Context? CDXXVI

My sixth grade chorus teacher, Mrs. B., once asked the class to write down songs they'd like to hear her play on the piano.  I was surprised when one student requested "Stardust" by Artie Shaw.  Thanks to my interest in jazz from a young age, I'd heard of that song but wasn't familiar with the melody offhand.

"That's an old song," she told the student.  "I'm curious to know how you know it."

I don't remember the student's answer, but a parent's--or more likely, a grandparent's--influence probably led him to request that song.  It was unusual, to say the least, for a sixth grade student in 1982 to request "Stardust."  At the time, I thought, "Requesting 'Stardust' or any Artie Shaw tune at age 11 shows an open mind when it comes to music."

Eleven years later, someone else left a similarly open-minded impression. 

A murky verdict IX

I was impressed last night upon hearing Kurt Elling & The WDR Big Band's cover of Joe Jackson's "Steppin' Out."  However, I suspected that my brother's cat, Lily, was somewhat less sold on it:

Slowly but surely, though, Lily started to come around: 

I was glad to see that.  Vocally and instrumentally, Elling & company's reworking of "Steppin' Out" turns it into a solid lounge number.

FM dial scan highlights CCXCVIII

Thursday afternoon standouts:

WSIE 88.7 FM 

• Ca-Lee-So-Lee Morgan (Fun, infectious calypso-style trumpet with excellent piano backing from McCoy Tyner.)
• B'wana She No Home-The Carpenters (If you're expecting "Sing," "Rainy Days And Mondays," or "We've Only Just Begun," you're in for a surprise.  This cover of a Michael Franks tune, complete with jazzy piano and saxophone shows a fun, unexpectedly spicier side of The Carpenters.)

KCLC 89.1 FM

• In Your Ocean-Iron & Wine (An honest acknowledgment that while relationships can be rewarding, they're also sometimes exhausting.) 

KWUR 90.3 FM 

• Shaking As It Turns-Lula Wiles (Sadly appropriate lyrics for our current powder keg of a country.  Vocally and instrumentally, this reminds me of Sarah Jarosz.)
• Nothing's Gonna Happen (Demo)-The Staves (Sung with the group's trademark impressive harmony.)

Persistent earworm alert CDXXV

Martin Sexton's "Diner" is possibly the catchiest song about craving a late night meal that one could ever hear.  Once the rhythm enters my mind, it typically stays there for days.  That's the case this week, thanks in part to the return of the quirky medical sitcom, "Scrubs," tonight on ABC.  Since I first watched the original show, I've been impressed by the cast's easy chemistry, the show's graceful ability to pivot from humorous flights of fancy to serious medical situations on a dime, and the fact that "Diner," which isn't a well-known tune to most people, made it into an episode.

I expect that the "Scrubs" reboot will capture everything that made the first run appealing, including not-so-obvious music choices. 

A missed opportunity?

This morning, I Googled, "Did Lyle Lovett ever cover James Taylor's song, 'Traffic Jam?'"

Apparently, he hasn't.  After listening to Taylor's atypical, as-close-as-he-gets-to-scat-vocals track this morning and recalling Lovett's spoken sections of "Here I Am" and rhythmic chanting on "Church," it's not an outlandish possibility.

SiriusXM highlights CLXVII

Monday morning standouts:

'40s Junction 

• Stompin' At The Savoy-Georgie Auld (The type of classy, brassy swing I enjoyed playing on WEW.) 

The Bridge Deep Cuts 

• Come Down In Time-Elton John (Some of the most effective lyrics about the pain rejection causes.  Sting covers it effectively, as well.)

Coffee House Classics

• Telephone-Shelby Lynne (To me, this ranks second only to "Gotta Get Back" among Lynne's songs.  This is one of her best rhythms, and it's paired with frank lyrics about how sometimes, you don't really want to have a conversation with someone; you just want credit for making an attempt to call.)

Deep Tracks

• Themes-Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (If I didn't know otherwise, I might have thought the long, new age-ish keyboard intro was an extract from a Vangelis melody.)

Gas Station

• Take Me Home, Country Roads-John Denver (Longing for home, expressed honestly to a foot-stomping rhythm.)

The Groove 

• Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now-McFadden & Whitehead (Still one of the most positive anthems for anyone who feels overlooked or unheard.  Soccer fans might remember this as the theme song of the St. Louis Steamers.)

The Loft 

• Take The L-The Motels (This would have been a respectable follow-up hit after "Only The Lonely" due to its similar feel.)

Luna

• The Time Is Now-Eliane Elias (I've recommended many of Elias's vocal and piano instrumental tracks on this blog, but this one stands out for being atypically raucous.)

Real Jazz

• The "In" Crowd-Gregory Porter (Ramsey Lewis shows how cool this melody is, instrumentally.  Gregory Porter shows how cool it is, vocally.  Also recommended: Marshall Crenshaw's interesting midtempo cover.)

SiriusXMU

• What Do I Know?-Deep Sea Diver (Sometimes, it's difficult to accept that so many aspects of life are out of our hands.)

The Village

• If You Were There-Connie Kaldor (Even when you know you're in a great relationship, it's nice to hear your significant other say so.)

Yacht Rock Radio

• Sailin' The Wind-Loggins & Messina (As its title indicates, this is prototypical yacht rock subject matter--sung at an unhurried pace fit for sailing.)

Persistent earworm alert CDXXIV

When I wake up feeling groggy, I sometimes think of an early '80s TV commercial jingle for Downyflake waffles.  In the commercial, various family members wake up abruptly with huge smiles at the thought of eating such tasty waffles.  

As delicious as waffles are, I've never felt inclined to wake up smiling maniacally or sing the Downyflake jingle, "Wake up.  Wake up.  Wake up with Downyflake."  

However, the Downyflake jingle's lasting impression brightens my mood a tad on days when my disposition is sour.  Such is the healing power of waffles--and a peppy jingle.