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This mix is built around three songs with an important message: when times are tough, music is always there to lift our spirits.
I’ll share some thoughts about those three songs, but first, we start with English singer/ songwriter/ producer Laura Groves. Her voice captivated me when I heard her guest vocal with another artist. She started out doing a version of folk music, but as you’ll hear on “Infinite Wisdom” she has incorporated a variety of styles into her recent music. This is from 2020; her 2023 album Radio Red is also excellent.
If you’re wondering why anybody would call a song “Bags’ Groove”, it’s because Bags is the nickname of The Modern Jazz Quartet’s vibes player, Milt Jackson. And he does groove on this recording from 1957.
A true global supergroup is behind “É Preciso Perdoar” from the 1996 AIDS fundraiser album Red Hot + Rio. Ryuichi Sakamoto provides his usual wide-screen yet uncluttered scenery for the unmistakable voices of Cesària Evora and Caetano Veloso. The song was written by another Brazilian giant, João Gilberto. Sadly, of those four, only Caetano is still with us.
The first music-positive song comes from one of my musical heroes, Paul Weller, who urges us to “Rise up singing to the sky”. It’s from his 17th(!) solo album, a number that does not include his albums with The Jam and The Style Council. I can’t think of another artist who has made so much music while maintaining such a high level of quality and diversity in songwriting and performance.
When I saw obituaries last year for Frankie Beverly of Maze, I was curious because I was aware of Maze as a beloved soul band but realized I knew almost none of their music. I read about the band’s unique place in the music world and Frankie’s steady leadership for over 50 years. A few months later and I am now the owner of almost everything Maze recorded, wondering how I missed out for so long. “We Need Love to Live” is from 1981.
My second song with a music message comes from the mighty Barry White. When I received a record store gift certificate for my birthday last year, one of the items I bought was a Barry White box set. It includes the long version of “Let The Music Play”, which has a whole back story I wasn’t aware of. It seems that the protagonist of the song has gone to a disco by himself because of struggles with the partner that lives with him. In one of the spoken sections, Barry’s character makes it clear that he isn’t out looking for a “one night affair”. He just wants to get lost in the music to ease his pain.
Johnny Mathis, at the age of 89, has announced that he is retiring from concert performances this year. His last concert will be in New Jersey on May 18th. On his 1973 album I’m Coming Home, which includes “Sweet Child”, he immersed himself in the sound of Philadelphia. He worked with Thom Bell, the songwriter, producer, and arranger for The Spinners, The Stylistics, and many others. To my ears it’s a perfect combination.
The last music about music comes from Mariza. She is one of the best known contemporary singers of Fado, a traditional Portuguese style. “As Guitarras” is not typical Fado; for starters, Fado tends to be melancholy, but this song is joyful. Her message, in translation, is “Guitars give sound to life” and “With the sound of guitars, wars are forgotten, pain goes away”.
Inspired by Mariza’s message, I decided to conclude the mix with more guitar. “Clay Dots” is an instrumental by Bibio, a prolific English guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
- Laura Groves – Infinite Wisdom
- Orchestra Baobab – Caravana
- The Modern Jazz Quartet – Bags’ Groove
- Villagers – Momentarily
- Cesária Evora, Caetano Veloso, Ryuichi Sakamoto – É Preciso Perdoar
- Paul Weller – Rise Up Singing
- Maze featuring Frankie Beverly – We Need Love to Live
- Kelela – Enough for Love
- Jimmy McGriff with Blue Mitchell – Blue Juice
- Soshi Takeda – Deep Breath
- Mike Francis – Features of Love
- Barry White – Let the Music Play
- Washed Out – Waking Up
- Johnny Mathis with Thom Bell – Sweet Child
- Hot Chip – Dark Night
- Mariza – As Guitarras
- Bibio – Clay Dots
Between Two Islands 