Jazz music is positively loaded with history and emotion. Yes, emotion, and a wide range of them I might add. Like the bud of a flower, it continues to unfold with each generation and their interpretation of life and it's melody. To me this music genre can evoke emotion like no other music possibly can. As the genre has unfurled itself over time it has revealed so many facets, or sub-genres, that it seems limitless as to what it is and can potentially be. I don't think that you can completely define jazz, nor would I ever try. The musicians, singers and the songs themselves are products of life and it's many sufferings as well as it's happiest of times. If you have ever seen or listened to a jazz musician, or singer during a performance you can actually hear, see and experience their passion and fervor for life and jazz itself. Here are some performances to show you as to what I am referring to. This is Dave Brubeck playing piano, Paul Desmond on alto sax, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums. The song is "Take Five". Which is an incredibly smooth and completely relaxing melody that can carry you away. Joe Morello, who I might add was vision impaired since birth, gives an excellent performance by delivering a beat that sets the flow of the song. As for bass, it always sets the mood and poetry of the music itself.
This is a fun and fabulous performance by Dizzie Gillespie and Louis Armstrong. You can see the light hearted mood they set with their overall good humor, scatting and then using their trumpets to complete it. They were such wonderful musicians and they seemed to really enjoy performing this song. The voice of Louis Armstrong brought so much to any song he ever sang. They were and will remain true gifts to Jazz music!
Love lost, unrequited, or just plain gone wrong, and the aftermath that follows almost always causes melancholia, anguish and just pure heartache to anyone who has experienced it. Here are a few songs performed by an amazing couple of ladies that can truly bring the whole emotion and meaning of love lost to their performance. You can almost hear the anguish in their voices and sense the pain that love must have caused them at some point in their lives. Billie Holiday performs "I'm a Fool To Want You". The picture that accompanies this video, to me, seems to show the raw emotion that she felt as she performed this song.
This is "I've Gotta Right to Sing the Blues" as performed my eternally favorite Female Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald.
The lyrics to this song seems to sum up the aftermath of heartache. This is "Good Morning Heartache" sung by Billie Holiday, who I might add originally performed this song.
Now for love gained, the delicious part of it, and how good it makes you feel when you have it.
I am very fond of this song and no one can sing it like Big Maybelle. I just never grow tired of listening to her. This is "Candy" performed by Big Maybelle.
A modern day Jazz artist that brings the aura of sexiness to the jazz genre with his melt you like butter, velvety textured voice is Kurt Elling. He is truly a treasure to Jazz music.
I have only touched the tip of the ice burg with today's blog, I am by no means through with this cruise through Jazz and it's full emotional range. I hope that you have enjoyed this installment and there will be more to come in the following weeks.
