THIS MONTH WE CELEBRATE
WORKING CLASS ROCKERS,
WITH CHATS FROM IAN HUNTER (MOTT THE HOOPLE, ETC)
AND
. DAVE DAVIES FROM THE KINKS
IN THE “INTERVIEW”
SECTION
*******
CHECK OUT THIS ULTRA HIP ALBUM BY
T.K. BLUE:
BUY HERE:
https://tkblue.bandcamp.com/album/planet-bluu
IF YOU WANT AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY, CLICK HERE:
*******
PIANIST GEORGE KAHN GETS THE CHRISTMAS SEASON SWINGING
ON THIS RECENT ALBUM.
HE’S ALSO TOURING AROUND TO SPREAD THE CHEER!
https://www.jazzandbluesrevue.com/
***********
EXOTIC JAZZ LIKE A MIX OF NINA SIMONE AND NICO IS FOUND ON THIS
FASCINATING ALBUM BY LEILA ADU:
www.leilaadu.com*************
PIANIST AND COMPOSER LISA HILTON RELEASES
ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE AND FRESH COLLECTION OF MATERIAL.
HERE IN A STRONG QUARTET SETTING:
http://www.lisahiltonmusic.com
**********
LOOKING FOR SOME FRESH AND SWINGING CHRISTMAS MATERIAL?
GIVE AN EAR TO THIS HIP ALBUM BY
ALEX BIRD:
***********
CLEAN AND COOL VOICES COME FROM THE LIPS THIS SWINGING SESSION
BY MARIA SCHAFER.
CLASSY FROM START TO END. CHECK IT OUT!
**********
CHECK OUT THIS SWINGING BIG BAND ALBUM BY
VOCALIST ROBIN SIMONE,
WHO WILL BE APPEARING JAN 9 AT
VIBRATO GRILL IN LA.
**********
EXCITING AND LYRICAL SMALL GROUP INTERPLAY LED BY PIANIST
MICHAEL JEFRY STEVENS IS ON THIS LATEST RELEASE.
CHECK IT OUT!:
https://michaeljefrystevens.bandcamp.com/album/keepers-of-the-flame
**********
**********
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
“For unto us a child is born
Unto us, a son is given
And the government shall be upon His shoulders
And His name shall be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.”
Isaiah 9:6-7
This wondrous proclamation from The Bible was put into song by George Frideric Handel (1685-1759). His famous oratio Messiah was composed in 1741, and he wrote it in just 24 days! It is still played every year, so 370+ years is a pretty good streak for a best selling album , beating Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue by a few centuries.
There was nothing special about Handel’s upbringing to make you think that he’d compose one of the world’s most important pieces. He grew up in a middle class, working class salt-mining town, getting a solid but basic education. His talents, due to his work ethic, eventually got noticed and he was given commissions to compose.
His most famous pieces, Watermusic, Fireworks, and Messiah initially didn’t get rave reviews. As with most important music, time became the judge with each of these getting more appreciation as time went on. As with his contemporary, JS Bach, his style eventually defined Baroque music.
This is the beauty and mystery of art and music. We never know what contemporary music is going to “last” over the years.
On various social media networks, I read all the time of people saying “My (Boomer) generation had the best music ever”. Really? Better than Bach? Beethoven? Armstrong? Goodman? Ellington? Gershwin? Puccini? Verdi?
100 years from now, who are music fans going to remember from today’s music? Taylor Swift? Hardly.
Maybe The Beatles, Dylan, Ellington, Armstrong and Gershwin
Today, we have interviews with to artists who started in the 1960s, and are still creating today. Dave Davies of The Kinks created a guitar style that has influenced rockers since, from grungers to punkers. Ian Hunter, as with Davies a member of the UK’s working class, first made his name with Mott The Hoople and then had a renaissance as a solo artists, with many of his songs being covered by today’s artists due to their mix of potent lyrics and catchy melodies.
After you’ve lived a few years, you start thinking to yourself “I’ve seen this trend before” and it’s easy to tune out.
But there are always “new” ideas. Well, maybe not “new”, but old concepts interpreted by a fresh generation.
Take the concept of “oppression”, which is on everyone’s mind these days.
I recently returned from working in a clinic for Kurdish refugees. They had to flee their native land of Syria because of the wars and religious/social discrimination. Things like having their houses burned down or family members b eat up.
The country-less Kurds have experienced these things for centuries, but have endured.
Why? Because they hold on to ideas that have lasted for millennia.
They are strong believers in the Torah and followers of Abraham. Once hearing about eternal life in Christ, they see the reason for their leaving their own home. They have been preserved for all of these years, and have had a faith that has kept them together.
That is the kind of writing that lasts.
Did Moses know that he was writing for 4000 years of readers? Maybe, maybe not.
The point is, writers like Moses, and Isaiah, because they were inspired by God, were able to pass on timeless and eternal messages.
The main one, a future Christmas, is discussed in my monthly editorial “No One Asked My Opinion, But…” section.
As you go through this season, the next year, and your life, as yourself “Is there a timelessness to what I’m doing, or am I just passing the time?”
It can make a difference in your choices of art, friends, work, family and faith.
.
*********
WE GET EMAILS:
All the best,
Dear George,
********
George,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the GREAT write-up!
THE BEST TO YOU!!
John Klemmer
Hey George,
That’s a really terrific review, and it has your trademark insight, verve, and imagery. Thanks so much, man, for digging in to the music so deeply.
All best,
Denny Zeitlin