Level 42 Digest for Friday, July 25, 2003

Some more heroes of jazz in my book are a vocal trio called Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. They were the first group to employ 'vocalese' [a genre made much more famous recently by Manhattan Transfer and Bobby McFerrin] where they would take standard jazz songs and sing the instrumental solos with words or scatting. If you ever have a chance to pick up one of their recordings, it will blow your mind. Jon Hendricks has consistently performed since the group disbanded [Lambert died at least 30 years ago] and Annie Ross also recently began performing again. Annie Ross was in the movie Short Cuts by Robert Altman a few years ago I believe. Her vocal range is unbelievable, and at the time they were out, they were the biggest selling vocal group. Any fans of great scatting or vocal harmonies should pick them up - I was in an 18 voice coed a capella jazz group in college and they were the group we studied most intently [and this was in the days when Take 6, Bobby McFerrin and Manhattan Transfer were consistently in the mainstream charts, so that's saying something]....

Oh yes - The Essential is a fantastic tune! I still love Influences and it gets more play than many of the Level 42 CDs [certainly more than Guaranteed (just trying to start another fight :-))].

I'm trying to track down a US version of the "One Man" album with the glitter inside the cover

Do you mean to say that there's yet-another-version of this album that I don't have for my collection??

Mike wrote:

... just wanted to say that I can't be arsed reading the digest any more. There's rarely anything of
interest. When I skim through it, I feel like I'm drowning in a sea of complete bollocks.

Congratulations on being both self-referential and self-selecting! Speaking of which, I just deleted about

a dozen suscribers since their mailboxes were rejecting email (in case anyone wonders how we got to 550

some odd subscribers.)

Which L42 tune shall we recommend to game makers?

I'm surprised we haven't seen this one on the Web Digest yet... :) it depends on the game, but assuming

we are talking about crazy-driving-in-a-stolen-car, how about Micro Kid or Forever Now...

When's the last time you listened to the solo's on Time Out? If that's jazz, I know Level 42 can play it.

I've never big a big fan of Brubeck, and its been a long time since I listened to Time Out. But I think the

big deal with him was the non-standard time signatures, no?

Eric

1. Rebirth of cool
From:	Norman van den Wildenberg <express @ hetnet.nl>
Date:	Thu, 24 Jul 2003 12:40:44 +0200	[top]
Level 42 Digest for Thursday, July 24, 2003AG wrote: Various Artists - Rebirth Of Cool Too (the only CD I've been able to find so far with Chapter & The Verse's 'Black Whip' on it, although any CD containing this track will do) is this the US or European series of Rebirth of cool, as there are two series. the US version Of rebirth of Cool contains a track of BATU (first groupname of the old members of Da lata) part 4 contains also great tracks by Da lata, Ernest Ranglin and Smoke City Norman

2. Jazz/not jazz
From:	Jackson, Lolita <Lolita.Jackson @ morganstanley.com>
Date:	Thu, 24 Jul 2003 08:30:19 -0400	[top]
Some more heroes of jazz in my book are a vocal trio called Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. They were the first group to employ 'vocalese' [a genre made much more famous recently by Manhattan Transfer and Bobby McFerrin] where they would take standard jazz songs and sing the instrumental solos with words or scatting. If you ever have a chance to pick up one of their recordings, it will blow your mind. Jon Hendricks has consistently performed since the group disbanded [Lambert died at least 30 years ago] and Annie Ross also recently began performing again. Annie Ross was in the movie Short Cuts by Robert Altman a few years ago I believe. Her vocal range is unbelievable, and at the time they were out, they were the biggest selling vocal group. Any fans of great scatting or vocal harmonies should pick them up - I was in an 18 voice coed a capella jazz group in college and they were the group we studied most intently [and this was in the days when Take 6, Bobby McFerrin and Manhattan Transfer were consistently in the mainstream charts, so that's saying something].... Oh yes - The Essential is a fantastic tune! I still love Influences and it gets more play than many of the Level 42 CDs [certainly more than Guaranteed (just trying to start another fight :-))]. Lolita ** Important Notice to Recipients It is important that you do not use e-mail to request, authorize or effect the purchase or sale of any security or commodity, to send fund transfer instructions, or to effect any other transactions. Any such request, orders, or instructions that you send will not be accepted and will not be processed by Morgan Stanley. **************************************

3. donnerstag
From:	jt <jtraci @ yahoo.com>
Date:	Thu, 24 Jul 2003 06:53:09 -0700 (PDT)	[top]
Mikethepom >... just wanted to say that I can't be arsed reading >the digest any more. There's rarely anything of >interest. When I skim through it, I feel like I'm >drowning in a sea of complete bollocks. While the profundity of discussion is pretty basic and topics covered a variety of times your adding to, or creating something new is apparently beyond reproach. Congratulations in your stellar post. Keep in mind no one has asked (or “arsed”) you to continue reading. Another thing to keep in mind, what exactly do you expect on a mailing list in which the focus of the topic(s) strives for “rarely anything of interest”? As for your analogy of a “sea of bollocks”, maybe you should try frequenting a different “after hours” club? Colin Gupta >The question is can the original four players >adequately reproduce jazz standards. I say yes, >with >practice, they could >do an ok job. With practice (most) anyone can play (attempt) Bach… Wow, haven’t seen a Rickie Lee Jones mention in years. Cassandra Wilson could also be mentioned here. >Only the player and his playmates can truly judge how >capable a player is, for they are there for those >special times >when all things click Vaguely true. One would hope what the player is offering to a crowd is his ‘level best’. I’d rather see some thought and attempt _with_ mistakes than, say, MK playing the same godamn solo he’s been recycling for over a decade. I sincerely doubt there are any hidden “genesis” (a word in need of retirement), but I an picture it now, Bryan Adams _could_ be ‘our’ Mozart but he insists on atrocious pop (“love”) tunes instead. Only his drummer knew… >Brother, you're referring to a live gig, one of >hundreds they would have done at the time, doing the >same songs time after >ime. In the height of >commercial success, with their first live album, it's >a novel idea to have a spin on the tunes, but the >crowd goes berserk when they can't sing/hum along. As stated earlier, I believe AG and others have heard boots (ie other live recordings other than APP) to make a fairly knowledgeable opinion on this. APP they were pretty tight (and is pre-“height of commercial success”), and even w/o hearing others, I think it is a fair arena in which to judge. If they didn’t feel it represented them, don’t release the damn thing. And while I most harshly believe people are fairly brain-inactive, I will oddly say that I think that you underestimate them when thinking they will not be able to handle a tune being changed in key or improv. Far more commercial performers have done it (Jewel, Mr. Sting, Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Justin Timberlake) and _those_ audiences have a far higher percentage of fans that (probably) expect to hear the tune they heard on the radio. While a great many “true” fans seem energetic toward the same ol’ “something about you” I have to think (hope) a whole different endorphin kick would take place if the tune was given a harder edge, a reggae feel or even just brought to a key change so that the current backing vocals do not impair local wildlife. >My point is, if I like a song and I want to cover to >on my solo album, I will, regardless of what anyone >else might think. Yes, one should never assume the fans have ears or that song selection is a business move. It was (obviously) a rhetorical question anyway. rain, rain, rain... j(ay) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com

4. a little more jazz talk then I'm done
From:	Tom Foolery <grooveyardtom @ yahoo.com>
Date:	Thu, 24 Jul 2003 08:37:19 -0700 (PDT)	[top]
Response to Colin: With respect, my fellow digester, I say unto thee - whoa, there! Your post had a few nuggets to respond to . . . Your lack of appreciation for Brubeck is just fine, to each their own. But he is a giant in the jazz world nonetheless. The fact that he was white (as was Paul Desmond) may be irrelevant. A little known fact: at the height of the Time Out album, the Dave Brubeck Quartet was scheduled to play many dates in the Southern USA (this is the late 1950's). DB's bass player was a black man, and most Southern venues demanded that DB get rid of him and replace him with a white bass player. DB instead cancelled all of the Southern dates on that tour and kept his original bass player. Nice move, methinks. To appreciate DB's Time Out and Time Further Out, it's obviously necessary to enjoy mentally wrapping your ears around different time signatures. How are you on that one, Colin? do you appreciate music that isn't in the standard 4/4 time? If not, then those Brubeck albums aren't for you. I agree that Jazz is an acquired taste that not everyone digs. I think of the scene in Amadeus where the King tells Mozart: "It's a splendid piece. There are simply . . . too many notes." And you make mention of your own solo projects - where could a guy hear something of yours? I agree with your assertion that you are free to choose whatever cover you darn well please. gosh, I wish I had something to say about Level 42. Just more bollocks for Mikey, I guess! take care, -Tom http://www.emeraldsoul.com p.s. Andrew, have you heard Previn's Camelot album? Fantastic, especially I Loved You Once in Silence. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com

5. 6/8
From:	Eric J. Hansen <ehansen @ worldmachine.com>
Date:	Thu, 24 Jul 2003 14:03:59 -0400	[top]
Richard wrote: I'm trying to track down a US version of the "One Man" album with the glitter inside the cover Do you mean to say that there's yet-another-version of this album that I don't have for my collection?? Mike wrote: ... just wanted to say that I can't be arsed reading the digest any more. There's rarely anything of interest. When I skim through it, I feel like I'm drowning in a sea of complete bollocks. Congratulations on being both self-referential and self-selecting! Speaking of which, I just deleted about a dozen suscribers since their mailboxes were rejecting email (in case anyone wonders how we got to 550 some odd subscribers.) Bilal wrote: Which L42 tune shall we recommend to game makers? I'm surprised we haven't seen this one on the Web Digest yet... :) it depends on the game, but assuming we are talking about crazy-driving-in-a-stolen-car, how about Micro Kid or Forever Now... Colin wrote: When's the last time you listened to the solo's on Time Out? If that's jazz, I know Level 42 can play it. I've never big a big fan of Brubeck, and its been a long time since I listened to Time Out. But I think the big deal with him was the non-standard time signatures, no? Eric

6. Titanic
From:	Andrew Goodwin <nightfly83 @ hotmail.com>
Date:	Thu, 24 Jul 2003 23:53:59 +0100	[top]
>2. Complete bollocks >From: mikethepom < mikethepom @ yahoo.com> > >... just wanted to say that I can't be arsed reading >the digest any more. There's rarely anything of >interest. When I skim through it, I feel like I'm >drowning in a sea of complete bollocks. Into which you've helpfully tossed yourself. >7. Better Grab a Latte >From: Colin Gupta < thegoop @ sympatico.ca> > >Andrew, I don't believe all people are stupid No? Spend more than 10 minutes on the Level 42 Web Digest, that should disabuse you of that notion. >Dave Brubeck is important to jazz but if he is a great, he is not a legend. A curious semantic distinction. Anyway, I can't pursue this any further because comparing Time Out with Level 42 is too damn surreal even for me. There's an excellent review of Time Out at www.allmusic.com for anyone unaware of its place in jazz history. >I still say the ability lies within and they have more than enough studio >tracks that demonstrate this. Hang on, weren't you the one saying we should assume they were better musicians than the limitations of the studio material suggest? AG _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself with cool emoticons - download MSN Messenger today! http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger

7. beyond boolocks
From:	Jonas Wilhelmsson <jonas.wilhelmsson @ drutt.com>
Date:	Fri, 25 Jul 2003 10:04:31 +0200	[top]
miketheporn wrote: "... just wanted to say that I can't be arsed reading the digest any more. There's rarely anything of interest. When I skim through it, I feel like I'm drowning in a sea of complete bollocks." lucky you. your alias vouches for a great swim. I'm sure it's been said many times before, but the purpose of a digest is to express, share and challenge opinions. If you feel the current state of discussions is below the bollock (water) mark, then do something about it. what do you wanna talk about besides genitals? open a thread and do something constructive, for crying out loud. apparently you have time to actually read what others post. j(ay): what have the administrators said about the book issue apart from labelling it tabu? why the current silence when there are normally comprehensive posts from that side? the plot thickens. sun and evening standard alerted. jonte

End of Level 42 Digest for Sunday, May 25, 2003	Help support the Level 42 Digest:
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