June 2005 List

"Una Disco Llena": Los Amigos Invisibles
(The Venezuelan Zinga Son, Vol. 1, 2004)
A lovely, multi-talented percussionist introduced me to this song during my last two weeks in Boston and I was hooked by the fusion of disco, Latin, and groove rhythms. I finally picked up a copy for myself a couple of weeks ago and have been smiling ever since, especially because of the percussion break in the middle.

"Rise": Seek
(Journey Into Day, 2004)
Listen to this song and you'll hear that "Rise" is a word that is meant to be sung. The lead singer of Seek spoke about how hearing this song played back during the recording process brought tears to her eyes because it resonated so strongly with her sense of self-empowerment.

"Happy in the Morning": Nikka Costa
(can'tneverdidnothin', 2005)
My friend Danny would not be surprised to learn that this is my favorite track from Nikka's latest album, with its loping rhythm and handclaps a la Bowie's "Fashion." It's a summertime song, like skipping along the sand in rolled-up jeans splashing in the water as the waves crash on the shore.

"Jump for Joy": Ernie Andrews
(Jump for Joy, 2003)
A few weeks ago in East Hampton, I ventured out for a drive at one in the morning as my nephew, John Michael, settled down to sleep. After driving from East Hampton to Bridgehampton to Amagansett back to East Hampton, I heard this song on 88.3 and was revivified by Ernie's exuberant delivery.

"Knowing When to Leave": Ernie Watts Quartet
(Planet Love, 1969)
I grew up looking at the covers of my mother's Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick albums and I was always intrigued by the sounds I heard on the vinyl. This recent discovery of "Knowing When to Leave" (originally from the musical "Promises, Promises") illustrates just how well-suited Bacharach compositions are for jazz musicians and improvisation.