This blog is dedicated to my late husband, Jim Fisher, who knew and loved music as much as I DID NOT. Left with over 400 of his music CDs, I am going to listen and review each before I move them along. It is my opportunity to remember the music. And who knows, I might learn something.
Wow! I never really thought much about Duke Ellington.
Tunes of the great composer, pianist, and band leader would zip in and out of my life on the radio or old movies, with me rarely paying any attention where they originated. I was pleasantly surprised when I found a stack of Duke Ellington CDs among Jim's collection, and decided to listen to one.
Blues In Orbit was released in 1988 by CBS Records Inc. as part of its Columbia Jazz Masterpieces series. The CD case proudly states the collection is " Digitally Remastered Directly From The Original Analog Tapes" of the original 1960s album. It does hum, with the bass rattling the walls at a normal level. The jazz-swing compilation has been remastered over 10 times between the 1988 version and 2017.
The CD includes the original tunes from the album, and had some room to include a few later pieces. Fourteen titles making up the list include:
Blues in Orbit
Track 360
Villes Ville Is the Place, Man
Brown Penny
Three J's Blues
SMADA
Pie Eye's Blues
C Jam Blues
Sweet & Pungent
In a Mellotone
Sentimental Lady
Blues in Blueprint
The Swingers Get The Blues, Too
The Swinger's Jump
I really enjoyed this CD. Made me want to get up and dance. My toes are still tapping. If you would like to know more about "the jazz legend" Duke Ellington, visit the official site here.
Or for a traditional taste of his music, listen to the YouTube post below.
I was quietly remembering Jim on his birthday, January 3, when I discovered the date is shared by Fruitcake Toss Day. He would have liked that, probably going out and buying one on clearance just to toss.
Apparently this holiday was first created and celebrated in Manitou Springs, Colorado in 1995. It involves taking all the left over fruitcake - often given as presents - and chucking it. I know, I'm supposed to be writing about music. But it was too tempting to write about Jim having to share his birthday with fruitcake. I'm sure he would have been impressed.
And if you suddenly find yourself wanting a fruitcake, follow these instructions on Youtube.
I pulled this CD from Jim's shelf and smiled. The track Linus and Lucy filled my thought and I immediately went and listened to the Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Boy Named Charlie Brown. The sweet jazz music is from the original sound track for the well-known CBS television special.
The animated comedy-drama made its appearance on TV in December 1969. Released as a record in 1972, and then on CD in 1989 by Fantasy, Inc.. Most of the tracks were composed and played by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi and supported by Monty Budwig on bass, and Colin Bailey on drums.
Tunes include the following:
Oh, Good Grief
Pebble Beach
Happiness Is
Schroeder
Charlie BrownTheme
Linus and Lucy
Blue Charlie Brown
Baseball Theme
Freda (With the Naturally Curly Hair)
Fly Me to the Moon (an additional and enjoyable track not on the original LP)
The CD makes me happy, not only because I remember Jim enjoying it, but because the characters and the music associated with each one makes me happy - even ornery Lucy. I've made a mental note to play this CD if I'm feeling down. Can't stay there for long.
There are so many memories attached to Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Starting in elementary school music classes, through high school band, driving down the highway listening to the radio, and yes, even floating from Jim's office. I've always loved the Four Seasons.
The back of the CD describes it this way:
"Joyous and exhilarating, this is Vivald's Four Seasons as you've never heard it before! From a springtime Saturday picnic in the park to a summer screen-porch Sunday brunch, from autumn's blustery afternoon chill to a winter's warm holiday hearth, take a pleasurable stroll through the seasons with Vivaldi's 'Greatest Hit.' A multi-colored experience combining classical. traditional, new age and chamber music, this one-of a kind album provides the perfect accompaniment for quiet contemplation or entertaining." I found that to be a perfect description.
The first part of the CD is a classical rendition of Four Seasons, followed by more modern versions in the second half. I got the Saturday housework done as I listened to the upbeat music - even spent some time thinking about the summer tree on the front of the CD with his rather bushy hair!
Released in 2003 by the Musical Heritage Society, and includes 77 minutes of great music performed by:
Vladimir Spivakov violin
James Galway flute
Michala Petri recorder
Gottfried von der Goltz baroque violin
Kazuhito Yamashita & Larry Coryell guitars
Tracy Scott Silverman violin
Ransom Wilson flute
Amsterdam Guitar Trio
Modern Mandolin Quartet
The CD booklet includes sonnets which inspired the music. I really enjoyed reading them, but I must admit, I'm about all Vivaldi'd out at the moment!
Read a Wikipedia biography about Vivaldi here, and find out why he was called the Red Priest. Then listen to a portion of the Four Seasons below.
My Jim was an excellent, entertaining writer. I was often after him to write something he could sell, but his energy was always focused on his own obscure interests.
Take for example, his "My Rock Wall of Obscurity," posted on his Wazopia blog in January 2004. It briefly comments on rock and roll. Enjoy the article here, but sadly the picture is missing. If I ever stumble across it, I'll add it to this post. But for now, just enjoy the words.
By J. D. Fisher
"Last summer (2003) I got tired of looking at a blank wall at my office. Not that I'm akin to staring at blank walls all the time but the prints by Zelda and Kadinsky weren't making it for me anymore. "In my basement I have about 2,000 records that I collected during the 1970's. They include many progressive, electronic, new wave, jazz and blues artists. Commercial "corporate" radio has long forgotten these bands. But, thanks to Napster and the Internet, many of these artists are being re-discovered and making a comeback.
"Still, there are many artists who remain in obscurity but who made substantial contributions to the evolution of music. So with the help and encouragement of my wife, one weekend we decided to build our rock wall of fame from the albums in the basement.
"I love the comments people give when they see the wall. Most never heard of the bands but there are actually a few who knew practically every one. My favorite was a young woman from a local ad agency who recognized nearly all of them. She couldn't be older than 25.
"How many do you recognize? I'll give you one. Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced?" is the album behind the flash blast on the far right.
"Homer Simpson once said, "It's a known fact that rock 'n' roll was perfected in 1972." So true. The technology finally caught up with the creativity. Instead of two-track recordings you had 16-track with lots of overdubbing capability. Artists could achieve the sounds they dreamed about in the past. Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" is probably the pinnacle example of rock music production of this period. Produced by Alan Parsons, it literally "eclipsed" everything else. Soon, every new or emerging artist of the early 70's, like Queen, David Bowie, Steely Dan, were producing albums using these new multi-track recording techniques.
"Coinciding with the revolution in recording technology was a vast improvement in the audio components industry. Low-priced but high performance receivers and speakers were available. Pioneer, Sherwood, Harmon-Kardon were affordable high fidelity amps and receivers. EPI, Advent, JBL, and Infinity speakers ruled in homes and college dorms everywhere. Car audio finally caught up in the early 1970's by adding an FM Stereo option. If you were stuck with an AM only radio, Audiovox made an under-dash FM Converter for $19.95.
"The next wave came with the emergence of FM radio which has vastly greater sound quality than AM radio. New FM stations, like WNCR and WMMS, fed the growing demand for high quality sound by playing music from the new, emerging artists who created multi-track recordings.
And that's how rock 'n' roll was perfected."
Well, I can't show you the picture of the Rock Wall, but thanks to YouTube, you can listen to Jimi Hendrex's Are You Experienced? Enjoy!
