While My MP3 Gently Plays

Back from Cornwall today but still on holidays. The blog, though, carries on and the music shall never stop.

Kicking off our weekly rendezvous with our beautiful and practical mp3 player, we have Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz with a powerful Latin number, "Agúzate". Mind-blowing.



We continue in the same Latin vibe and now we have Telmary featuring both Kumar and William Vivanco from my homeland. I love the visuals in "Ves", taken from Telmary's debut "A Diario" and reviewed on this blog last year. Hip-hop with a Cuban attitude. Love it!



Like spiders scurrying away from a bag that's just been opened. That's the recurring image that always pops into my head whenever I see Aziza Mustafa Zadeh's fingers working the blacks and whites. She is a regular on this blog and may she continue to be. "Heartbeat" is part of my mp3's DNA and has already been uploaded a couple of times in this space. And it will continue to be. Energetic.



And last, but not least, Billie Holiday singing "Strange Fruit". Because occasionally some people forget, so we have to remind them.



Next Post: "While My MP3 Gently Plays", to be published on Sunday 4th September at 10am (GMT)

While My MP3 Gently Plays

Still on holidays, but still clocking in on my blog. Even though my physical self is not here, enjoying these tunes together with you, my spiritual and musical one is.

If I'd been a piano when Thelonious Monk was around, I would have sued him. How can he treat such a highly respected member of the stringed family in that way? Then, again, a different part of my wooden structure would have felt equally honoured to have been given the opportunity of being caressed by the dextrous fingers of Mr "Blue Monk". Heartfelt.



There's a nice segue here in that Thelonious Monk was renowned for having a natural mystical aura about him. That's why Bob Marley's "Natural Mystic" is the ideal follow-up after the previous improvisation feast. Bob's groovy melody is a marvellous foot-tapper that has a "reserved" seat on my mp3 player. Rock on, Bob!



Paul Weller's version of "All Along The Watchtower" is one of the better ones I've ever heard, including Hendrix's. It's his voice, the arrangement and the delivery. Fabulous.



I have already written about Zee Avi in this space before. This time around I'm uploading another soulful and meaningful tune from her debut album "Zee Avi", "Honey Bee". Enjoy.



Next Post: "While My MP3 Gently Plays", to be published on Sunday 28th August at 10am (GMT)

While My MP3 Gently Plays

Still on holidays. In the meantime, enjoy the music from my mp3 player.

Please, do not be fooled by the sultry and slow rhythm of Ayo's "And It's Supposed To Be Love". The theme is pretty grim as you can see from the clip below. But it's still a beautiful song by a very talented artist.



This song and performance always bring a tear to my eye. "Malagueña" by Lecuona is one of the songs my father used to play regularly when he still lived with my mother and me, (and my cousin, her mum and my granny, sorry, couldn't leave them out). The execution in this video is the closest you'll ever get to perfection, in my humble opinion.



And since we're talking perfection and execution, I just couldn't ignore Van Morrison's "Moondance". One of those tunes that, the minute they come on my mp3, makes me want to get up and dance. Timeless.



Crickets chirping, birds chirruping, overcast skies, downpours, little rivers mapping down their route on my kitchen window. Vivaldi's "Summer" section from his masterpiece "Four Seasons" contains the British weather in a nutshell. At 8:12 on the clip below I can perfectly visualise the scenario of which I was part a few weeks ago when my family and I went to a picnic. The snippets of conversation here and there, mixed with the sound of children playing badminton, people walking their dogs and trekkers gearing themselves up for a walk in the woods. Chaotic, but beautiful.



Next Post: "While My MP3 Gently Plays", to be published on Sunday 21st August at 10am (GMT)

While My MP3 Gently Plays

I'm still on holidays but didn't fancy leaving the blog inactive. That's why I'll keep sharing with you the music I listen to on my mp3 regularly.

"Can I Kick It?" was not the first tune I heard by A Tribe Called Quest. That one was "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo". Still, when I feel like grooving, there's nothing like the good ol' Tribe to pump music into my ears. Nostalgic.



Stevie's written so many anthems that it's hard to choose which one to listen to on my diminutive Sony gadget. However, "Master Blaster (Jammin')" is always there at the top of my playlist. Truly amazing.



And if we're discussing anthems, then, we need to include Aerosmith's "Dream On". One of those eyes-closed, arms-aloft, lighters-up-above-our-heads melodies. What do you think Steven Tyler was telling the guitarist (0:40)? Answers on a postcard, please. Mesmerising.



We're finishing on a high today, with Africa's finest, Amadou and Mariam. Please, do not be fooled. The words to this song might appear simple at first sight, yet, they are deep. Perfect musical stimulation for those moments when you are physically exhausted (especially after doing some tiring housework during the holidays) and need something to bring you back from that "zombie zone" into which we all fall once in a while. The chorus of this groovy tune should suffice, then: chantez-chantez/jouez-jouez/dansez-dansez. Magical.



Next Post: "While My MP3 Gently Plays", to be published on Sunday 14th August at 10am (GMT)