I'm working on a "real" entry for later. (Do I share the subject...? Nah, I like the illusion of keeping everyone in suspense better.) For now I'll just say that it's someone I've seen live.
In the meantime, I'm going to start throwing in a heads up to albums coming out each week that fit the subject here. This week?
Marianne Faithfull - Easy Come, Easy Go
Certainly a voice for the ages, the story I heard is that she started off as a high soprano, but years of cigarettes, drugs and Mick Jagger (they were together all through the late 60's...'nuff said) aided to develop the deep throaty voice she is most known for. If you're not already a fan, it never hurts to try out a classic.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Billie Holiday
(a short one, since most people should be at least somewhat familiar with her, and this is the age of the internet. The average person should be able to uncover all the information they need to know in three clicks or less)
I tend to stick to a certain style of music. I'm not entirely sure what to classify it as, but if I had to take a stab at it I'd probably say "Catchy upbeat and just-under-the-radar modern pop-rock" (no, not pop rocks, though those are pretty awesome in their own right.) Though I'm not averse to traveling outside my box on occasion.
I'd say there was a time circa 1999 when I was pretty obsessed with jazz for awhile and a quintessential jazz staple would undeniably be Ms. Holiday. There are others whose vocal styles I may prefer but let me put it this way: If I had to compare some of my favorite jazz singers to standard kitchen utensils, Sarah Vaughn would be a potato masher (a little muddled but soft and smooth), Lena Horne would be a large sharp kitchen knife (also smooth, but with a solid, stronger, precise tone.) Billie Holiday is a cheese grater. Tough, a little harder to get through as though her voice is pushing you forward and pulling you back at the same time, but often uncovering the sharpest, sweetest and most pungent flavors.
Admit it, nothing gets under your skin like Billie.
I tend to stick to a certain style of music. I'm not entirely sure what to classify it as, but if I had to take a stab at it I'd probably say "Catchy upbeat and just-under-the-radar modern pop-rock" (no, not pop rocks, though those are pretty awesome in their own right.) Though I'm not averse to traveling outside my box on occasion.
I'd say there was a time circa 1999 when I was pretty obsessed with jazz for awhile and a quintessential jazz staple would undeniably be Ms. Holiday. There are others whose vocal styles I may prefer but let me put it this way: If I had to compare some of my favorite jazz singers to standard kitchen utensils, Sarah Vaughn would be a potato masher (a little muddled but soft and smooth), Lena Horne would be a large sharp kitchen knife (also smooth, but with a solid, stronger, precise tone.) Billie Holiday is a cheese grater. Tough, a little harder to get through as though her voice is pushing you forward and pulling you back at the same time, but often uncovering the sharpest, sweetest and most pungent flavors.
Admit it, nothing gets under your skin like Billie.
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