What I'm Listening To #122

My latest obsession is a very talented young man from Australia by the name Matt Corby.  He possesses a voice that is as much an instrument of sound as his guitar or piano.  He modulates and exploits it with tender finesse to achieve some truly hypnotic effects.  His style is listed by iTunes as Indie Rock, but in a much larger sense what he is doing is singular, multi-derivative and without pretense.

You'll hear R & B, Gospel, Acoustic vocal throughout his music.  It's at times so fresh that it doesn't hit the mark, but when it does--truly magical.

What I'm Listening to #121

So totally retro and purchased from across the pond!  But good, so fun and so good!

KPLU Jazz24--I Love You!

Best Jazz station on the planet and now it's free!  And I had a teeny, tiny hand in making it happen and now am all signed on as a sustaining member.  If you like Jazz, smooth cool classical jazz with a lovely mix of contemporary sounds, check it out.

What I'm Listening to #120

This past week the Canadian Polaris Music Awards were given and the album of the year was "Power In The Blood" by Buffy Saint Marie. I can tell you that only a handful of albums in my life have so moved me:

"The Rhythm of the Saints" by Paul Simon and that because it was given to me by a friend on the eve of my trip to Brazil.
"The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen after 9/11
"Revolution Starts Now" by Steve Earl in response to the War on Terrorism

This album is the same sort of revelation. May I be half as badass when I'm 74 years old!

My Pics for The BEST Classic SIngers from the Era of the Great American Songbook

So I've been thinking about the Classic American Songbook. And the singers that I love from that era. I'm gonna make a mix-CD for my Commute, and I decided to pick my favorite song from 21 of them--arbitrary, completely. This is what my playlist will look like.

Looking For A Boy - Ernestine Anderson

The Way You Look Tonight - Fred Astaire

My Funny Valentine - Chet Baker

Sway - Rosemary Clooney

L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole

They All Laughed - Bing Crosby

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered - Doris Day

They Can't Take Away From Me - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

You Go To My Head - Judy Garland

Our Love Is Here to Stay - Billy Holiday

A Fine Romance - Lena Horn

Angelitos Negros - Eartha Kitt

But Not For Me - Julie London

On The Street Where You Live - Dean Martin

Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days - Louie Prima with Sam Butera & The Witnesses

You Make Me Feel So Young - Frank Sanatra

Someone To Watch Over Me - Dinah Shore

Swinging on the Moon - Mel Tormé

The Best Is Yet To Come - Sarah Vaughn

Unforgettable - Dinah Washington

I'm Beginning To See The Light - Joe Williams & Count Basie

What I'm Listening To #119

An old CD that just ages so well.  Thank you Hal Ketchum--you did right good with this one!

What I'm Listening To #118

Yesterday,

there was much joy! I recieved a gift in the mail from someone I just met and it was quite impressive. Thank you, Duncan! As the title says: The Adodi Muse is a Gay Negro Ensemble, and "Ain't Got Sense Enuf to be 'Shamed" is a collection of spoken word performances on gay themes interwoven with snippets from various radio interviews of the ensemble members. Inside, Duncan wrote; "Randy, Lovers of poetry must stick together." Can I get a witness?!

What I'm Listening To #117

Sam Smith's latest CD "In The Lonely Hour" is a tour de force of heart enthralling love songs full of tender emotions.  The arrange- ments are varied and well suited to the mood and meaning of each song.  And his voice is brilliant.  He embodies that comfortably British take on American music genre from gospel to the blues, from Motown to techno pop.  A very evocative artist whose art settles well into the soul of this listener.

What I'm Listening to #116

I just discovered a new CD by Jay Brannan, a young man with a wonderful voice and a clarion vision for his music that illuminates and celebrates the vitality of my tribe.  Like the CD's before this one, I grow ever more impressed with his talent and originality.

My Top 16 Albums

Thinking about my favorite Albums/CD's as a whole. So many times a sub-set of songs resonates, why the whole collection gets chopped up. But some Albums are just too good from start to finish. For this list I chose 16. It's a square of square--I like that.

So, here are 16 of my favorite "Albums"--and yeah, I know...that word dates me. What can I say? I'm 53 and happy! But I digress. These are the ones I go back to time and again, and where possible sing along with. It only scratches the surface of my total music collection, but then who gives a damn about anyone's top 1,600? In alphabetical order by artist:

Kathleen Battle - Kathleen Battle Sings Mozart (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra André Previn)
Counting Crows - August and Everything After
Alex Cuba - Agua del Pozo
Elle Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald: The Best of the Song Books
Patty Griffin - Living with Ghosts
Emmylou Harris - Angel Band
Hope for Haiti - various artists
Carole King - Tapestry
Natalie Merchant - Ophelia
Rachel Podger - Johann Sebastian Bach: Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo
Bob Seeger & the Silver Bullet Band - "Live" Bullet
Simon & Garfunkel - The Concert in Central Park
Frank Sinatra - Frank Sinatra: His Great Performances 1953-1960
John Michael Talbot - Come to the Quiet
10,000 Maniacs - In My Tribe
Hannah White - Poetry

What I'm Listening To #115

"A Romantic Revel in the Athens of the West: Kentucky Composers of the Romantic Era 1835-1875" is absolutely nothing I would have ever sought out on my own.  So the fact that the conductor is my best friend, and he sent this to me as a gift, explains how I got it.

It does not, however; completely explain why I am so captivated by it.  Why it has utterly charmed me with it's historic and melodic wiles.  Like a young woman waiting to be swept off her feet, it has placed it's powerful arm around my musical waist and whisked me off to a land of enchantment.

Boxing Day Present!

I am not a stickler about the day of Christmas.  I personally think we all should just be sending one another presents all of the time!

The bookmark is two sided and bears all of the hallmarks of a James Sebastian Sikorski work of art!  I already have a couple of his painting framed and hanging on the walls of my home.

The CD: "A Romantic Revel in the Athens of the West: Kentucky Composers of the Romantic Era 1835-1875" is a collection of American music of the period.  The recordings were directed by James' father and my beloved friend, Kelly.  It's a wonderful work and all I can say is "Wow" and "What Joy!"

My Top Twelve SONGS in 2013

The songs that I have listened to the most in the past year...and I listen to a lot of songs!  Once again in a sort of Alphabetical order.  These are my most favorite dance to, spin to, sing to, swoon to, mellow out to songs from the past year.

Amore Infinito - by Alex Cuba

 What A Good Boy ~ by Barenaked Ladies

 Silvertown ~ by Bruise

 The Land Of Make Believe ~ by Chuck Mangione (featuring Esther Satterfield)

Poison & Wine ~ by The Civil Wars

 Love Letter ~ by Clairy Browne & The Banging Rackettes

 A Few Of My Favorite Things ~ by Olivia Ong

 Kite ~ by Patty Griffin

 How Can I Keep From Singing ~ by Rene Marie

 Wie Flugzeuge ~ by Rivo Drei

Even Here We Are ~ by Shawn Colvin

Numb ~ by Usher

What I'm Listening To #114

Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes are one motherfucking breath of amazing retro-R&B/Motown 1960's fresh air with a chaser contrived from a mix of the classic B 52's, Aretha Franklin, and Pussy Galore.  Now if that doesn't get your attention, you just ain't gonna like what this girl has got to sell!

But I love, Love, LOVE it!  In the world of the Randuwa-Song Exchange, I rate this one a definite "BUY".

What I'm Listening To #113

There is absolutely nothing apologetic about Jay Brannan's CD "Goddamned".  But it doesn't come off as some angry diatribe against established heterosexual, theocratic hegemony.  He sings of his life as a gay man in very unpretensious, conversational ways that not only point out truths, but endear one to the truth-teller.

And it doesn't hurt that he has such a sweet voice.

I love this album.  Buy it, then listen to it, even if some of it is uncomfortable.

A Is For Eclectic

Well, at lest where music is concerned.

Looking at my first 21 "A" titles in my iTunes playlist:

A-Tisket, A-Tasket ~ Ella Fitzgerald 
ABC ~ Glee Cast Version
Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive ~ Bing Crosby & the Andrew Sisters
Across the World ~ Pittbull, featuring B. O. B.
Adventures of Isabel ~ Natalie Merchant
After the Garden ~ Neil Young
Afterglow ~ Ian Axel
Afterhours ~ Johnny McGovern, featuring Adam Joseph
The Age of Worry ~ John Mayer
Aqua del Pozo ~ Alex Cuba
Airplane ~ Indigo Girls
Alive Again ~ Cher
All Hail the Power of Jesus Name ~ Acappella
All I Wanna Do ~ Jamie Lindell
All I Want ~ Jay Brannan
All Or Nothing At All ~ Billie Holiday
All Systems Red ~ Calexico
All The Stars ~ eastmountainwest
Alone ~ Trey Songz
Alone But Not Lonely ~ Mary Chapin Carpenter
Already Home ~ Jay-Z, featuring Kid Cudi

Which cross the following genre: Jazz, Pop, Vocal, Rap, Alternative, Rock, World, Christian, R & B, Country, and Hip Hop.

I love Kid Cudi, BTW. I also just love music, it's hard to find music that I don't at least get, even if I don't want to listen to it. Maybe Heavy Metal. But when you listen to a really robust version of Beethoven's 5th Symphony, like the Vienna Philharmonic's under maestro Simon Rattle, and you can see how modern ears might find the genre appealing.

What I'm Listening To #112

Alex Cuba has a voice that never fails to touch me at some point beneath and inside my sternum. He resonates in my heart of hearts.

Today's Sermon

What I'm Listening To #111

John Mayer is back with a new album that is really fine. The music and lyrics reflect a maturing of his per- spectives and refining of his con- siderable talents. If you love his dulcet voice and honest lyrics, you'll find much to make you happy with this work.

What I'm Listening To #110

In for a penny, in for a pound.

just got Rosie Thomas' new CD "With Love". Like seeing an old friend after an unexplained hiatus, it's good to hear her voice again. I like my initial experience of it and I'm trying to decide if she's more tentative with her voice after an illness or just maturing. It's probably a little bit of both.

I know I'll always have her exuberant, playful early music; so I can certainly grow with her into more mellow, collaborative, serious music, only rocks change too slowly for us to notice or appreciate.