Eight tunes for a slow dance party

A former co-worker was going to be the DJ for a party and asked if I'd recommend songs that would work for slow dances.  Eight of the songs I suggested:

• After The Love Has Gone-Earth, Wind & Fire (One of the band's best hits.  Although the lyrics aren't overly optimistic, they're sung perfectly, and the song sets a mood compellingly.  The saxophone's punctuation is perfectly placed, as well.)
• Come Away With Me-Norah Jones (I'd consider this the most obvious choice on the list, but it deserves consideration.  Jones sings it with seemingly effortless class.)
• Good Morning Heartache-Laura Fygi (A cover tune with sobering lyrics that still works for a dance, especially in the breathy manner that Fygi sings it.)
• Samantha-Sammy Nestico (An elegant instrumental that's a saxophonist's showcase.)
• Save Your Love For Me (Live)-Al Jarreau (Possibly the most appropriate choice of all the songs on this list; the opening, a descending scale of four bass notes, sets the mood immediately, and Jarreau's vocals soar.)
• Slow Jam-Midnight Star (Another track that provides instant atmosphere at a dance, instrumentally and vocally.  It could segue with DeBarge's "Time Will Reveal.")
• Suddenly-Cliff Richard & Olivia Newton-John (Lyrically, it works for weddings, as well.)
• Trust-Boney James (This is one of the most appropriate smooth jazz, saxophone-driven instrumentals for such an occasion.  There's a people-spotting-each-other-across-a-crowded-room aspect to its melody that would also work in a jewelry store commercial.)

The former co-worker told me that, of the tunes I'd suggested, "Samantha" and "Suddenly" went over especially well with the guests.  You never know for sure which of your recommended songs will click with an audience, so that was gratifying to hear.

When groupthink makes people sing...

During a dinner dance concert in high school, our jazz band made a group decision.  We decided we'd stop playing our instruments and sing "Roll Out The Barrel," during the last verse.  The fact that not all of us knew the lyrics or that some of us couldn't sing them in tune didn't deter us.

Looking back, I'm glad we did that, as it was a fun surprise for our director and the guests.  However, given how off-key at least half of us were, I'm also glad the moment lives on only in our memories.

Disconcerting advertising

In an AM radio commercial from the '90s, the president of a local funeral home touted his mortuary's benefits.  He made reasonable selling points about the business providing quality service, not soliciting people on the phone, and not visiting door to door.  The commercial's tag line, however, was probably best left unsaid.  Somehow, it seems ill-advised for a funeral home representative to end a commercial with "Thank you, and happy holidays."

Curbing the "How are you?" epidemic

A longtime AM radio talk show host here thought it was superfluous for listeners to ask him, "How are you?" In his later years, he would only answer that question once per show.  He'd tell any other listeners who asked him how he was that evening, "We've established that..."  To his credit, he once started to tell a listener, "We've established that..." and then corrected himself.  "Actually, we haven't established that yet," he said.  "I'm fine, thank you."  Another announcer at the station joked that this host ought to play Santa Claus at some local event.  "Don't ask Santa how he is," the announcer groused, pretending to be the longtime host.

Considering that "How are you?" is usually a rhetorical question, I think the longtime host's rule was reasonable.  When every other caller asks you that superfluously, it eats up time that could be spent on more compelling show content.  When listeners catch on that a host doesn't like being asked that, they'll get to the point of their calls faster.

Stingray Music highlights XXVIII

Standout tracks heard recently:

Cool Jazz

• Angela (Theme From "Taxi")-Bob James (With its instantly recognizable opening played on the recorder, this is one of the subtlest, most memorable sitcom themes.  It's worth hearing in its entirety, as is the rest of the "Touchdown" album.)
• Crazy-Cassandra Wilson (Wilson sings Willie Nelson's tune with laid back depth against an unusual instrumental arrangement.  Norah Jones also recorded a strong cover of it.)
• Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye-John Coltrane (It's difficult to imagine anyone recording a more elegant rendition of this Cole Porter tune on the saxophone.)

Easy Listening

• How Great Thou Art-Vince Gill & Amy Grant (An understated guitar instrumental from the Windham Hill compilation, "Sounds Of Wood & Steel.")

Folk Roots

• Big Blue Ball Of War-Nanci Griffith (Griffith sings earnestly about the perils of violent conflict.)

Jazz Masters

• Begin The Beguine-Artie Shaw (One of the strongest interpretations of this Cole Porter standard.  Shaw proves it's an ideal number for the clarinet.  Les Brown's versions of it are also recommended.)

Jazz Now

• Dove Song-Gilad Hekselman (A guitar melody that stays mellow even in its most upbeat moments.  I was reminded of Pat Metheny as I listened.)
• There Is No Greater Love-Dizzy Gillespie (Any traditional jazz station should have Gillespie's rendition in heavy rotation.  The tune lends itself easily to a trumpeter's interpretation.  Isham Jones and Marty Symes crafted a number that's also just as appropriate for the right vocalist, saxophonist, pianist, or guitarist.)

"Begin when you're ready, i.e. right now."

What does nearly every judge say to a musician who auditions for an orchestra or band?

"You may begin whenever you're ready."

I almost wish at least one of the judges of my auditions would have finished that sentence honestly.  Realistically, the implied direction is, "You may begin whenever you're ready, provided you're ready within the next few seconds."

Has any musician ever responded, "I'll be back next week, then.  I could use more time for contemplation first.  Also, I think Beethoven's judgment was slightly off.  I'd like to make a few revisions in the third movement.  See you in a week?"

Persistent earworm alert XXXVIII

Sometimes, the most unlikely item triggers the memory of a song.  While grocery shopping last week, I saw a bag of chewy, tropical mix candy.  The word "tropical" made me think of the way travel ads often promote an island as a tropical getaway or a tropical paradise.  That, in turn, reminded me of Taj Mahal's song, "Paradise," which has been on my mind since then.  Mahal sings about "going to the tropics when the weather is cold and bad."  He also wants to preserve that getaway feeling by bottling it and taking it home.  The tune's chorus, "I'm talkin' 'bout paradise, paradise...," will likely stay in my mind for at least a few more weeks--thanks to a stroll through the candy aisle.