Monday afternoon standouts heard through U-verse:
Adult Alternative
- Miles And Miles-The Heavy Heavy (Ideal driving vocals and guitar for hitting the open road.)
Big Band
- I've Got The World On A String-Coleman Hawkins (A classy, fanciful arrangement. I wish I'd played this on WEW.)
Bluegrass
- Any Stretch Of Blacktop-Nu-Blu (The banjo, fiddle, and vocals maintain an engaging, energetic momentum. That's appropriate for lyrics about getting back to one's significant other as soon as possible.)
Cool Jazz
- Ao-Larry Carlton & Tak Matsumoto (This is one of the most appealing smooth jazz guitar riffs I've heard in a while.)
Easy Listening
- Morning Has Broken-Anthony Ventura Orchestra (Best known to many listeners in its Cat Stevens rendition, the tune translates easily to a strings-and-flute arrangement.)
Folk Roots
- Odyssey-The Accidentals (A captivating blend of voices. These aren't the most comforting lyrics, but they're appropriate for situations that require courage.)
Jazz Latino
- Que Lindas Son-Mongo Santamaria (A fun midtempo stew of trumpet, piano, and percussion fit for novice dancers getting their feet wet.)
Jazz Masters
- Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered-Paul Desmond (Desmond's warm saxophone tone suits this standard well. The Charlie Watts Quintet also recorded an excellent version of this standard with Bernard Fowler.)
Jukebox Oldies
- It Doesn't Matter Anymore-Buddy Holly (This deceptively cheery-sounding hit about a breakup says all it needs to say in just two minutes. Holly pulls off singing in two registers, and I hear his influence on Marshall Crenshaw in a way I haven't before.)
New Age
- Bradley's Dream-Liz Story (Story's piano playing in the key of G is among the most melodic material this genre offers. In fact, Story's entire "Solid Colors" album is one of the best, most consistent new age albums.)
- Leaving Here-Eddie Holland (Considering the song's energy, horn backing, and solid vocals, it appeared that all the ingredients were there for a Motown hit in 1963. It's puzzling that this tune didn't have more commercial success.)
World Carnival
- Chimuguri Utasha-Miyazawa (The steady, hypnotic beat and vocals drew me in. Conceivably, on a multi-format station, Fleetwood Mac's "World Turning" could segue with this.)
