I Found My Thrill

Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino was born on February 26, 1928

Rock and Roll pianists are not very common in contemporary music. They're even more scarce in Rhythm and Blues. Back in the early days of our contemporary styles of popular music, in the 1950s, this wasn't the case. The dominance of the guitar was still around a decade away and the influence of Boogie-woogie piano blues was strong.

Perhaps the most iconic performer of this style of music was Fats Domino. In spite of the racial biases of the era, his musical talent brought him into the attention of mainstream popular music, helping to kick off the diverse mix of musical styles that became Rock and Roll.

And since it's his birthday, let's celebrate by listening to some of his songs.

High Priestess of Soul

Nina Simone was born on February 21, 1933

When I began appreciating jazz, blues, and soul music, I wasn't very interested in the music of Nina Simone. First, her vocal style seemed too "cool" or "mellow" for my tastes, a bit too understated. Where I was listening for vocal gymnastics, she would deliver pauses and gradual modulation of notes. When I wanted staccato flourishes of scat improvisation, she would segue into spoken word.

Therefore, I was not very enthusiastic over the works of Nina Simone.

Later, when I was forming my feelings towards "authenticity" of performance in classical music, specifically the role of the performer as "re-creator" of a work, rather than "historical reenactor" or impersonator, my attention returned to Simone's works, as a modern example of how a performer can creatively reinterpret a piece creating a new experience and entering into an aesthetic dialogue with past performances. From this perspective, I finally realized her great talent.

Nina Simone did things her way. When she performed a piece, she channeled it through her own unique artistry, shaped by her distinct life experiences and colored by her personal interests and emotions. Each song was created anew through her interpretation.

I am now quite the enthusiast of Nina Simone. ;-)

So, let's celebrate her birth date with a bit of music.

Friday Flowers: Paradise

Strelitzia: Bird Of Paradise

Dreams

(By Langston Hughes)

Hold fast to dreams 

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.

Crane flowers and a blue sky

Did you know that the Bird of Paradise is the official flower of the city of Los Angeles? Given the way that they thrive out here, it doesn't surprise me. Even in the midst of an unusually cold winter, these hardy plants are still thriving.

Well, it's certainly nice to see these bright colors. ;-)

Just an Old Fashioned Girl

Eartha Kitt in St. Louis Blues (1958)

Many a week has passed on by since we last celebrated a classic female vocalist's birth date. So, let's return to the tradition by giving great thanks for the wonderful works of Eartha Kitt, one of the sultriest and smoothest of mid-century songbirds.

Her most iconic performance was the original 1953 recording of "Santa Baby," a rendition that stands out above subsequent performances for its playful yet sexy lyrics, not too coy and not too vulgar; Eartha does it just right.

But her songbook is way deeper than this one Christmas novelty piece. From jazz to disco, she had a rich array of musical styles, expressively mixing them up into a unique blend of influences and ideas. Honestly, her aesthetic depth is frequently overshadowed by the focus on her strong personality and activist efforts. That's not to say that she shouldn't be appreciated for speaking out in support of unpopular or anti-establishment positions, but, rather, that she was an artist of the highest caliber, a fact that should not be forgotten.

Eartha Kitt as Catwoman (Batman, season 3, 1967-68)

With that being said, let's listen to some artistry. ;-)

Real Type of Thing Going Down

Detail from Parliament's Mothership Connection (1975)

I've long expressed my enthusiasm for "funk" music and afro-futuristic imaginings. These approaches to creative expression combine a wacky playfulness with a legitimate critique of social biases, hiding subversive countercultural values under a veneer of gaudy caprice.

One of the masters of this style is George Clinton. The creative leader of Parliament-Funkadelic, he brought an innovative approach to African-American music. Simultaneously impertinent and inspired, his music could lift the mind up to the stars with a funky rhythm.

So, since he was born on this date in 1941, let's wish George Clinton a Happy Birthday!

Detail from the cover of Funkadelic's Maggot Brain (1971)


Can you dig it?

Mood Indigo

Model for Duke Ellington Memorial (1988) by Robert Graham, on view at UCLA

Last year, I wrote a whole bunch of posts expressing my adoration for the music of Duke Ellington. It's a topic about which I can endlessly discuss, but I'll spare you all the gushing fanboy enthusiasm. ;-)

Ellington was born on April 29, 1899. There have been many excellent American composers and musicians, but, for me, Duke stands out as the greatest. So, let's spend some time this evening listening to some swinging American music, beyond category.

The Divine One

Sarah Vaughan was born on March 27, 1924


We can't let this day pass without paying tribute to Sassy, the Divine One, the wondrous Sarah Vaughan!!!

Born on March 27, 1924, Sarah Vaughan become one of the leading Jazz vocalists of her generation. Considering the competition, that's an impressive feat. Her voice, smooth but sassy, is seductive and playful, soulful and light, expressing a mercurial mood.

I'm always reluctant to name my favorites, but, for tonight at least, Sarah is my favorite Jazz songbird. ;-)

Sarah Vaughan, "Sassy"

Let's listen to some music.

Straighten Up and Fly Right

Nat King Cole was born on March 17, 1919

Who's the smoothest, coolest cat to ever croon a classy tune?

Let's put down the Guinness for a moment and spend a few moments remembering one of the most distinctive voices of the Great American Songbook, Nat King Cole. With his rich baritone sound, Cole become an icon of the cool mid-century style, pre-Rock and post-Swing. Moreover, he trail blazed a path to stardom for the many African-American performers that were soon to follow in the Pop/R&B scene.

As regards most male vocalists of the era, such as Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin, I'm not much of a fan. The music simply doesn't appeal to me and neither do the performance stylings of the period. However, Nat King Cole stands out with a subtle jazziness that gives depth to his songs. The typical "Rat Pack" performance was mostly style and little substance, but Cole had both.

Nat King Cole

So let's listen to a few classic pieces. ;-)

Sophisticated Giant

Dexter Gordon was born on February 27, 1923/


I can't let this day pass without celebrating Dexter Gordon, one of my favorite jazz musicians.

Smooth, cool, and sophisticated, Dexter's music could enflame the passions while chilling the blues. He could lift up the heart while casting down the troubles. In short, the soulful sounds of his saxophone were transcendent.

Listen.

"Don't Explain" from A Swingin' Affair (1962)

Enjoy!!!

Friday Flowers: Birds of Paradise

Strelitzia Reginae: Bird of Paradise

What My Child Learns of the Sea
(By Audre Lorde)

What my child learns of the sea
of the summer thunders
of the riddles that hide in the curve of spring
she will learn in my twilights
and childlike
revise every autumn.

What my child learns
as her winters grow into time
has ripened in my own body
to enter her eyes with first light.

This is why
more than blood
or the milk I have given
one day a strange girl will step
to the back of a mirror
cutting my ropes
of sea and thunder and spring.
Of the way she will taste her autumns-
toast-brittle or warmer than sleep-
and the words she will use for winter
I stand already condemned.


Audre Lorde isn't one of my "go to" poets for inspiration or comfort, but she's got an interesting style and a distinct voice. One of the cool things about dedicating a post to a poet each week, usually in celebration of their birth date, is that I've taken the time to reexamine some writers. And that's the case with this Friday's featured poet, Audre Lorde, who is way more interesting than I remember from when last I read her work, nearly fifteen years ago.

Strelitzia Reginae: Birds of Paradise

And what of the Birds of Paradise? I often overlook them, ubiquitous as they are in the Los Angeles area. However, the Norton Simon Museum's sculpture garden had a beautiful enough collection of the Strelitzia that I figured it was about time they were featured.

Hasta La Vista, Baby

Detail from Jody Watley's 1987 self-titled album

When it comes to the R&B dance divas of the '80s or '90s, one of my favorites is Jody Watley. In terms of technique and variation, I'd say that she was the best.

Sadly, she never gained the popularity of her peers, such as Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston. That's a pity, seeing as how she was more experimental in incorporating diverse dance music traditions, from freestyle to New Jack to downbeat. I guess that mix of style might have been the problem, making her music a tougher commodity to market.

Regardless of the lack of long-lasting chart-topping fame, I still regard her as one of the defining voices of R&B dance.

Jody Watley in 1990

Anyways, let's wish Jody a Happy 53rd Birthday!!!

Wizard of the Vibes

The great jazz vibraphonist, Milt Jackson, was born on January 1, 1923.

Let's start the New Year off with a heavy dose of coolness. And you can't get any more cool than some old school jazz vibraphone, played by Bags himself.

Yeah, I'm a big fan of the vibes. They have such a rich, mellow sound, so smooth and easy, that I can't help but feel laid-back when I hear them. Sometimes I fancy trying to learn how to play them, but time and money have always got in the way, and the instrument tales up a lot of space, not something that will put away easy in a closet or a case. ;-)

Yet, I'm happy to just be a listener and enthusiast, admiring the artistry of Milt Jackson, who brings out the beauty of the vibes like no other musician. It's magical.

Milt Jackson playing at Parnell's in Seattle circa 1980 (Photo: Steven M. O'Kelley)

Good vibrations for certain!!!

Torn and Tattered

The Rag Factory (2011) installation by John Outterbridge at LA><ART


Rags, the word conjures up images of cheap, disposable, dirty cloth. Rags are the opposite of riches.

Rags are the thematic subject of an installation by John Outterbridge at LA><ART, entitled "The Rag Factory." Through the process of assemblage, Outterbridge constructs an environment that explores the manner in which context influences the perception of beauty and value. The humble rags are both the lowly discards of a banal consumerism and the elegant fabrications of an artistic sensibility.

The installation spans two gallery spaces of LA><ART. In Gallery One, Outterbridge has designed a hanging curtain of multicolored, knotted rags, bathed from various angles in brilliant light, a scintillating textile rainbow.

Close up of The Rag Factory installation in Gallery One

An entrancing assemblage of color and texture, Outterbridge transforms the lowly rags into an object of beauty. But a stroll into the next room dispels the glamour.

Kinetic Visions through a Rainbow Lens

Fred Eversley's works are on exhibit at the William Turner Gallery until October 29, 2011


"Cool School" or "Finish Fetish" or "Plastic Minimalism" are all terms that get bandied about when talking about the work of Fred Eversley, occasionally as a derogative. But this exhibit at the William Turner Gallery gives us another chance to assess these slick polyester resin works. What is the premise of Eversley's style?

First, it it is an expression of meticulous craftsmanship in designing simple forms. Reflective and slick, they sometimes deceive your eyes into misperceptions of the piece's actual curvature. Is it convex, concave, or level? Perception of form depends upon how the light plays upon the surface.

Second, the reflections and refractions create a dynamic play of light through the structure of these minimalist sculptures. The work itself is but a vehicle through which the viewer distinguishes myriad visions of space and motion. Eversley doesn't capture the kinetic experience in his works, but assists the viewer in realizing the kinesis that exists at every moment all around them.

Peer through these plastic mediums and you will experience an exhilarating aesthetic reflection of your present situation.

Eversley, cast polyester resin, 19.5 inches in diameter

Eversley's work is all about the experience of viewing. The "artistic ego" or "conceptual statement" is not of importance. Each viewer, each environment, each variation in frame of orientation creates a novel visual sensation. These works are masterpieces of indeterminacy.

Well, You Needn't

Thelonious Monk, 1961 (Photo by William Claxton)

It's time to pay homage to another Master of Jazz. On this day in 1917, Thelonious Monk was born. In the history of jazz, there are many peculiar individuals and a few brilliant individuals. Well, Monk was both peculiar and brilliant. In terms of composition, only Duke Ellington has had a greater influence upon the genre.

I've expressed my youthful difficulties in appreciating bebop and its derivatives. I just couldn't get into Charlie Parker or Dizzy Gillespie. Their music didn't click with my conception as to how music was "supposed" to sound. So, what knocked down these mental barriers? The music of Thelonious Monk. It was both intellectually engaging and emotionally accessible.

My newfound enthusiasm for Monk was further developed by the 1988 documentary "Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser", shortly after I "discovered" his music. By learning about the man behind the music, it added a new depth to my appreciation. This is where my interest in music and art history began.

Thelonious Monk was born on October 10, 1917.

Well, that's enough about me. Let's get back to celebrating the great music of Thelonious Monk!

Singin' the Blues

Blues Icon B.B. King was born on September 16, 1925.


Wow!!! I nearly missed B.B. King's birthday. Most of the great blues legends have passed away, but we're lucky enough to still have "Blues Boy" with us. So here's wishes for a Happy 86th Birthday to the King.

B.B. King's influence within the blues tradition cannot be overstated, but it should also be noted that his innovations in guitar playing techniques extends well beyond the confines of the blues and into classic rock performance styles. He is frequently regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. It is a reputation that he has properly earned with a long career of brilliant playing.

B.B. King, Master of the Blues Guitar


Don't take my word for it. Let's listen to some music and you can decide for yourself.

Somethin' Else

Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley, jazz alto saxophonist, was born on September 15, 1928.


Cannonball Adderley was one of my favorite jazz musicians. His 1958 record, Somethin' Else, is definitely in my Top Five Jazz Albums. His rendition of "Autumn Leaves" with Miles Davis is one of the essential works of the jazz repertoire.

Sadly, Cannonball passed away at the young age of 46 years. His soulful, blues-inspired playing and his distinct, imaginative compositional style promised great things to come, but it wasn't to be. However, we can be grateful for the fine music that he left us in his short but prolific musical career.

Cannonball Adderley from the cover of Know What I Mean? (1961)

Let's listen to some music.

Rockin' the House

Memphis Slim (birth name: John Len Chatman) was born on September 3, 1915.

We can't let the day pass without celebrating the music of blues great, Memphis Slim. He is associated with the jump blues, a style that utilizes a small swing band featuring horns. His music became highly influential among later generations of blues performers. He even had an R&B chart topping hit with "Messing Around" in 1948.

He was inducted posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1989.


Memphis Slim at the piano



Ornithology

Charlie "Bird" Parker, Jr.

Today marks the birth date of another jazz legend, Charlie "Bird" Park. Of all the jazz greats, his music was the toughest for me to appreciate. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I once considered it to be chock-full of noise. I could intellectually appreciate it, but listening to his innovative approach to chordal techniques and improvisation just wasn't to my tastes. I couldn't "dig" it. ;-)

But as my jazz sophistication and familiarity with bebop's musical lexicon developed, I came to enjoy the music. Where previously I heard histrionic chatter, I now hear complex but compelling musical phrases. Is Bird my favorite jazz musician? No, but I can recognize his innovative genius and enjoy its expression.



Charlie "Bird" Parker and Miles Davis


Enough talk. Let's listen to some music.

Shoot You Right Down

John Lee Hooker, Blues Legend

I don't post as much blues music as I should. So, let's remedy the situation by celebrating the birth date of John Lee Hooker, born on this date in 1917. He's probably my favorite blues performer, with a mellow and easy style that conveys rich emotional depth. From energetic lustiness to crushing sorrow, the emotions of his music are delivered with "talkin' blues" coolness.

In terms of musical style, Hooker has an old-fashioned Delta blues feel loosely worked into an electric Chicago blues technique. Especially in his older performances, he creates a transitional sound that spans a wide range of evocative imagery and traditions, from the rural South of the early 20th century to the industrial Midwest of the mid-20th. Hooker remained a vital part of the blues scene up into the '90s and his influence can be felt still in contemporary performances and recording, a decade after his passing.

That's enough verbiage from me. Let's get to the music.