Nina Simone - Love Me or Leave Me

Bonjour...

Been a long long week and at the end of a long long week sometimes you want to let your hair down, go out and get wasted (depending on your age/income/level of fatigue - in no particular order!).  Sometimes though you just want to lose yourself in something mellow but powerful (whether or not you're wasted!) - sometimes nothing else hits the spot quite like a bit of our Nina....!

Nina Simone - Love Me or Leave Me

This is my absolute favourite version of this age-old tune. I love the variations on the basic melody and the swinging jazz vibe with the 'Bach' style solo played by Nina herself in the middle of the song - a fascinating combination ...!

I'm sat looking at the piano thinking I should really get into playing again - you could totally lose yourself in the thing! Not that I could ever play it that well or even consider singing and playing together - far too difficult! (I'll stick to singing!) And if I ever got to sing this tune on a gig - well this would be the style I'd choose - with a few of my own nuances thrown in of course!

What style of music do you fancy losing yourself in this weekend?

Jen x

Favourite Friday Track - Ray Charles - What'd I Say!

Bonjour.

Felt a bit fed up this morning to be honest - don't know why because Christmas is a-coming and all that - bit of low mood or whatever..... Anyway, I always want to listen to jazz/blues/soul of some sort when I feel like this - just find it therapeutic...so today's track is from one of the 'all time greats' who really needs no introduction...

Ray Charles - What'd I Say...

Released in 1959...and according to Wikipedia...

 "It was improvised one evening late in 1958 when Charles, his orchestra, and backup singers had played their entire set list at a show and still had time left; the response from many audiences was so enthusiastic that Charles announced to his producer that he was going to record it."

How fantastic is that?

I love the way this tune builds up and up and gets your foot tapping and hand banging on the table as it goes on .... and then when the brass section get going and the band all stand up at the end ...love it! ... maybe that's just my Dad's old school jazz influence coming out in me!

Feel a bit better now after listening to that - thanks Mr Charles! What would you play for a bit of musical therapy?


Jen x