I Know I'm Late But

This Sam Sparro character is kinda awesome. I enjoy "Black and Gold"...even sounding a little colored on there. Loving it.

I Am Seriously Done Tonight

"I hope that you're the one. If not, you are the prototype"

Wow

I don't like being cliche and saying silly things, but I think I have to say something. I have always felt music, but right now, I have never had an entire album speak to me like this...

"Love Behind the Melody" by Raheem DeVaughn

OMG. I've heard it before, when it first came out. But now, just extra wow with it. That is all.

So We're Ripping Off Imogen Heap Now?

I don't listen to the radio that much, but is anyone else particularly upset about this Jason Derulo character TOTALLY effing up Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek"? He turned it into some stupid radio edit crap. Ew. I can't believe Imogen Heap allowed this.... like serious. Not happy with this.

I wonder if the "mmm whatcha say" part is really her, or if they used someone else.

Modern Family... Loving It

Baby baby I just wanna do you do you, do you wanna do me do me, underneath the moonlight, the moonlight tonight...Just so i can feel you feel you, maybe that would heal you heal you, from the inside...

That song is awesome. Sorry. Who comes up with some ish like that.

But other than the song, I like the chunky gay guy. He makes me laugh every episode.

Why Was There a Wyclef Impersonator on Dancing With the Stars?

That's all. I'm mad they had him have the long locks and ish too. That was just too much.

You Look Waffle House Handsome

WTF does that even mean. I don't know how to feel about the Cleveland show...

My Three Favorites Made His Band

I'm good. I can pick em... Jamereo, Brockett and Jaila all made his band...along with some others...I just wanted to put that out there that if this was on one of the fantasy things, I would have won. BAM!

I Gotta Revist This...Best Dave Chappelle Ever

"Spaghetti spaghetti, ripping it up, cutting it up... talking bout ugnh!"
"How you gonna rip it like this son, how you gonna rip it like that son"
"...all this pubic hair..."

I can't every say anything else. Where'd you go Dave?

So I've been debating with myself for many posts just who should hold the title of my favorite pianist. And you know, I am just not even going to try to call it. I have 4 that tie for my favorite and all for very different reasons.

1. Keiko Matsui: I've written so much about her I already know. But I am doing a serious study session, and I like putting on my pianists, which brought me to this post. This chick is beyond belief. I went to see her two summers ago and no lie, I was sitting there shaking with chills and almost cried. It was so amazingly beautiful. I still can't describe it. She literally takes you places you've never been, that you don't want to go, that you love, and places you do not expect to go. This lady is something nother else man. The way her music can make you FEEL is unlike any other.

And another cool thing about her, especially with her earlier albums, it is simply instrumental. Her latest Moyo and Walls of Akendora, were a bit more "produced", but none the less excellent. Going back to my point. She can create a mood with live instrumentation so well it is amazing. And then her band blends certain instruments so sometimes you feel like your on the beach and others you feel like you are lost in the forest. I've never heard a solo piano and saxaphone work together as best as Keiko Matsui and Paul Taylor have done it...simply amazing.

I think another thing that makes Keiko Matsui so special is that when she writes, it comes from somewhere deep within her. I'm not saying this is not the case with other pianists, but when you watch her live, you can just see the music eminating from her body. I'm telling you, it was quite unlike anything I have ever seen before in my life.



2. Philippe Saisse: Now this dude right here is one of the most slept upon jazz pianists ever. Like seriously. The thing that makes Philippe Saisse so special is her journey and versatility. On each album, you are going to get an entirely different style...and honestly, there is just one album, "Body and Soul Sessions" that I did not absolutly love.

With Philippe Saisse, he no doubtedly has a more produced sound on his records, but it is still wonderful. On one of the records, "Halfway Til Dawn", he had a sort of electronica/techno/jazz thing going and it was great. But I think what makes him great all around is his ability to ride a beat. While his music doesn't make me feel as emotional as Keiko Matsui's...it will make me stop and rewind and think, "Now how did this dude think to put that together".

Also, I've loved this dude since 8th grade, and I didn't even know it. So I have a particular infinity for him. It's his creativity that gets me.

3. Marcus Johnson: I've liked this dude for a while too. My dad bought his first CD, Chocolate City Groovin' and it just sat up in the cabinet until I really started to enjoy jazz. When I busted it open, I was surprised and happy. Now admittedly, I didn't pick back up on Marcus Johnson until about 2 years ago when I was introduced to Pandora.

Of the four, Marcus Johnson is the most rooted in R&B. He does a lot of covers, but he also has a lot of original pieces. I think the reason I like him is because his stuff is so funky, it just hurts. His music is also more culturally "relevant" and is actually kinda sexy. LOL. Gives you chills like Keiko but in a different kind of way. He's like the Maxwell of jazz.

Loving this dude.


4. Alex Bugnon: Now Alex Bugnon...he's very similar to Philippe Saisse, but very different all at the same time. I don't like to pin artists against each other, but I will say Alex Bugnon is Philippe Saisse minus the adventurous nature. But this doesn't mean I don't like him.

His songs make me feel good. OOOOh, he's like right in between Philippe Saisse and Marcus Johnson. Funky style, but not quite as funky as Marcus.

I think the reason these are my four favorite is because they all capture emotion wonderfully, and in very different ways. And btw... I'm mad at Marcus Johnson still. I've seen the other three in concert...but never him...and when I was about to have the chance, he wanted to act up and go to NY, but that is neither here nor there.

Reflections Again

So sometimes I get really, really nostalgic about times, particularly my first year of college in Maryland. I'm not sure why I am today (actually yes I do, it's because I'm listening to Marcus Johnson- who always makes me think of DC area). So I was thinking about how awesome that year was.

Yes I was slightly homesick, but that was seriously the best year of my life that I can remember. Now I'm not saying that I've had bad years or anything, but this year was so awesome, I cannot even explain properly.

I had the awesomest roommate ever. She didn't talk and she was gone from Thursday night to Monday morning every week. So it was basically like I had the room to myself. I remember coming home late at night and opening my window and the breeze would just blow in. Then I would put on some Philippe Saisse and just let it put me to bed...

Just such good times man. And what's really funny, it was the first, and honestly the only time in my life where I have been social. lol. In high school, for the rest of my college years at Cal, and pretty much in law school, I've been kinda a loner. But it is a loner by choice. I have no idea why, I just enjoy being by myself more.

And I was an explorer...loved that. I would just jump on the metro and go to DC or VA like it was nothing. I guess I was just exposed to so many things and I kinda miss that. It was just somehting in the air, in the breeze that could make you happy.