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Monday, July 2, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
The Great Russian Jazz Vocalist Valentina Ponomareva
Valentina Ponomareva. The gypsy Russian singer whose vocal range spans five octaves. Amazing singing capability. Although I don't have all of her recorded albums, the ones I have really demonstrate her amazing capability.
Fortune Teller (LR 136)
This is an amazing avant garde vocal jazz album from the LEO record. This is a long out-of-print album which has not been re-issued in CD format. Why? only God knows. But a few of the tracks from this album have been re-issued in the 4CD set from the same recording company: CD GY 401/404 -- Golden Years of New Jazz. If you have not heard her version of Ain't misbehavin', you haven't lived. It opens with nearly 5 mins of vocal scattering without giving a hint of what the melody is. The only similar singer that came to my mind who can sing like Valentina is the Polish Jazz singer Ursula Dudziak.
Russian Folk Songs
This album is entire different from Fortune Teller. This is a compilation of Russian folk songs sung by Valentina. Most of the tracks from this album has very nice melody which could make one cry. Very emotional and elegant. Unfortunately, the album is poorly recorded. Nonetheless, this album shows many different style of music Valentina is capable of to interpret. She is really a versatile singer. Highly recommended!
Fortune Teller (LR 136)
This is an amazing avant garde vocal jazz album from the LEO record. This is a long out-of-print album which has not been re-issued in CD format. Why? only God knows. But a few of the tracks from this album have been re-issued in the 4CD set from the same recording company: CD GY 401/404 -- Golden Years of New Jazz. If you have not heard her version of Ain't misbehavin', you haven't lived. It opens with nearly 5 mins of vocal scattering without giving a hint of what the melody is. The only similar singer that came to my mind who can sing like Valentina is the Polish Jazz singer Ursula Dudziak.
Russian Folk Songs
This album is entire different from Fortune Teller. This is a compilation of Russian folk songs sung by Valentina. Most of the tracks from this album has very nice melody which could make one cry. Very emotional and elegant. Unfortunately, the album is poorly recorded. Nonetheless, this album shows many different style of music Valentina is capable of to interpret. She is really a versatile singer. Highly recommended!
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
The ambient temperature this evening is -4 degree Celcius
After a few days off, I am back this evening with some listening. I thought, why not some ambient music tonight.....Here is what I picked:
1) Tetsu Inoue -- Organic Cloud
2) Spacetime Continuum -- Sea Biscuit
3) Koolfang -- Jambient
4) Brian Eno -- On Land
5) Haruomi Hosono -- SFX
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Funky Wednesday
For whatever reason I wanted to listen to some funky beats tonight (may be I was listening too much jazz the other days). Right after I came back home from work, I immediately pulled out the following soul/funk albums:
1) Average White Band – Cut the Cake
2) Tower of Power – Live and in Living Color
3) The Brecker Brothers – S/T
4) Barry White – Rhapsody In White
5) Mandrill -- Solid
6) Ohio Players – Angels
7) Stylistics – Heavy
8) Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
9) Harvey Mason – Marching on the Street
10) War – Why Can’t We Be Friends?
The 70’s funk/soul is irresistible. The tunes, “What is hip?”, “Low Rider”, “Love Theme”, “Some Skunk Funk”, “What’s Going on”…etc. are just too much fun! 
1) Average White Band – Cut the Cake
2) Tower of Power – Live and in Living Color
3) The Brecker Brothers – S/T
4) Barry White – Rhapsody In White
5) Mandrill -- Solid
6) Ohio Players – Angels
7) Stylistics – Heavy
8) Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
9) Harvey Mason – Marching on the Street
10) War – Why Can’t We Be Friends?
The 70’s funk/soul is irresistible. The tunes, “What is hip?”, “Low Rider”, “Love Theme”, “Some Skunk Funk”, “What’s Going on”…etc. are just too much fun!
Monday, January 1, 2007
New Year, New Start, New Resolutions, New Music
Happy New Year! It is the time to review what has happened in 2006 and to project what to achieve in 2007. Below is a list of music recommended for a listen on the new year day. Hope the titles will encourage us!
- Dee Dee Bridgewater -- This is New (CD, This is New, Verve)
- Astrud Gilberto & Walter Wanderley -- Goodbye Sadness (CD, A Certain Smile A Certain Sadness, Verve V6-8673)
- Stevie Wonder -- Keep on Running (CD, Music of My Mind, Motown)
- Dr. L. Subramaniam -- Offering of Love (LP, Garland, Storyville SLP-4075)
- Albert Ayler -- Spirits Rejoice (LP, Spirits Rejoice, ESP 1020)
- James Brown -- I Got You (I Feel Good) (LP, Soul Classics, Polydor SC5401)
- Bennie Maupin -- Just Give It Some Time (LP, Moonscapes, Mercury SRM-1-3717)
- Barry White -- Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up (LP, Stone Gon', 20th Century 9209423)
- The Beach Boys -- I Know There's An Answer (LP, Pet Sounds, Capitol DT 2458)
- Joao Donato -- It Didn't End (LP, Piano of Joao Donato, RCA LSP-3473)
Enjoy!!
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Music for Funeral
Just came back from a funeral of an uncle of mine. There was one word that really stroked me this morning. It was the word "celebration". The daughter of this uncle stated that she felt peaceful and wanted to celebrate her dad achievement in life. She further acknowledged that her dad has fulfilled a very purposeful and meaningful life by sharing love and care with his family members and the people around him. What a striking testimony!
I was thinking what type of music I should listen today after attending the funeral. Solemn or mellow music? No, I want to honor his great achievement as well, so I would like to listen to some confirmative and positive music. I decided to listen to the album "Sumi-e", with songs composed by Toshiko Akiyoshi 秋吉 敏子 and performed by Toshiko Akiyoshi and Lew Tabackin's Big Band. It is an album full of elegant and beautiful tunes.
I was thinking what type of music I should listen today after attending the funeral. Solemn or mellow music? No, I want to honor his great achievement as well, so I would like to listen to some confirmative and positive music. I decided to listen to the album "Sumi-e", with songs composed by Toshiko Akiyoshi 秋吉 敏子 and performed by Toshiko Akiyoshi and Lew Tabackin's Big Band. It is an album full of elegant and beautiful tunes.
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