Ella Fitzgerald Reigns Supreme

Yesterday was Ella Fitzgerald's birthday.  I can't express how much I love Ms. Fitzgerald's music.  Her style.  Her voice.  Her artistry.  She was just such a treasure and really set the standard high for what music should be.


Just One of those Things


Mr. Paganini


Goody Goody


Stone Cold Dead in the Market (my kids love this one)


A Tisket, A Tisket (my kids really, really love this one too)

Ella's music is masterful.  I listen to it and it picks up my spirit.  You can tell that she really loved music and loved to sing . . .


I like good music too Ella!  Thank you so much!

Z1 learns the Piano

Music is very important to me.  I really love and appreciate all kinds of music and have always had a strong desire to make music either using an instrument or my voice.  I've played the recorder, saxophone, violin and piano.  The piano, though, has always been my true love and I sincerely wish that I had gone further in my studies.  

Because I love music, it's one thing that I knew I would have to share with my kids so we listen to lots and lots of it.  One day it could be all Ella Fitzgerald and next day we're listening to Burning Spear and then the day after that it's Yo-Yo Ma.  But I also really want them to play music.  Now, I know you can't force these things on children but I determined that I was going to do my best to expose them to all different kinds of musical instruments to see if they naturally took to any one.

Photo Credit: http://www.mysterytrax.com/Bio.htm

Well, we started Z1 with violin at a church a few towns over.  These are low cost classes with about 8 or 9 other children in the class.  The boy does not like the violin at all.  I think he finds it difficult to physically play the instrument.  May be will take a liking to it later on.  Currently, though, it's not his cup of tea.

So on the recommendation of some homeschooling friends we know, we started him in private piano lessons.  They are not cheap but he really, really loves it.  I don't have to cajole him to practice or go to his lesson and he likes his teacher.  I like her too.  She is funny and charismatic and just brings piano playing to life.  I'm very pleased with her style and how much Z1 is learning.  

We don't, however, have a piano.  We have a small keyboard on which Z1 practices.  I'd like to get a real piano soon but we really don't have a place to put it unless we move some things around.  We'd have to get rid of the television cabinet (which houses the television, VCR, DVD player, receiver and Roku).  I'm thinking we could put the piano there and get a small flat screen television to mount on the wall.  The other electronics could easily fit in a small cabinet that I'm sure we could find at the thrift store.   I'm fairly certain it would be easy to get a piano for a decent price just from taking a quick survey on Craig's List.  We would have to pay someone to move it and probably would need to get it tuned.  I'm excited about the prospect of having a piano in the house not only for Z1 but for myself.  I would love the opportunity to get better at playing.  

Funnily enough, Z1 learning a new instrument has reminded me about how much I have always wanted to play the bass guitar.  Sometimes I listen to certain songs over and over just for the bass lines:

and

With all the books, DVDs, and YouTube videos available coupled with my good foundation in music, I know that I could probably teach myself.  So I'm on the lookout for a bass guitar and an amplifier.  

Something has happened over the last few months to a year:  I've lost my passion for a lot of things.  Things that at one point I couldn't imagine not being passionate about.  Writing.  Knitting. Crochet.  Reading.  Cooking.  Baking.  Almost everything, it seems like.  I often feel like I am just going through the motions and not much excites me.  Even though almost every morning I'm reading about being mindful and present.  There are a lot of reasons for this--mostly deeply personal so I won't go into them here--but the thought of getting a piano and a bass guitar finally made something move inside me and I am hoping that this will re-trigger my other passions.    

Anyway, I am glad Z1 is on an instrument that he likes.  It means that I don't have to be all "Tiger Mom" on him about practicing and being diligent in his study.  

The ArchAndroid

The same good friend that recommended the book I'm reading now (Three Cups of Tea) also hipped me to a relatively new artist Janelle Monae.  I got her album The ArchAndroid and the first couple of times I listened to it, I thought it was way too strange.  But it's really starting to grow on me!  It's really refreshing to hear something so radically different when everyone is essentially doing the same things over and over again.  Plus, there are some tracks on this album that have a really old school, classic feel (think Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn but also Judy Garland . . . lol!)  So I decided to do a little research and watch some videos on YouTube.  And, to my surprise, I think this sister is a natural, i.e. she wears her natural hair texture.  She gets extra cool points for that! So hats off to this very creative sister!  Once I get through this album, I'm going to check out her other one Metropolis. 

Here's a link to "Tightrope":

And maybe my favorite from the album, "Cold War" (I love the video, by the way!  Ms. Monae is stunning!!:


And another one I really love "Sir Greendown":





Also, check out this interesting review of The Archandroid. 

Count Your Blessings

From Distant Relatives by Nas and Damian Marley.  Awesome album, by the way.

Queen Ifrica Does it Again

So I love me some Queen Ifrica.  I think this sistren is supremely talented.  Really take time to listen to her lyrics.  Intelligent and creative.  Truly powerful wordsound.  Not to mention I love her dresses and style. Just wanted to share.

A Broad Musical Palate

Since I grew up in a very conservative Christian household, we were not allowed to listen to secular music.  In fact, the radio was usually tuned to Family Radio which was unexciting to say the least.  So for the first thirteen years of my life, I had no idea what was going on in music.  Around this time, though, my father joined Columbia House and we finally got some interesting (though unwanted) music like Baroque Duet by Kathleen Battle and Wynton Marsalis (Eternal Source of Light was one of my favorites but I actually learned most of the album in Italian), a Ray Charles "Best of" double CD, a Motown compilation CD, the soundtrack to The Phantom of the Opera.  These CDs kind of were just around but my parents didn't listen to them and I'm sure they wouldn't have approved.  (In fact, I think I got in trouble one time when my dad found one opened that he didn't open.)  I played them constantly and enjoyed them whenever I could--when my parents were out or busy.  I entertained dreams of becoming an opera singer and was told by a few folks that I was pretty good.

Anyway, I was so woefully removed from popular music for so much of my life, I feel like I've been playing catch-up ever since.  Since I hang out with folks who are usually 10 years older than me, they usually try to clown me about not knowing obviously popular songs--that I was just a thought when the song was hot.  Sometimes it's true.   Sometimes it's not.  Sometimes I can't say for sure.  Did I simply miss it because I was under a parental rock it or did it really come out before my time?

I've been doing a good job of catch up I think.  It started with my Walkman that I got freshman year of high school when I started to take the bus by myself.  My little Aiwa Walkman gave me a chance to listen to music privately (it definitely didn't cost as much as the one I linked to).  I began listening to Hot 97 and pretty soon, I knew all the currently popular songs.  But then I started to feel guilty thinking that Christian people should listen to music that glorifies God or at least music that didn't talk about sinful things like sex.  So I stopped listening to the radio.  My school friend was able to procure two tapes for me: Erykah Badu's Baduizm and Room 112, 112's second album. Around junior year, I went back to listening the radio again (starting to feel trapped by Christianity or at least my parents' version) and got hooked on Jay-Z.  I bought his albums and hid them lest my parents find out and bug out.

In college, I was all about reggae and built a pretty impressive reggae collection.  It started out with Bob Marley (of course) and it went from there.  I played this music in the house and it was the source of many, many fights between my father and I.  He would swear that he smelled marijuana in my room (but it couldn't have been).  But I loved reggae and needed it at that time in my life.  I still love reggae tremendously but I'm sometimes surprised at how much I've branched out and reached back in time with my musical choices.  I will listen to Otis Redding just as readily as Luciano or Ludacris (clean versions now because of the kids--and some tracks I have to skip altogether).  I still pop in Kathleen Battle from time to time.  I love soukous and rock to Fela (who was introduced to me by an ex-boyfriend).  To say my tastes in music are eclectic would be a spot-on observation!  I wouldn't know even know how to describe what I've got going on in I-tunes.  Almost every genre (including gospel because I loves me some Clark Sisters, Tramaine Hawkins and Fred Hammond) is represented.

What am I listening to now?  Peter, Paul and Mary.  It's not something I would have dreamed I would like so much ten years ago but I really do.

So it's been an interesting musical journey--and it's not over yet.  I still wish I could have been musical myself in some way.  I think that I might like to be a back-up singer for someone.  I wonder at times should I take up piano again--I did enjoy it.  I'm hoping to find a secular choir or singing group to join once the kids get a bit older.    I want to make sure the kids are surrounded by all kinds of music too.  I'm not going to wax poetic about the importance of music but if I can convey to them the value of music, I think I would have given them a priceless gift.

I may be a very picky eater but my musical palate right now is quite broad and ever-broadening.

When I was in high school . . .

He was just coming on the scene. And you knew then that he was the hotness. His longevity is stunning, at least to me. And when the boys go to sleep, I still enjoy his music. Had a boyfriend once who was an aspiring emcee . . . used to rail against him because he said he never, ever wrote down his rhymes. My boyfriend used to say he was a liar . . . nobody could do that. I don't know. It was hard to hide my admiration for him then and it's hard to hide it now. Oh yeah, I love my roots reggae. Love my classical music. But I also love my . . .

I think he's brilliant in so many ways.

I love this commercial and own almost every album of Jay-Z's. And Z1 absolutely loves this song so even though I can only somewhat tolerate Rhianna's singing, I play the clean (radio edit) version often.

I Can't Stand the Rain!

Thank God today is sunny and warm!

My first introduction to this song was back in high school when Misdemeanor Eliot ("Missy") sampled it. I loved it then (and still do) but didn't know it was old school. I should have. I've always thought Missy was so creative and like me, marched to her own drum. Anyway, wanted to share some music on this lovely day!





Have a great weekend!

Small Confession

I love that new Akon song "So Paid".

I know. Akon? Really?

But it's so catchy. And he even harmonizes. LoL.

Eh, the hubby says keeping up with current music allows you to keep up and not get out of touch with the younger generation. I guess the fact that I actually (can you believe it?) like some of the music that my 17 year old niece listens to is a good thing.

I won't go as far as to embed the video. :)

For the Love of Music--Onyeka Onwenu and King Sunny Ade

These two phenomenal Nigerian artists did this song together to promote family planning/discourage premarital sex . . . "If you love life, you go plan am well." They sing in pidgin English which is a form of English similar to patois or African-American vernacular English in structure that is used in Nigeria to bridge the language divide of over 400 different language spoken.

Ms. Onwenu's voice is simply gorgeous and King Sunny Ade was a musical master. I love the song. It's got a decidedly 80s sound, starts off a little corny, but still manages to be distinctly Nigerian. Enjoy.

For the Love of Music

This the last part of a six part traditional music series called "Dim Oma" or "My Beautiful/Good Husband". All six videos together tell a whole story of love, marriage and disappointment. I happen to like the sixth video the most so that's why I'm sharing it today.

For the Love of Music

Okay, I think "For the Love of Music" may very well be the name I'm going to stick with. For some reason, this whole week, I've been really into Gladys Knight. Now, there are soooo many singers who are hot right now--some talented and some who require a lot of studio work and some who are just cute/selling sex. I recognize that the music industry is a business like any other and so they have to make money. But something about Gladys Knight and the Pips moves me and reminds me of what true artistry, true singing is all about. It's clean. It's controlled while inspiring all kinds of emotions. No super duper riffs (which so many people think makes a good singer). Just beautiful and pure. So . . . without further ado . . . the Empress of Soul singing Neither One of Us (1973).

For the Love of Music!

I like what I've seen on some folks blogs, you know, a weekly, recurring "event" like "Lurker Thursday" over at Diary of an Anxious Black Woman and "Monday's Meal" over at My Little Slice of Pie or "Wordless Wednesday" at various blogs I've run into.

Well, through the miracle of YouTube, I've been able to find some fantastic music. I've grown to enjoy many different kinds of music and I want to share with anyone who might stumble upon my blog. I'm going to start out with Igbo music because I think that has been the greatest thing I've found on YouTube. I'm not sure what day this "musical event" will occur but it seems that since I finally got around to it on Friday, I'll stick with that. Now to think of a clever name.

So here it is, the first installment of [insert clever name here]: "Agam Adi Ndu" by Paul Nwokocha


I love this song. Calming. Peaceful. And so powerful. It basically says that "human beings predict or say all these negative things about me and what will become of me but it is only what God says that is true--what God says I will be, is what I will be."

I'm becoming more and more motivated to reconnect my children to my family back home in Nigeria. It's not in the budget or in any way convenient but . . . songs like this make me feel nostalgic and remind me how important it is to go back to the root.

New Music

We purchased Tarrus Riley's new album Parables and it is fabulous. I haven't had an album that I keep playing over and over and over in a really long time. It feels nice. His voice is so smooth and his lyrics are tight. So we bought the album and I burned a CD for the car and I put it on the I-pod--wherever I go, I am listening to Parables. My favorite tracks are Beware, Microchip, Parables, She's Royal, Lion Paw and System Set. Great album!

I washed my hair yesterday

And it seems that a few more have started to thin at the base of the loc. So disheartening. The one loc that was really skinny at the root, I had to cut that bad boy. It was just dangling there and annoying me. But now I don't know which one is better . . . the patch with no hair or the dangling loc.

On a brighter note . . . I made cinnamon swirl raisin bread. My baby boy helped me knead and roll out the dough. He was looking forward to the bread when he took his nap and when he woke up, that was the first thing he asked for. He is eating a warm slice right now and he is LOVING it. I think I'll wait till it cools down some more.

In other cooking adventures, I made the Jamaican Yuca Shepherd's Pie from Veganomican. My oven is quite old and the broiler just kind of charred the top--but it was actually good that way. We are still eating it as it was a pretty big dish I used to make it. Can I just say it is a fabulous dish? I love curries and this particular dish gave me so many ideas of other curries I can put together. The dish was quite starchy (only about 2 cups of beans) for the whole casserole so it's not going to be a staple dish but in terms of comforting foods, this one ranks very high. I am so excited to make another dish from this cookbook (which, if you didn't notice has 143 customer reviews on Amazon.com, all 5 stars!!).

On another note, at the library in my town they've started a needlework circle. There are precious few activities I can attend with a baby in tow and so I really hope the library decides to keep the group going. There have been plenty of groups and activities at the library that were just discontinued I suppose because they didn't have the greatest turnout. It was a small group yesterday . . . only 4 ladies so I'm going to put an add on Craig's list and at the local supermarket when I go to see if we can get more folks. Anyway, it was there at the needlework circle that I got my first chance to knit all week. And so, I'm finally making some progress on the cotton crown (hat) I'm making my hubby for summertime. I started a few weeks ago using Manos del Uruguay Cotton Stria in Spice 215. It is a luscious yarn that has beautiful texture. It's knitting up quite nicely on Size 5 circulars. This is my first top-down hat and I'm using the instructions in Knitting from the Top, one of Barbara Walker's classic books. I'd say I'm about 65% done.

Even better than all of that . . . Have you ever heard a song on the radio that you just loved but you didn't know who the artist was? You search everywhere and ask everyone to no avail and then one day . . . you stumble across it. Pure joy!!! So I heard a reggae tune on the radio and for weeks, I've been wanting to know who the artist was and where I could get the song . . . I found it on YouTube after doing a search on google. I've been playing it non-stop ever since. It's "Below the Waist" by Queen Ifrica.

You know me nah go box you down, baby
Now, me just wan hold you down, baby
Him say gwan go put on your thong, baby
And before you know it, it's another, baby!!



Makes me wan wine up mi waist! :)