Thursday standouts:
Chamber Music
- Frederic Chopin: Mazurka, Op. 30, No. 1 in C minor (Maurizio Pollini, piano) (The tenderness of this piece makes me feel like I'm eavesdropping while listening to it. I also recommend Arthur Rubinstein's rendition.)
The Chill Lounge
- Take Four-The Juju Orchestra (This energetic jazz/electronica/international instrumental with occasional vocals could segue with Outback's "Dance The Devil Away.")
Cool Jazz
- Ponta de Areia-Esperanza Spalding (Engaging vocals and bass, both of which are customary for Spalding. This is an excellent cover of a Milton Nascimento song in which the piano also shines.)
Folk Roots
- Bears-Lyle Lovett (If you're going to sing about the attributes of penguins, why not bears, as well? I've always liked this irreverent tune of Lovett's.)
- The Lucky One-Alison Krauss (As the lyrics suggest, there are wildly different ways to live--and different perceptions of whose lives are or aren't fulfilling.)
Jazz Masters
- Easy Listening Blues-Nat King Cole (There are plenty of tracks highlighting Cole's rich vocals. This one, however, features his impressively bluesy piano playing.)
- Moanin'-Jon Hendricks (Hendricks sings this at a faster clip than he did with Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. At any tempo, these are good lyrics for acknowledging one's woes.)
Jazz Now
- You've Changed-Ellen Andersson Quartet (Pleasant, resonant trumpet.)
Soul Storm
- I Need A Dollar-Aloe Blacc ("Wake Me Up" is my favorite Aloe Blacc tune, but I imagine most listeners can relate to these lyrics at one time or another.)
