Blue Gardenias

I just picked up an exquisite record today: Dinah Washington, The Jazz Sides.  It's self-explanatory: a compilation of Dinah Washington's best jazz records.  What really got me excited was finally figuring out the sample to Dag Nabbit's "Blue Gardenias."  Don't hate.  It would've taken me a quick google search to find it if I had looked.  I had just completely forgot about the track off of Foreign Beggars' Asylum Speakers album.  I had picked it up while I was in England last winter on an excellent recommendation from a gallery curator in Canterbury.  Sadly, Dinah Washington hasn't been on my radar until now.  I'm pretty sure she has done a different, more common recording of "Blue Gardenia."  This is an excellent example, though, and you can still hear what was sampled in her first refrain.

Dinah Washington, "Blue Gardenia" from The Jazz Sides

I can't say enough about this instrumental.  It's really flipped but just as beautiful in a creepy way.  I've definitely put this on repeat for a couple of minutes before.  Enjoy!

Dag Nabbit, "Blue Gardenias" from Asylum Speakers

Dollar Crate Special: Diane Schuur

I hadn't heard of Diane Schuur until my girlfriend and I saw her at the historic Blue Note in NYC about a year ago.  Before she even stepped on stage her positive energy radiated through the quaint club.  She cracked some jokes and made light of her reliance on a guide to help her on stage (due to her lack of sight).  I've never seen a picture of her where she isn't wholeheartedly smiling.  If you never saw her, you can still hear her smiling in her music.  In most of her songs she is able to put a happy twist on even a somber song.

I found both of these albums in the Dollar Crates of an Uptown record store.  Half of "Deedles" is unfortunately poppy.  The rest is her sweet spot: jazz.  Her range is vast and her mind is musically sharp which makes for beautifully fun jazz.  She often does a give-and-take play with other musicians.  A perfect example is her scatting on "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing".  She matches notes with the sax so well.  This song is her element.  I also included a download for her "New York State of Mind" because it is the standout track on "Deedles".  Schuur can tackle many different types of songs, but I actually feel she falls short on nailing "NY" because she lacks the swagger that the instrumentation and subject calls for (Nas got it).  I still love this song, though, because 1) I have a soft spot for the Big Apple and 2) the jazziness she brings to certain parts of the song are unique interpretations.

Diane Schuur, "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing"

Diane Schuur, "New York State Of Mind"

What I'm Listening To on this Sunday

Oh, man!  I recently picked up two of these guys' albums and they have blown me away.  Out of Chicago, they are a jazz band comprised of 8 brothers on horns and Christopher Anderson funktifying the drums.  They started off as street performers and only started recording in 2004.  Most of their stuff is heavily influenced by classical jazz, but there is definitely a new-age funk in their swagger, especially when the drums get going.  There is also an occasional and welcome feature of soulful lady vocals.  They're a perfect soundtrack to a Sunday with some smooth tracks, some energetic tracks, and all uplifting.  Very much welcome on a midwinter Sunday here in Minnesnowta.  An excellent example: Jupiter