Day 25: The Blossom Of Parting

Jazz, maybe more than any other kind of music, is very take-it-or-leave-it. It either hits you real hard, or goes right over your head. The Branford Marsalis Quartet is likely to do the former. I actually had the pleasure of seeing them live, and walking out on stage they looked cooler than the underside of the pillow. The foursome is made up of Joey Calderazzo, on keys, Eric Revis, on bass, Justin Faulkner (who replaced Jeff "Tain Watts), on drums, and (you guessed it) Branford Marsalis, on saxophones. Their music is featured in the Spike Lee joint Mo' Better Blues which shares it name with a classic Quartet tune. Branford Marsalis has acted in Throw Momma From The Train and School Daze, he asked out Hillary Banks on The Fresh Prince, and was the predecessor to Kevin Eubanks as band leader of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The Marsalis name is royalty in the jazz world, his father as well as 3 of his 5 brothers are all jazz musicians. Here's the song for the day.

Song: The Blossom of Parting
Artist: Branford Marsalis Quartet
Album: Metamorphosen

The Blossom of Parting is that instantaneous feeling of missing the one you love the second they close the door, realizing the irrationality of your feeling as they'll be returning soon, but missing them all the same. That beautiful Blossom of a variety of feelings ranging from melancholy to joyfulness. Branford lets his Saxophone tell the story, which it does splendidly, singing a frantic yet mellow song. The Drums of Faulkner whisper in the background, keeping things chronologically accurate, and Calderazzo's Keys contribute a different perspective into this wonderful reminiscence. The Blossom of Parting, the name practically tells the entire tale all by itself.

Listen here!

Be sure to also listen to Mo' Better Blues.

Day 24: Use Somebody

King of Leon. 3 brothers and 1 cousin who all go by their middle name. They're kind of a big deal, or at least so I hear. They are, at the very least, worthy of researching to find out the depth of their artistry. I know for a fact that they have one very good song, and perhaps many more. I plan to find out and I invite you to as well. For now chew on this.

Song: Use Somebody
Artist: King of Leon
Album: Only By The Night (2008)

Kings of Leon has been making quite a stir in recent years, and while I had heard OF them I didn't actually hear them until their recent appearance on Conan. I was a bit skeptical, thinking they would be something like The White Stripes (for whom I harbor much indifference towards). But from the first strum of the guitar I was intrigued. When they began singing "whoa-ohhhh", like something from a dream state, my ears were on end. Use Somebody feels like something I could hear Dave Grohl belting out with the Foo Fighters, and that's not a bad thing.

Listen here!

Lyrics here¡

Day 23: F.W.B.

Let's play word association. Wayne Brady. Chances are you thought things like "cheesy", "funny", and "wholesome". It probably evoked images of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Drew Carey, and Chappelle's Show. Most likely you didn't think of words like "substantial", "musical", and "singer", and you most definitely didn't think of casual sex. Well, you're in for a surprise. Wayne Brady of television fame released his debut album (A Long Time Coming) last year, boasting modest success. On the album Brady commits the sin of covering legends (The Beatles, Sam Cooke, and Stevie Wonder), but manages to sing their songs quite nicely, a hard task to say the least. A Long Time Coming features a classic R&B sound, at times resembling the style of Luther Vandross and Marvin Gaye, but Wayne's own unique sound is clearly present as well. To me, this album is a beautiful reminder that you can never "figure a person out". Wayne Brady, as are we all, is much more complex than what appears on the surface. Wayne definitely gets outside your box. With this album, Wayne proves to be a bonafide Renaissance Man.

Song: F.W.B.
Artist: Wayne Brady
Album: A Long Time Coming (2008)

On this Marvin-Gaye-esque track Brady lays out a proposal to be friends with benefits, no strings attached. Wayne shines throughout as he flexes his silky, sweet vocals over instrumentals that are smooth, cool, and right on point. You may need to adjust your mindset, this is not the Wayne Brady you expected is it?

Listen here!

Sing along with these¡

I know you want a bunch more from Brady, here: Ord

Save Now

inary, I Ain't Movin', Beautiful Ugly, and You And Me. All songs appear on A Long Time Coming.

Day 22: Why (What's Going On?)

What's going on people? By a round of applause how do you feel? Well today I've got something sure to burrow deep inside your ear, enter your prefrontal cortex, and lay seedlings, and sprout up from the surface. The Roots, Philly's own hip-hop band, have been educating fans and elevating the art of hip-hop since 1987. The most prominent members of The Roots are drummer ?uestlove (Questlove), and MC Black Thought. But they feature a full band boasting Vocal, Drums, Keyboards, Percussion, Guitar, Sousaphone, and Bass Guitar. A favorite amongst hip-hop heads, The Roots are adored and respected for their conscious lyrical content and delivery, as well as their skilled instrumentation. Though they have never reached superstar status in terms of record sales, their concerts are always quick to sell out and they recently took over as inhouse band for The Late Show With Jimmy Fallon. Rightfully, often reffered to as "The Legendary Roots Crew", The Roots are a shining example of how God intended hip-hop to sound.

Song: Why (What's Going On?)
Artist: The Roots
Album: The Tipping Point (2004)

A laidback tune from start to finish, track # 10 begins with the chorus: the title of the song being sung/asked over striking instrumentation. Black Thought earns your listening ear with top notch lyrics and delivery.

"It's far from right, I guess that's why it feels so wrong
To see the world get stripped out of every resource
And people pray to Coca-Cola now instead of the gods
What's goin' on?"

The music has a deep, rich quality to it that speaks to my soul. Make sure to follow the link to view the lyrics, they are well worth your while, especially if you're unfamiliar with this genre. Why is a poignant example of how hip-hop can educate.

Listen here!

Lyrics here.

For more of The Roots listen to Star/Pointro, Guns Are Drawn, You Got Me, and Break You Off.

Day 21: Beauty Contest

Hailing from Anaheim California, weighing in with 2 Grammy awards, No Doubt! Without question my personal favorite band, No Doubt, formed in 86, is an alternative rock/ska band. They consist of guitarist Tom Dumont, drummer Adrian Young, bassist Tony Kanal, and, one of the leading ladies of rock, Gwen Stefani. Recently back on tour, No Doubt plans on a 2010 release for their next album. Their best selling album to date, Tragic Kingdom, catapulted them into stardom in 1995 with songs like Just A Girl, Spiderwebs, and the international smash hit Don't Speak. Backstage at a No Doubt concert you'll find more nannies than groupies (3 of the 4 members have kids), but make no mistake about it, these rock veterans wiser for the years haven't lost a step.

Song: Beauty Contest
Artist: No Doubt
Album: Everything In Time (Compilation Released 2003)

Beauty Contest, a b-side from Return Of Saturn, discusses the crass beauty standards facing women in today's society and the anguish of feeling obligated to adhere to such standards in order to compete. Gwen's uniquely beautiful/beautifully unique voice winds out concise lyrics, not hesitating to cut to the quick,

"Damsel in distress is quite submissive, look how sun burnt my vanity is, effeminate human creature, superficial seducing detour, I'm going to the mall for the cookie cutter, the ugly duckling will always suffer, contaminated standards don't try to fight it, I better get back on my diet".

Backing Stefani is a bass-friendly rhythm drawn out by Tony Kanal, who was surely bobbing his head at the recording sessions. Adding a somewhat ethereal feel, Tom Dumont pulls all the right strings. Adrian Young presents an under the radar, but nice, showing on drums. There's No Doubt about it, Beauty Contest is a cool cut sure to find its way into your iPod.

Listen here!

Lyrics here¡

For more No Doubt...Sunday Morning, New, Running, and Leftovers.

Even more...Tragic Kingdom, Return Of Saturn, Rock Steady, and Everything In Time.

Day 20: I Am The Living

Jimmy Cliff, one of reggae music last surviving legends, has over 40 years of music in his repertoire. He is also the only living musician to hold the Order Of Merit, the highest possible honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievement in the arts and sciences. He reached the peak of his fame playing 40's criminal Ivanhoe Martin in The Harder The Come in 1972. Since then he has put out nearly an album a year, his last effort coming in 2004 (Black Magic). You've most probably heard his unity driven We Are All One, and maybe you heard his cover of I Can See Clearly Now in the movie Cool Runnings. He is essential for any conversations concerning great reggae music and his music is essential for any true fan of music. Hear it now.

Song: I Am The Living
Artist: Jimmy Cliff
Album: I Am The Living (1980)

In I Am The Living, Cliff voices a we-are-one theme, a common theme in Cliff's music. Jimmy states his omnipotence

"I am the living, and the loving, I'm a shelter in a hail of thunder, I'm the thirst and the hunger, I'm the oldest getting younger".

I Am The Living is a good sampling of the classic Jimmy Cliff sound, featuring rich, lively instrumentation. As he usually does, Cliff manages to speak on an important topic while maintaining that feel-good reggae vibe. You'll be glad to hear that he has many songs as good or better than this one, but for right now, this is the perfect place to start with Jimmy Cliff.

Listen here!

For more Jimmy Cliff listen to Trust No Man, The Harder They Come, Stand Up And Fight Back, and Wonderful World, Beautiful People.

But don't stop there! Get Anthology, a 2 disc set offering 42 of Jimmy's greatest songs. Also be sure to pick up Rhythm Come Forward Vol. II which features 14 classic (some very hard to find) reggae cuts, including 2 by Cliff.

Day 19: Raphael Saadiq

Today's featured artist is probably as well known for his production work as he is for his performances. R&B Legend Raphael Saadiq, former lead singer of Tony! Toni! Toné!, has produced for a veritable who's who in the music industry including D'angelo's Untitled (How Does It Feel), which landed D'angelo a Grammy award. Saadiq, a bassist, is known to feature superb bass work on his tracks. A powerful player in the soul music movement, Saadiq recently turned the clocks back with his vintage album The Way I See It. With over 20 years of classics under his belt and no signs of slowing down anytime soon, Saadiq is certainly one to watch.

Song: Love That Girl
Artist: Raphael Saadiq
Album: The Way I See It (2008)

With good reason The Way I See It was chosen by iTunes as the best album of 2008, Love That Girl surely was a deciding factor in that decision. This song will grab you by the ear and pull you in like an angry grandmother. The first thing that will grab you is, what seems to be, the inverted bass line from The Temptations My Girl. Stevie Wonderesque drums will force your feet to tap to the beat, you simply have no choice but to obey. The lyrics are flawlessly vintage, and innocently portray a man's pursuit of a beautiful woman who has caught his eye. Love That Girl just FEELS good, it'll have your nose wide open.

Listen here

Lyrics here

Song: Thinking Of You
Artist: Tony! Toni! Toné!
Album: House Of Music (1996)

Smooth, smooth, smooth. The guitars and bass on this song are just outrageous. Thinking Of You is the kind of song that's so good it makes you just wanna punch an old lady in the face. Raphael has a way of building an atmosphere on every song he touches. Just like Love That Girl, Thinking Of You is just as much about the feel as it is the sound. Near the end Saadiq exclaims,

"You know sometimes I wanna call America's Most Wanted, 'cause you're most wanted in my life".

Priceless. Good luck ever getting this song out of your head, not that you'll want to.

Listen here

Song: Kelly Ray (iTunes Bonus track)
Artist: Raphael Saadiq
Album: The Way I See It (2008)

I find it hard to believe that anyone, especially any music fan, could not absolutely love The Way I See It. Kelly Ray is like finding a million dollars under your couch when you thought you were broke, like a crack fiend finding enough dope for just one last smoke, like being upgraded to first-class from coach. Raphael ties his skinny tie, dons his Al Green cap and pilots this track into groovy territories.

Listen here

For more Saadiq be sure to pick up The Way I See It, and Tony! Toni! Toné!'s House Of Music.