MICHAEL BERLINER JAZZ
  • Home
  • Blog
  • bookings
  • Reviews
  • Voice over
  • Contact

             
my heart is music
 occasional recordings


​

Spain (I Can Recall) by Chick Corea and Al Jarreau

4/28/2021

 
Picture
Picture
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (June 12, 1941 – February 9, 2021) was a ground-breaking American jazz composer, keyboardist, bandleader, and occasional percussionist. 
    One of his most famous compositions is "Spain," from 1971, an instrumental jazz fusion piece. Corea introduced "Spain" on his album Light As a Feather. The simple and haunting melody heard at the beginning of the song is from Concierto de Aranjuez, a guitar concerto by the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. Corea and his band were nominated for Grammys for this song.
    At one point Al Jarreau added original lyrics to the song. Jarreau featured this version, known as Spain (I Can Recall), on his 1980 album This Time.

​

Here's my cover of "Spain (I Can Recall)"
I sing; Jamie Saltman plays all the instruments:

Jamie and I actually "met" Chick Corea around 1975 or so. While in high school, we went to see the late, great trumpet player Maynard Ferguson and his big band at a club somewhere in the Boston area. Maynard (as usual) was blowing out his kishkes hitting insanely high notes. 
     At one point in the show Maynard acknowledged that Chick Corea was in the audience... "Where are you Chick?" That's when a guy at the table right next to us raised his hand and waved. That was pretty cool. We had a really great conversation with Chick (no, that part's not true). Oh well. Still, pretty neat to sit so close to genius. Jamie, I am not talking about you. Well, maybe a little.

Want to hear the classical piece that inspired Chick Corea?
Of course you do. The Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez:

Want to hear Bobby McFerrin perform "Spain"
​with Chick Corea on piano?
Of course you do:

After I heard the McFerrin version, they had to pick me up off of the floor. 

That's all for now, jazz fans! Until next time...

(A Rhyme) This Time

4/23/2021

 
Picture
Here's my cover of this musical poem
written by Al Jarreau and Earl Klugh:
I will take my time this time
I'm gonna make a
rhyme this time

I'll ring the bell this time
The dreaming's over
I'm gonna sing "Gotta Wing" this time

I've no sweets to sell this time
The scheming's over
I'm gonna be only me this time

Most unfortunately, my dreams
Never knew the ground
Every mirror I see, reminds
Me you're not around
I let you down

All my stories tell, this time
The dreaming's over
I'm gonna bring everything
This time

Most unfortunately, my dreams
Never knew the ground
Every mirror I see, reminds
Me you're not around
I let us down

I will ring the bell this time
The dreaming's over
I'm gonna sing "Gotta Wing" this time

I will take my time this time
I'm gonna make a rhyme this time
I will make a rhyme this time
I'm gonna take my time this time

Singing Inspiration: Al Jarreau

4/11/2021

 
Picture
Legendary singer Al Jarreau passed away a couple of years ago at the age of 76. His vocal versatility and infectious energy led to huge commercial success in the 1970s and 1980s.

I've been rediscovering Jarreau. He was a musical hero to me. I remember attending one of his concerts in Hartford, CT, while in college, and being just blown away by his unique voice. The New York Times noted:
Critics were particularly taken by his improvisational dexterity, in particular his virtuosic ability to produce an array of vocalizations ranging from delicious nonsense to clicks and growls to quasi-instrumental sounds.
     Although he made his initial mark in the jazz world, Mr. Jarreau’s style, and his audience, crossed stylistic barriers. His music incorporated elements of pop, soul, gospel, Latin and other genres. It was a mark of his eclecticism that he won six Grammys across three different categories: jazz, pop and R&B. 

Take Five

One of Jarreau's hits was a cover of Paul Desmond's Take Five, written for the Dave Brubeck Quartet - and famous for its bright sound and infectious 5/4 time. Brubeck's wife Iola wrote lyrics for the tune, and Al Jarreau recorded his scat version of it for a live concert in 1975. 

Here's my homage to Al's plea to the woman of his dreams to... take a little time out with him... just Take Five:

    Welcome to my blog

    Every now and then I'll post a new vocal recording. Enjoy!

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    July 2023
    October 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    May 2018
    March 2018

    RSS Feed

Home
About
Contact
Thanks for visiting. The performances on this website are for demonstration purposes only, not intended for sale. The songs are copyrighted by their respective owners.
  • Home
  • Blog
  • bookings
  • Reviews
  • Voice over
  • Contact