Category: music
You have almost certainly seen more than a few images of this mighty river.
It is not unlikely that you have stood beside it, crossed it, or cruised along part of it.
Almost certainly, however, you have never seen even a photo of its upland section.
Comments closedPelecanus crispus – the Dalmatian Pelican – is one of several contenders for the “heavyweight title” among the world’s living, flying birds.
One CommentI took this post’s photo late on the afternoon of 14 July 2010, just below a small waterfall on Oahu Stream, near Kaikoura on New Zealand’s South Island.
Comments closedThe pedigree of Honey
Does not concern the Bee,
Nor lineage of Ecstasy
Delay the Butterfly.
Over the last fifty years I have heard countless versions of Mack the Knife. Undoubtedly, the most acute – and probably the quietest – can be found on One Endless Night, the 2000 album by a master of the “honky tonk” end of country music!
Comments closedChances are, you know this song via Roberta Flack’s hushed, reverent “1972” version.
(Her 1969 version became a hit in 1972, thanks to Clint Eastwood)
Lovely as hers is, it inhabits an utterly different musical world to that of Ewan MacColl’s Scottish-folksong-ish 1957 original.
In 1973 Bert Jansch recorded his singular, Scottish-folkish version of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
Comments closedIn the Blue Light is his final new album, Simon says; it offers brand new takes on 10 of his previously-recorded songs.
Some are gently tweaked, others more substantially rewritten and/or rearranged.
One of the new versions is an absolute hoot…and a nice surprise.
One CommentHere are two albums you should hear.
They offer no tediously-roosterish displays of “technique”.
Neither are they lamely “hip”, or tepidly “smooth”.
Both are uncommonly beautiful.
Crucial to their success is something rarely mentioned by reviewers of “jazz” releases: real friendships, sustained over many years.
One CommentChapter Two is international, and includes a musical bonus – audio of two of my favourite rain songs. (one of them is an “unissued” version)
Comments closed