapella and sent it to me on Whatsapp, hours of searching and listening later, I too was swept away by their haunting vocals, and gorgeous riffs. Not just the song, but even the music video for Sweater Weather was an insanely beautiful piece of art, unfortunately for some reason they decided to change the video. But, the original is still the one to hit back to.

Next up is the Welsh band Stereophonics' Maybe Tomorrow, I haven't wanted a metronome as bad as I did after seeing this video.

And while the whole concept of the lonely artist, misunderstood, isn't new, there is something about Kelly Jones blank face, and the detachment that draws on. If you enjoyed this, I highly recommend their 2009 Album, Keep Calm & Carry On.

PS: That poster, is a perfect example of British propaganda, though little known, it was used to boost public morale in the aftermath of widely predicted mass air attacks in Britain (Circa: 1939)

Moving forth, The little known solo music project, The Album Leaf comes up next with their single, Writings on the Wall. I discovered this gem in the third Season of Grey's Anatomy and was instantly hooked.

There is something about the lyrics that keeps me coming back to this one, and the heavy Piano score,

Over the clouds and through the sky,

to find a place that we can hide

and close our eyes this time

it's all inside.

 While I was living in Delhi, I happened to meet a wonderful woman who went on to become one of my closest friends, during one of our music-exchange sessions, she handed me over one of the most beautiful and haunting songs that I have ever heard, worse still, one that had lyrics that left me wondering if the lyricist was peeping into my life and writing.

Yes, we all have these moments, that is the true craft of writing lyrics, such that everyone can relate to them. It reminds me of the lines from the movie, Number 23 (Jim Carrey?) where Agatha proclaims that every time she reads something she feels like the author has poured into the book a part of her that only she knew existed.

The song in question here is Jackson Waters' Center of Attention, and though the band took an indefinite break in 2009, you can enjoy their stunning track here:

You want your independence,

but you won't let me let you go

You wanna test the waters

and leave it on the empty shores

Talking of Jim Carrey, one of his non stereotypical roles, and one of the most powerful movies to have hit me is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and if you haven't seen it yet, please move that boulder that you are living under and see it, now.

For all of the last year, I have woken up staring at a wall that has had this poster on it:

What was funny to me, when I saw the movie was how I had thought of this story long before. Of how a guy and girl fall in love, and then leave each other and have themselves hypnotized to forget the other, only to bump into each other again and fall in love, again. I found the thought reassuring in a way, knowing that no matter how many variables you change, somethings come back to where they should. From this movie comes the last song for this post.

I remember, once a few close friends and I were driving back from a hearty dinner, and on the way back, as the cold night closed in around us, I played this track on the car stereo. Everyone fell dead silent, thinking of someone, or something, for, everybody's gotta learn sometime.

This one is dedicated to you guys, I miss you all.

Lose yourself to Punk

"We're up all night to get LOKI" 

When I first heard this track on the Radio (yes the radio!) I was more than a little surprised, for most parts Indian Radios do not play new english tracks and so I assumed it to be something old that I had never heard before. Like a faithful listener as soon as I got back home I immediately googled what little of the lyrics I had been able to understand and I found that I was in fact vibing to the new album by the legendary electro duo Daft Punk.

Oh so fly.

Back in 1987, Thomas Bangalter & Manuel de Homem-Christo got together and created Daft Punk, four albums later these guys are still super-awesome, although with their new album Random Access Memories they came into main-stream focus; which is why I am sure everyone has heard "Get Lucky" so what's the discovery?

Well, to start off with there's this amazing track Lose Yourself to Dance

You see those incredible helmets? They were made by the now defunct company LED FX for about $65,000 a pop. This is what they looks like from inside;

Oooo.. What does THIS button do?

Anyway, Daft Punk's electro sounds are perfect for mixing to Chillstep (the cooler version of Dub Step) and this mix of Voyager from their previous album is absolutely, "woieee" The guy dropped the speed of the song to half and then retuned it to sound normal, and voila!

Speaking of chill tones and of insane helmets, there's another amazing electro artist who has one of the most bad-a55 helmets, Deadmau5.

Well, not so pretty from the other side.

This is like cable-LED porn; anyway, while DeadMau5 is mostly known for his long progressive electro tracks like Strobe, he has made some lesser known chill-music as well, something to continue the mood from the Voyager mix, this is A moment to myself

While looking for a more recognizable picture of Deadmau5's helmet, I stumbled upon one where you can almost see his console. The urge kicked in and I decided to check out what Daft Punk's pyramid looks like from within, and the internet did not disappoint;

All arms on battle stations.

Anyway, if the chill sounds did not work for you, you can always drop back to the same tones as Lose yourself to dance with Capital Cities' Safe & Sound

But of course, if they do work for you, then check out this chill-mash between Adele & Daft Punk, wonderfully smooth;

Time to wrap up this post, here's a picture of minions dressed up as Daft Punk, because you know, can you BE any more legendary with them?

Ba-na-na!

Cheers!

Life as we know it

Sometimes when you wake up from sleep, you wake up straight into the most pensive you have been since you last remembered, where every surge of emotion sticks through, almost guiding every little thought and action; Sometimes you wake up feeling like today you're going to take over the world, you can do it all. Sometimes you wake up wanting to do nothing more than just lie back, and let the world envelope you.

With this emotion surging through me as I woke up today, here's a beautiful track by Angus & Julia Stone, Draw Your Swords

The song's progressive overtones and the syncing to your slowed-down-heartbeat drums really put you in that pensive state where you are drifting and thinking of the only one.

See her come down, through the clouds

I feel like a fool

I ain't got nothing left to give

Nothing to lose

So come on Love, draw your swords

Shoot me to the ground

You are mine, I am yours

Let's not fuck around.

When Angus so painfully asks her to "draw your swords" I can't help but think of the lines from Fight Club (Although a lot of you are thinking of the David Fincher film, I am referencing to the novel by Chuck Phalanuik that it is based on) where Chuck reminds us "That old saying, how you always kill the one you love, well, look, it works both ways." Although the book is knee deep in homoerotic symbology, this quote works just fine for the love that Angus speaks of.

It has always intrigued me how love has been categorically connected to death at a number of levels, ancient arabic literature talks of the seven stages of love being attraction, infatuation, love, reverence, worship, obsession, and death; and my source for the same is Gulzar Sahab's poetry in Dil Se's Satrangi Re

Continuing the mood that Draw Your Swords builds, there is another stunning song by Agnes Obel; Riverside

I heard this track for the first time back in 2011, a very talented photographer friend of mine sang it while strumming her guitar and I was instantly hooked to the simple progression and the deep symbology in the lyrics; it reminds me of the line from Dhobi Ghat about how you can go and tell all your secrets to the sea, etch them on the beaches and watch as the water takes them away.

Oh my God, I see how everything is torn in the river deep,

and I don't know why I go the way

down by the riverside

This friend has also clicked one of my favourite photos of all times,

Another song that creates that mood and more is Kettering by The Antlers, check out their abstract and provoking animated video here;

When I first heard this song, I ended up writing this fiction piece in the form of letter;

Dear Ann

I know you won’t like most of what I will write here, but you must know what has brought me here today. I had absolutely no rhyme or reason to visit this hospital the day when I first saw you. Someone I knew had fallen sick and I should have kept to the route marked on the brochure, I should not have taken the shortcut through the oncology department. I should not have slowed down on seeing an open room, I should not have stopped on seeing a girl cry, alone. But I did. I think you must have figured out by now that I don’t have any aunt who is also in oncology. She does not have breast cancer and I only said that because I wanted to talk to you, I only wanted to talk because I did not want to see someone be as sad as you were that day. You wiped those tears off in quick jerky motions and asked me to get the fuck out of your room, I should have left, I should have never come back but I sat down instead, and I told you that it will all be okay. I should have never lied.

The next day when I came by just to see you, you weren’t there. You had gone off for some tests I believe and I felt disconnected. I saw your name for the first time then, Ann White. Your hospital records were right there, suddenly I knew your birthday, your address and the fact that you were alone. You were too young to be alone, too young to have cancer. I think I died a little inside that day, I shouldn’t have, I was in the oncology department, what else should I have expected? But I died in that one minute and suddenly I felt as if I owe you a debt, a debt because, because. I could never figure that out. When you came propping by an hour later and found me there you didn’t smile, you were too tired to scream too, you just quietly asked me to leave, and I did, but I knew I’d come back.

The following week I saw you hooked to those machines for the first time. Pipes and tubes running from all over your body. Sucking the life out of you. It was an August morning when I was sitting next to your bed and reading a newspaper when you had your first massive seizure. When I saw morphine being pumped into you because you were in so much pain. When I saw you cry because you were in so much pain. I remember how we started talking because you were too tired of me visiting you and going back without saying a word, and how you hated the soup there. We bonded over the sucky soup. But we bonded.

It was a week later when I came to see you and tapped on your vitals monitor and pointed out how it seemed in good shape when I saw you shiver, you didn’t answer me and I saw you shiver and I did not know what to do. That evening you acted like nothing had happened, you kept talking like nothing had happened. You kept reading that book on Learning French like nothing was wrong. You read it like you would need French soon, you kept living and every night I died a little more inside when I saw you living like this, knowing everything.

I should have kept this from you, how I felt. But I didn’t and you asked me to leave. You felt like I was trying to make you feel weaker, alone, dead. But I wanted you to know that I knew how strong you were, how alive you were. I just could never get it through. A month and half since I had known you is when you went into your semi conscious state. Too weak to ask me to leave. I always told myself that you like me next to you, I hope you did. Maybe I should have left too but I couldn’t. And I spent 13 nights on that couch next to your bed, waiting for a good news, waiting. When the doctors told me that there was nothing they could do. When they told me that it was the end, I was not ready to accept it, and I didn’t. I stayed on. On the 14^th day you left me Ann.

I’m placing this letter next to you, I hope somehow it reaches you, wherever you are. And I hope you’re in a happier place now.

Love

S.

Anyway before I become more morose, let's end this post with Caught a Long Wind by Fiest;

Till next time, cheers!

Tripping the Hop

This one is for you Miss K, for making me believe that curating randomness isn't that bad an idea.

In class yesterday, we were asked to do something called "Focus Writing" which is quintessentially writing without lifting your pen off the paper till you are told to do so. Usually for a span of 2 minutes or so, the only sound in the auditorium is of pen nibs scratching on paper; one of these Focus Writing Assignments was to write about our first love, so while most wrote about their first crushes, and the film actresses that made their hearts flutter, I wrote something to the effect of "my first love was my music"

With this, I think it is only apt to start this journey with my latest find, Lykke Li, a rather talented Swedish artist whose songs contain "a wide variety of instruments, including violins, synthesizers, tambourines, trumpets, saxophones and cellos." (Woohoo)

Did I mention she looks like a dream?

Anyway, moving on, here is a very beautiful live rendition of what is currently her top track, it's called "I follow rivers"

I find the whole cowbell on the drumkit bit super fascinating, speaking of drummers, there is this rather oddly shot amateur clip of Sahil Sarin (No clue who he is, or how I stumbled across this video) and if anyone can recognize what he plays at the end of the video, I will love you endlessly. (Insert goey kiss emoticons here)

The laaaaast little bit almost sounds a little Pirate of the Caribbean-ish, Anyway, moving back to why this post is called Tripping the hop.

Not this kind of tripping.

This is an ode to one of the lesser known but pretty kick-ass genre of Trip-Hop;

Somehow the smooth overtones of Li reminded me of another amazing band that I have come to love, Portishead; I heard this British band for the first time in 2012 (Thank you Shachi) just before coming to MICA and instantly fell in love with the haunting voice of Beth Gibbons. Kick back to this incredibly sexy live version of Glory Box from Roseland NY;

The mix of jazz and hip-hop beats into such an ultra trippy music makes for a perfect make-out backtrack. And if you aren't into "all that", give this a listen, same concert, different track.

I'm still trying to find some music that invokes the same kind of emotion that this track does, but till it does I'm going to let Portishead be what defines perfect Trip Hop to me; More music soon.

Cheers!