SiriusXM highlights LXXXIII

Standout tunes heard yesterday:

'80s On 8

• Breakout-Swing Out Sister (The band's big American hit, and rightfully so; vocally and instrumentally, its bounce and confident outlook are just as captivating as they were years ago.  Other recommended gems: "Butterfly," "Forever Blue," and the Cal Tjader instrumental remix of "Now You're Not Here.")

Chill

• Without You-Lane 8 (Forthright recurring vocals set to a hypnotic keyboard groove.)

The Coffee House

• What Is Love?-Duncan Sheik (Sheik's acoustic rendition is as strong as the original by Howard Jones.)

Real Jazz

• Armando's Rhumba-Helen Sung/Paquito D'Rivera (A simmering number for piano and clarinet.  Also recommended: Sung's "Going Express" CD.)

SXM Spotlight

• Insanity-Gregory Porter/Lalah Hathaway (Porter and Hathaway blend well here.  Porter is equally at home singing traditional jazz, contemporary R&B, or singer-songwriter material.)

Watercolors

• Rosemary's Tune-Jay Rowe (To me, this sounds like a Steely Dan backing track, especially in the keyboard and drums.)

Y2Kountry

• Landslide-Dixie Chicks (This contemplative, Stevie Nicks-penned Fleetwood Mac take on aging suits these three voices well.)

Persistent earworm alert LXXXIII

Does anyone else remember the Praise dog food commercial jingle from the '80s?  Over the last two days, I haven't been able to get, "Good dog!  Here's your Praise.  Dogs love the taste of Praise.  Dogs love Praise," out of my mind.

It's funny what reading the Pets Of The Week column in the paper after hearing Fatboy Slim's "Praise You" triggers.

Stingray Music highlights L

Noteworthy selections heard yesterday:

Canadian Indie

• Silver Velvet-The Courtneys (A driving beat, spirited vocals, and a memorable hook draw the listener in.)

Chamber Music

• J.M. Kraus: Sonata In E major, VB 196 (Jacques Despres, piano) (I heard a definite resemblance to Beethoven in all three movements.)

Jazz Masters

• Brownie Eyes-Clifford Brown (An ideal trumpet piece for late nights that would segue with Sean Jones Quartet's "We'll Meet Under The Stars.")

Jazz Now

• Lenteur Tzigane-Christine Tassan et les Imposteures (A thoughtful, elegant midtempo piece for guitar and violin.)

Nature

• Forest Dawn-Ron Korb (Forest animals playing flutes--well, not really, but that's how it comes across.  Balancing animal sounds and musical accompaniment is somewhat tricky, but both elements come together here.)

Pop Classics

• J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012 (Mstislav Rostropovich, cello) (A perfect match of source material and performer; if you know someone who doesn't usually care for Classical music, this might melt the ice.)

Retro R&B

• Too Busy Thinking About My Baby-Marvin Gaye (The chorus has stood the test of time; I don't hear it played on oldies stations as much as I once did, but I'm glad it still gets played.)

Not one to frequent bars, but...

...I wonder if any group at a bar near closing time has ever sung Sarah McLachlan's "Adia," sincerely or ironically.  While hearing it recently, it occurred to me that lyrics such as, "We all falter.  Does it matter?" might be appropriate in that setting.

SiriusXM highlights LXXXII

Noteworthy tunes heard today:

'40s Junction

• Lullaby In Rhythm-Charlie Ventura (Impressive vocals for fans of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross.  Also recommended: "Euphoria.")

The Beatles Channel

• For You Blue-Dhani Harrison (George Harrison's son stays true to the galloping spirit of the original version.) 

Chill

• Lost In Space-Emmit Fenn (Vocally, "Lost In Space" reminds me of Jack Johnson and Bon Iver.)

Deep Tracks

• Green Grass And High Tides-The Outlaws (A fine slice of inspired album rock from 1975; I'd like to think that in Heaven, people get to see all of the best musicians perform.)

Enlighten

• Sustaining Grace-Karen Peck & New River (The sincerity of Peck's vocals underscore the tune's message about being stronger than we sometimes think we are.)
  

Heart & Soul

• Strength, Courage & Wisdom-India Arie (Inspiring lyrics about staying true to yourself.)

Real Jazz

• Peace-Horace Silver (Powerful vocals from Andy Bey and warm keyboard underpinning from Silver.  Norah Jones covered it exceptionally well.)
  

In memory of Hugh Masekela

Hugh Masekela, a prolific trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer for over five decades, passed away today.  I consider these seven of his best tracks:

• Been Such A Long Time Gone (One of the last LPs I bought at Webster Records just before it closed was Masekela's "I Am Not Afraid."  One of its highlights is this Masekela composition, with captivating lyrics about readjusting to a place that was once so familiar.)
• Blues For Huey (Masekela displays his traditional straight ahead jazz chops on trumpet here.)
• Cantelope Island (Live) (A fine, forthright cover of the Herbie Hancock tune, with Larry Willis on piano.)
• Grazing In The Grass (Fifty years later, this is still an engaging fresh breeze of a melody.  To casual listeners, this is the instrumental for which Masekela is best known.  Also, check out the idealistic, welcoming vocals on The Friends Of Distinction's rendition.)
• Moonza (with Herb Alpert) (If smooth jazz had been a radio format in 1978, this would have been a staple cut, for its immediate accessibility and resemblance to Chuck Mangione.)
• Night In Tunisia (Another standout from "I Am Not Afraid."  This is how you honor Dizzy Gillespie, while sounding contemporary for the time, i.e. 1974.)
• Skokiaan (with Herb Alpert) (An appealingly blended cover kicks off a collaboration between two noted trumpet and flugelhorn players.)

Stingray Music highlights XLIX

Recent highlights from U-verse:

Cool Jazz

• Weird Lullaby-Wynton Kelly (Intimate, expansive piano jazz.)

Folk Roots

• I'll Be Here In The Morning-Townes Van Zandt (One of his best sets of lyrics, along with "To Live Is To Fly."  Richard Shindell covers it compellingly.)

Gospel

• Yeah-Yolanda Adams ("Yeah" radiates commendable resolve and strength, particularly in the chorus, to follow God.)

Jazz Latino

• Ternura-Omar Sosa (I'd be curious to hear a mashup of "Ternura" and Martin Denny's "Quiet Village.")

Nothin' But '90s

• Missing-Everything But The Girl (Tracey Thorn's wistful vocals about a relationship that is no more can't help but sink in, if you're paying attention.  The Ultramarine remix is just as effective, in my opinion.)

Retro R&B

• I've Been Loving You Too Long-Otis Redding (If the emotive power of Redding's "I've Been Loving You Too Long" and "Try A Little Tenderness" appeals to you, this likely will, too.)

South Africa Traditional

• Self Existent-Wowo (A midtempo smooth jazz groove, featuring an appealing blend of piano, bass, and backing vocals.  This could segue with Incognito's "After The Fall.")