Shuffle mode results VII

The music in my iTunes library is shuffling, and the song that pours into my headphones first is...

...1.  Anywhere-Naomi Wachira
(We're all more alike than we are different; a good reminder in turbulent times.  Taj Mahal's "Everybody Is Somebody" and Keb' Mo's "Just Like You" convey similar sentiments effectively.)
   2.  Twilight-Melody Gardot
(One of my favorite bits of musical noodling; an unexpected end to Gardot's "Worrisome Heart" CD.  Gardot's "That was fun" remark at the end makes me smile.)
   3.  Cold Cold Heart (Live at House Of Blues-New Orleans)-Norah Jones
(A strong cover of the Hank Williams tune, sung with sultry grit; one of her best recordings.)
   4.  Be Thankful For What You Got-William DeVaughn
(This is another Thanksgiving music recommendation; this slick '70s arrangement brings Curtis Mayfield's music to mind.)
   5.  Reasons Why ("Live At The World Cafe, Vol. 11" version)-Nickel Creek
(As I mentioned in my Shuffle mode results II post, "Reasons Why" is one of the band's strongest efforts.  This version is faithful to the original.)
   6.  Up On The Roof-The Persuasions
(An impressive a cappella cover of the standout Drifters oldie.  It's interesting hearing this in mono, with lead vocals in the right speaker and harmony vocals in the left speaker.)
   7.  Bodhisattva (Live in Santa Monica)-Steely Dan
(An emcee's 2 1/2-minute, spontaneous intro precedes this extremely energetic version.)
   8.  Good King Wenceslas-Dawn Weber
(A strong arrangement by a St. Louis trumpeter.)
   9.  Raglan Road (KGSR "Broadcasts, Vol. 9" version)-The Chieftains with Joan Osborne
(A pairing that works effectively on this well-known Irish song.  You can hear the heartbreak coming in the lyrics.)
 10.  Lift Off-Robert Glasper featuring Shafiq Husayn & Mic Check
(Thanks to my brother for bringing this track to my attention.  This is about as smooth of an intro to a CD--or radio show, for that matter--as anyone could have.)
 11.  Silver Lining-Rilo Kiley
(One of the band's more tuneful offerings.  Also recommended: "The Frug.")
 12.  What You Don't Know-The Hello Strangers featuring Jim Lauderdale
(Alas, life doesn't come with a guidebook.)
 13.  Triste-Kenny Barron & The Brazilian Knights
(One of last year's best jazz tracks; a memorable piano vamp makes its imprint right away, and the ensemble clicks at the top of its form.)
 14.  Kari-Bob James & Earl Klugh
(A smooth mesh of keyboards and guitar; I'm surprised I haven't heard it more often on smooth jazz stations.  Other James recommendations: "Touchdown" and "Angela (Theme From 'Taxi.')"  Klugh is one of my favorite smooth jazz guitarists; favorite tracks include "Dr. Macumba," "Long Ago And Far Away," "Dance With Me," "Moonlight Dancing," and "I Never Thought I'd Leave You.")
 15.  Driving Me Mad-Neil Finn
(Finn's descent into madness provides an interesting lyrical counterpoint to his son Liam's "Energy Spent.")
 16.  Quintessence-Quincy Jones & His Orchestra
(Longtime St. Louis jazz authority/DJ Leo Chears used to close his shows with this track.  It's easy to hear why, as it brings to mind images of a ballroom closing for the evening.)
 17.  The Great Pumpkin Waltz-George Winston
(No version could top Vince Guaraldi's original, but this is a fine, somewhat more academic version.)
 18.  Sitting In Limbo-Thea Gilmore
(Sometimes, a song resonates with you at just the right time.  When I first heard it in late 2005, I was on the cusp of moving, but I didn't know where yet.  The lyric, "Sitting here in limbo, knowing that I have to go," stayed with me.  Gilmore makes this Jimmy Cliff song her own.)
 19.  The Boy In The Bubble (Live in New York City)-Paul Simon
(My favorite song from the "Graceland" album is in fine form here.  Any lyrics that discuss "the days of miracle and wonder" this well should command respect.)
 20.  Follow Your Dreams-Brett Stamps
(As I mentioned previously, Stamps is a jazz trombonist whose music should be known more widely.)
 21.  Sweet Thing-Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
(A highlight of Khan's career that deserves more airplay than it usually gets these days.)
 22.  Wassail Song-Trombones Under The Tree
(A succinct, brassy instrumental rendition of "Here We Come A-Wassailing.")
 23.  We'll Meet Under The Stars-Sean Jones Quartet
(One of 2014's best jazz tracks; sublime trumpet and piano lines establish a thoughtful mood and maintain it for over seven minutes.)
 24.  Former Glory-Ron Sexsmith
(Things might be rocky now, but that doesn't mean something positive isn't just around the corner; a nice reminder.)
 25.  You Can't Change That-Ray Parker, Jr. & Raydio
(Another song that deserves more airplay than it usually gets today; a strong hook that stands up to repeated listening.)

Favorite pairs of segues IX (Christmas edition)

Pairs of Christmas selections that I think segue well:

   1.  Away In A Manger-Oscar Peterson
   2.  O Holy Night-The Lettermen
(I used to think "Away In A Manger" was an average Christmas carol until I heard Peterson's sublime rendition.  Peterson's piano and Jack Schantz's flugelhorn set the mood perfectly, conveying a perfect blend of solemnity and intimacy.  The Lettermen's version of "O Holy Night" conveys a similar reverence.)
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   3.  The Peace Carol-John Denver & The Muppets
   4.  Light One Candle (live)-Peter, Paul & Mary
(Denver & company evoke the peace of Christmas Day convincingly, while Peter, Paul & Mary illustrate why it's prudent to be peaceful.)
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   5.  He Is Born-Holiday Brass featuring Susan Slaughter
   6.  Ding Dong! Merrily On High-Irish Philharmonic Chorus
(The St. Louis Symphony's brass, winds, and percussion sections offer an appropriately regal, joyous take on "He Is Born," and the Irish Philharmonic Chorus contributes a compatible from-the-mountaintop arrangement.)
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   7.  The Borning Day-The Brothers Four
   8.  Mary Had A Baby-Pete Seeger
(The birth of Christ, conveyed compellingly in two different styles of folk music.)
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   9.  It Doesn't Have To Be That Way-Jim Croce
 10.  Angels We Have Heard On High-Bob Rafkin
(Croce's tale of hope segues into Rafkin's enjoyable instrumental in the same key.)
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 11.  Here We Come A Wassailing-Kate Rusby
 12.  In Dulci Jubilo-Mike Oldfield
(Rusby's angelic voice fits this slightly unusual rendition of "...Wassailing," and Oldfield's instrumental take on "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" builds on Rusby's upbeat vibe.)
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 13.  Light Of The Stable-Emmylou Harris
 14.  Little Road To Bethlehem-Shawn Colvin
(Different stages of the Christmas story, sung equally movingly.)
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 15.  Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella-Philadelphia Brass Ensemble
 16.  Sussex Carol-Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields/Neville Marriner, director
(The joy of Christmas, conveyed effectively through horns and vocals.)
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 17.  Hark! The Herald Angels Sing-Take 6
 18.  Angels From The Realms Of Glory-Arturo Delmoni & Friends
(Perfect harmony meets a perfect string quartet in this pairing.)
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 19.  Gloria, In Excelsis Deo-Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra
 20.  I'll Be Home For Christmas-The Mills Brothers
(Two forms of excellent easy listening.)

FM dial scan highlights XII

A diverse selection of standout tracks got my attention this morning:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Holding On To The Earth-Sam Phillips (This punchier, late '80s original holds up better than the version on her best-of compilation.  If I'd been at KCOU when this was released, I'm sure I would have played this frequently.)
• Tomorrow Night In Baltimore-Lee Ann Womack (I don't usually seek out country music with wall-of-sound production values.  In this case, however, the big production works; Womack makes this Roger Miller tune her own.  Either version, but especially Miller's, could segue with Glen Campbell's "Gentle On My Mind.")

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Cold Duck-Al Jarreau (An effective way to start a CD on an uptempo note; one of the highlights from Jarreau's "Accentuate The Positive" release.  Jarreau has released so much excellent music over the years.  Among his best tracks: "Across The Midnight Sky," "Mornin'," "Step By Step," "Breakin' Away," "Distracted," "Roof Garden," and "Letter Perfect.")
• In Your Own Sweet Way (Take 2)-Bill Evans Trio (A shorter, less-played version of this jazz piano standard.)

KLOU 103.3 FM

• Deck The Halls-James Taylor (Although "Deck The Halls" has never been one of my favorite Christmas carols, Taylor's take, with its Peter And The Wolf-style arrangement, is among the best.  Taylor's controlled delivery improves it, leaving the instruments to provide low-key frills.)

In the spirit of Thanksgiving...

...I'm cueing up Lisa Lynne's "Allelujah."  If you haven't heard it, it's a glad-to-be-alive, uptempo instrumental.  Liz Story's "Blessings" is another track from Windham Hill's Thanksgiving compilation that deserves a mention; it's a contemplative piano piece that's suitable, in a different way, for this holiday.  As the music plays, I want to thank everyone who reads and enjoys my blog.  It's gratifying, 88 posts into it, to see that people are reading it not only in this country but in France, Poland, Germany, Vietnam, and Russia.  Thank you, also, to the artists who have share their talents and sensitivity through their music.  I look forward to listening and writing about your music each day.  Here's wishing all who celebrate it a positive Thanksgiving and those who don't celebrate it an equally positive day. 

Another Thanksgiving recommendation

Thank you to KDHX for jogging my memory last Saturday.  While listening to "The Back Country," I heard Fred Holstein's rendition of "The Thanksgiving Song" from his "Tribute To Steve Goodman" CD.  "What can you do with each moment of your life but love 'til you've loved it away?" is an appropriate sentiment not only for Thanksgiving but every day.  It isn't always realistic, but it's a great goal for which to aim.

Peace needed, stat!

While watching TV news coverage of last night's mayhem in Ferguson, I was struck by the incongruity of seeing Christmas lights amidst destroyed buildings and cars.  I thought repeatedly about John Gorka's "Christmas Bells."  Gorka's take on "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" has a markedly different tone than Harry Belafonte's version.  Belafonte's version is elegant, while Gorka's is stark and downcast, especially as he sings, "And in despair, I bowed my head.  'There is no peace on Earth,' I said.  'For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on Earth, good will to men.'"  After last night's devastation, here's hoping from now on, as the song says, that "the wrong shall fail" and "the right (people, with more peaceful reactions will) prevail."

FM dial scan highlights XI

Here are some of the best tracks I've heard on the FM dial today:

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Santa Cruz-Chucho Valdes (One of his many excellent Latin jazz piano selections.  The last CD I reviewed for KCOU was his "Solo Piano" CD, which I also recommend, particularly for "Blue Yes" and "Blues (Untitled.)")
• Amazing Grace-Cyrus Chestnut (An unexpected stride piano approach to this hymn that works.  Chestnut's versions of "The First Noel" and "Skating" also stand out.)

KCLC 89.1 FM

• Something Wild-Maia Sharp (Sharp's most gripping, powerfully sung track from a strong CD, "Fine Upstanding Citizen."  A forceful set of lyrics about thinking you want something and realizing, when you get it, that you don't want it so much.)

WFUN 95.5 FM

• Happy Feelings-Maze featuring Frankie Beverly (One of the band's standout tracks that lives up to its title.  "Golden Time Of Day" is also recommended.) 

KEZK 102.5 FM

• Celebrate Me Home-Kenny Loggins (Who doesn't enjoy being welcomed home during the holidays?)