Standout selections heard this afternoon:
The Coffee House Discovery
- Sunshine Baby-The Japanese House (These are some of 2023's more endearing bittersweet lyrics and vocals. The guitar outro is a perfect ending.)
- If You're Hurting-Trousdale (Speaking of endearing bittersweet lyrics and vocals, this May release is a good companion piece with Colin Hay's "Send Somebody." Another plus: The group's vocal phrasing reminds me at times of Shawn Colvin and The Staves.)
Deep Tracks
- The King Will Come-Wishbone Ash (I can't be the only listener who hears a Neil Young influence here.)
- Stomp-Little Feat (I like it when this type of guitar intro lives up to its promise. This nine-minute instrumental sustains its energy.)
Real Jazz
- Cantaloupe Island-Jean-Luc Ponty & George Duke (A faithful rendering of the Herbie Hancock classic.)
- Best Wishes (Live)-Sonny Rollins (Joyous saxophone playing in this expansive uptempo tune. I'm glad the audience was so appreciative.)
SiriusXMU Discovery
- Eastern Ave-Flasher (This May release is a fun blend of power pop, dream pop, and grunge. I also like the lyrical reverence for the past.)
Spa
- Dawn On Red Mountain-Ann Sweeten (A pleasant piano melody that would sound right to me after Ken Bonfield's "The Passing.")
Symphony Hall
- Claude Debussy: Nocturnes (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/Paavo Jarvi, conductor) (This gripping reading brings out the dramatic tension of the first movement, the power and fierce melodic drive of the second movement, and lyrical, fanciful nature of the choir and strings in the third movement.)
Yacht Rock Radio
- Crazy Love-Poco (This hit has always had several positive qualities, in my view. The lyrics are thoughtful, the vocal harmonies serve them well, and the acoustic guitar underscores the tune sensitively. For a faster take on the song, check out Tina Adair's version.)
