Noteworthy selections heard this morning:
Bluegrass
- Mollie & Julie's Reel-The Special Consensus (This instrumental fuses bluegrass and Celtic styles compellingly.)
Canadian Indie
- As Much As I Can-girlpuppy (Endearingly sung direct sentiments acknowledging that sometimes, you can still love those with whom you have major differences. The vocals are partially submerged under the instrumentation, but that's not a detriment when the rhythm is this solid.)
Classic Masters
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, "Emperor" (Cleveland Orchestra/George Szell, conductor; Leon Fleisher, piano) (Fleisher plays deftly executed trills and delicate passages with equal ease.)
Cool Jazz
- Mona's Mood-Blue Mitchell (Mitchell's trumpet tone was consistently warm and resonant. His discography deserves considerably more air time than it generally gets.)
- Worrisome Heart-Melody Gardot (Gardot's vocals show the depth and understanding of a much older torch singer.)
Everything '80s
- Never Gonna Give You Up-Rick Astley (Admittedly, not every song has to be overly cerebral. Sometimes, it's all about how catchy a song is and how well it stands up to repeated listening. Several years ago, my brother heard kids on the street who wouldn't have been alive when the song was a hit singing it. That--and the phenomenon of "Rickrolling"--show how a well-crafted 1988 pop hit has held up. I'm curious to know who remembers Astley's similar follow-up hit, "Together Forever.")
Jazz Masters
- Willow Weep For Me-Thelonious Monk & Milt Jackson (The piano and vibraphone coalesce compellingly. I'm close to declaring that there are no bad versions of this song.)
New Age
- Music For A Found Harmonium-Penguin Cafe Orchestra (This instrumental is a crafty blend of Classical and new age styles, reminding me of Runa's "Dance In The Graveyard" melody.)
