Today's bumper crop of noteworthy tunes:
1st Wave
- Oblivious-Aztec Camera (With a guitar intro like this and a hook this infectious, it almost doesn't matter that the lyrics are rather inscrutable.)
The Bridge Deep Cuts
- Seasons-America (The waltz tempo of this ode to the changing seasons gives this track an atypical sound for this band.)
- That Song About The Midway-Bonnie Raitt (A vocally impressive rendering of a Joni Mitchell tune.)
Classic Rewind Deep Cuts
- Behind The Lines (Live)-Genesis (This is how you start a concert. Any band that can set the bar this high with a great hook, through-the-roof energy level, and technical expertise in its vocals and instrumentation deserves a rousing audience reception. Seek out any concert video in which Phil Collins and Chester Thompson mount a double attack on the drums before Collins steps up to the mic and sings.)
The Coffee House Discovery
- Normalcy-Gigi Perez (Lyrically, this makes a sound case for letting a relationship lapse. Rhythmically, "Normalcy" reminds me of "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls.)
Escape
- You Are-Paul Mauriat (This Lionel Richie hit lends itself easily to the Mauriat strings treatment.)
- Autumn Leaves-Bert Kaempfert (Played at a slower tempo in its own good time, fitting for the melancholy nature of this melody.)
Luna
- Aquarela do Brasil-Marco Periera & Cristovao Bastos (Understated, uptempo piano and guitar synchronicity.)
North Americana
- Youth Not Wasted-Great Lake Swimmers (Particularly in the chorus and mandolin accompaniment, this sounds somewhat like a Nickel Creek song. Chris Thile, Sara Watkins, or Sean Watkins could likely pull off the lead vocals easily.)
Piano Instrumentals
- Astral-Jennifer Zulli (Underscoring fit for moments of wonderment or uncertainty.)
Real Jazz Just Music
- Cempasuchil-Diego Rivera (Sublime, tasteful trumpet, saxophone, and piano cohesion.)
Siriusly Sinatra
- It's Only A Paper Moon (Live)-Nat King Cole (For many listeners, the slower, statelier tunes of Cole's come to mind first--"Mona Lisa," "Unforgettable," or "The Christmas Song," for instance. For contrast, it's refreshing to hear Cole's vocals and piano playing swing on this standard, played for an appreciative audience.)
Watercolors
- Take Me Away-Oli Silk (A fresh breeze of uptempo smooth jazz piano.)
Willie's Roadhouse
- Orange Blossom Special-Charlie McCoy (McCoy's skillful harmonica playing mimics a train convincingly. Living near railroad tracks, I was primed to like this; this rendition made the rhythm of passing trains all the more appealing.)
