Save Your Love For Me

He’s back to grace my blog yet again, this time with a classy remake of a classic song. The man I speak of is the incomparable Jose James and the song is his refashioning of “Save Your Love For Me”. The first time I blogged about Jose was for his song “Desire” and how it invoked the setting of a smoky little hole in the wall out of the way jazz joint. This song however invokes images of a man walking through Central Park in the middle of fall, crimson scarf billowing in the wind and him lost in his thoughts. Thoughts of an amazing woman that has him wrapped around her finger and there’s nothing he can do about it and quite frankly he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The song starts off with a crisp beat that gets you rocking and the piano comes in with a sweet chord, James follows closely behind with that flawless voice of his. He sings so smoothly and his voice floats above the exceptional accompaniment of nothing more than drums and piano. The stripped down sound works so well that if there was ever a song considered perfect, this one would have to be included in the argument. Off of Jose's album Blackmagic "Save Your Love for Me" is in my opinion the best song out of the twenty two tracks that make the album up, it's the stand out track amidst some great material. Should you purchase Blackmagic you will not be disappointed at all.

It was hard for me to stop listening to this cut when I first heard it and I'm sure you'll put it on repeat a few times yourself. Enjoy!

Keep Your Eye On Me

Forgive me, I guess I'm in a trumpet mood right now because I'm hitting you with yet another master of the instrument. This one's name is Herb Alpert, yes THAT Herb Alpert of Tijuana Brass fame. That Herb Alpert who was co-owner along with his business partner Jerry Moss of A&M Records where so many prominent careers got started (See The Carpenters, Janet Jackson, Cat Stevens, The Police). Herb Alpert and his label played a major role in popular music and back in 1987 Herb decided to branch out into the world of r&b. He did so with a fun, sexy, sensual album called "Keep Your Eye On Me" which was produced by the same team that played a vital role in shaping Janet Jackson's sound, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis the masterminds behind Flyte Tyme Productions. Now sure, I could have picked any number of songs from Herbs massive collection to blog about, songs that displayed his artistry, skill, and talent but none are as fun and playful as this one.

This song is just out and out quirky from the start with glass breaking, door knocking, dog barking, and an electric guitar bringing in the groove. The bassline and the percussion with that open snare takes over and Herb comes in light with a really simple melody. Backed by backup singers it sounds like Herb is just having some fun and then the break comes in and the song heads off into a different direction melodically only to come back to the original groove and thanks to Jimmy and Terry you get a sense of that the one time iconic r&b band The Time was in the studio, this song has that kind of feel. "Keep" also spawned the hits "Diamonds" with Janet Jackson on vocals and "Making Love in the Rain" with volcals by Lisa Keith and Janet Jackson (I recommend checking out "Making Love" and "Pillow", great songs).

This was Herb Alpert doing somethig different, breaking out of a box his critics and his fans had previously put him in. This was Herb Alpert taking his trumpet and smashing that box to nothing but splinters, and having a damn good time doing it. Enjoy.

Time After Time

I know you've heard of Miles Davis, how could you have not? World renown trumpeter, composer, and artist his name is known by practically anyone that listens to music. What you may not have heard though was his take on Cindy Laupers classic song "Time After Time". Miles did this tune as honestly and as straightforward as he could and he did a damn good job. He could have taken this song in a direction where it wouldn't have been recognizable except to him, his band, and the producer. You would have known what song it was only by reading the song title on the CD. Jazz artists can do that to you, take a pop or top forty song and turn it completely on it's head. I'll show you a case of that real soon. Miles though did no such thing, he played it straight and it's really a lovely tribute to a beautiful song.

He comes in with his trumpet sounding very much like a cornet, all high pitch announcing it's arrival and then breaks into the melody. The musicianship is pitch perfect and on point and Miles plays above the track, plays with it, toys with it even but all the while stays true to the song. This tune was on Mile's first album with CBS Records entitled "Under Arrest" which dropped back in 1985. CBS had at the time the two biggest acts in music of the day, Cindy and Michael Jackson so Miles being Miles he did this song and a verson of Michael's "Human Nature" which is just as straightforward and just as beautiful. Check it out, I know you'll love it as much as I do. The rest of "Under Arrest" was typical Miles, avant garde and just different, challenging you the listener to follow along if you could. The only time you were able to take a breath was when this song and "Nature" played. At least that's my humble opinion but "Arrest" is by far one of my favorite Miles' albums (Bitches Brew comes in first).

Take a listen to this song and maybe like me you'll add it to your playlist or you may go back and check out more of the enigmatic and masterful Miles Davis. The one artist that definitely did things his own way, except this song and for that you just have to smile. Enjoy!

The Look of Love

I was never overly impressed with Chris Botti and in fact I saw him as the Kenny G of the trumpet. He never leaves his comfort zone, never really climbs out there on a limb and goes beyond what he knows. Instead he continues to constantly drop schmaltz tune after schmaltz tune on us and as a jazz fan that's just never worked for me. I can't however expect an artist to play what I'd like to hear or go where I'd like for them to go. I instead have to let them do their thing or ignore them altogether. I was doing the ignore thing with Mr. Botti until I heard his version of the Burt Bacharach, Hal David classic "The Look of Love". The second I heard it, it invoked a mood and a feeling I was thoroughly enjoying. This song, Chris' rendition of it is a mood setter. Smooth and lush with some great vocals.

It starts out with some faux DJ scratching and a keyboard sample over an nice and easy beat. Then Chris's trumpet comes in and before you know it you're bopping your head or tapping your foot. In a word, it's pretty. The heat comes in when Chantal Kreviazuk lays down some great vocals made famous by Dionne Warwick. She glides over the track like rain on glass, albeit her vocals are processed she stills sounds great and takes this track to heights it couldn't have reached without her. Chris comes back in and plays beautifully (admittedly his phrasing is amazing) and he and Chantal bring this hypnotic track to a close. The song is on Botti's 2003 release "A Thousand Kisses Deep", a collection of original pieces and remakes like this one and another classic "My Funny Valentine"

Like I said, I'm not really a Chris Botti fan and don't think I ever really will be. I am a fan of this song though and if you give it a chance to grow on you, you may become a fan of it too and maybe even a fan of Chris' too. Enjoy!

Jolene

This is not one of those songs where you need to break out your big boy speakers because aurally this song won't be impressing you. The sonic landscape isn't at all intimidating. There are no lush movements, no searing guitar solos, no soaring vocals of any kind but what this song does have is simplistic and pure beauty. The song is Jolene by Ray LaMontagne. It's a great story about a man that is bad to the core and there's no good in him, he knows this. The only good he's ever known was this woman named Jolene, the love of his life.

The song starts out with a pretty piano melody accompanied by an acoustic guitar. Ray comes in with his raspy voice singing "Cocaine flames in my bloodstream / Sold my coat when I hit Spokane / Bought myself a hard pack of cigarettes / In the early morning rain". The first time I heard those lyrics I knew I would always love this song. It gets even better when the chorus comes in when Ray sings "Jolene, I ain't about to go straight / It's too late / I found myself face down in a ditch / Booze in my hair / Blood on my lips / A picture of you holding a picture of me / In the pocket of my blue jeans / I still don't know what love means".

It's a lovely, moving song about a lost soul who has embraced that about himself but wishes he could have gotten it right just one time with Jolene. You have to ask yourself though, was it his losing her that turned him dark or was it his darkness that turned her away from him? Either way it's a beautiful song. Hope you agree.

Cult of Personality

If there is one band I loved more than any other, one band I wish never disbanded, the one band I will never forget, it's this one. Why? Because this band was untouchable and unstoppable at it's height. With the singing of Corey Glover, the skins of Will Calhoun, the bottom of Muzz Skillings, topped off with the absolute incendiary guitar playing of Vernon Reid, Living Colour blew roofs off venues, doors off hinges, and other bands right out of the water. And the one song that get's me amped no matter where or when I hear it is their classic "Cult of Personality". Not only does it bring me back to a time in my life when life was truly good and music was music and not something made to make money but this song is also absolutely timeless. It sounds like it was put together yesterday and released today.

This rocker starts off with the voice of Malcolm X, letting you know something is about to smack you upside the head. Then Vernon's crunching guitar hits your ears along with Will's drums and Muzz' bass and the groove is created, the perfect bed for Corey's soulful vocals. He comes in with "Look in my eyes / What do you see? / The cult of personality / I know your anger / I know your dreams / I've been everything you want to be / Ohhh I'm the cult of personality". If you close your eyes you can see Corey grabbing the mic and letting it all hang out, dreads flying in the air as he whips his head around. After the second chorus comes one of the best guitar solos I have ever heard. Vernon lays it down and then shreds it all to hell. If you've never air guitared in your life this song will tempt you to do it and truth be told this song almost made me want to learn how to play the guitar. Corey comes back in and brings the song home and JFK 's voice brings the track to a close.

This is one of my all time favorite songs by one of my all time favorite bands and they will always be. Living Colour eventually got back together and are still making music but they'll never recapture that magic and hunger of the first album "Vivid" and of this song. Enjoy!

Stolen Away on 55th and 3rd

In this day and age everyone and their mother knows of the Dave Matthews Band, even MY mother knows and that's saying something. They aren't some odd local band I happened to have stumbled upon and thought "hey, the world needs to hear these guys". They are literally one of the worlds most popular bands with a signature sound that has garnered them fans far and wide. Now honestly I am not a fan of all of their stuff, I said it! Every group or artist drops an album with a vibe that resonates with you and it becomes your favorite out of their collection. This is the case with DMB's album "Stand Up" and my favorite song off that album is "Stolen Away on 55th and 3rd". I don't think this song was ever released as a single here in the states so it never really got the play I think it deserved.

It's a great song with a great sound and great sentiment. There have been times when I would be walking the streets of this city and wonder if I would ever bump into an old flame and what would I say to her. This song captures that moment perfectly in my opinion. The song starts off with a nice smooth beat, some keys, and the unforttable saxaphone riff by the late great LeRoi Moore. Then Dave comes in singing "Hello again / Seems like forever between now and then / You look the same /I mean you look different but you haven't changed / Funny to think how the time gets away / Funny how you take me right back again". It's that moment when you see that person again after years and all those old feelings come flooding right back. It's done perfectly and just when you don't think this song couldn't get any better or prettier that violin comes in and dances on top of the groove so nimbly it becomes the cherry on the sundae.

I can listen to this song over and over again and never grow tired of it. If you've never heard this song before due to lack of airplay maybe you might grow to love it as much as I do.