While My MP3 Gently Plays

I read all your your blogs and see the love you're spreading/While my mp3 gently plays.

With a little help from my friend George and the rest of his mates, the Fab Four, I hereby introduce a new section tonight. Every now and then I will upload clips of songs that are playing on my mp3 player (exact model on the left). Just because, really. There's no reason behind this new creation other than to share the music I love with you, fellow bloggers and readers. These are the melodies that make me smile, weep or run faster (when I'm out jogging, I must clarify!).

I'll kick this new section off with Gladys "Bobi" Cespedes, a superb Cuban musician, singer, dancer, lecturer and historian. For the last forty-odd years Bobi has been at the vanguard of the Afro-Cuban cultural movement in the States, performing mainly in the San Francisco Bay area, New York, Florida and LA. If you have heard Conjunto Cespedes - fronted by her - then her distinguishable voice will be familiar. A voice that conveys both warmth and depth. Enjoy.



Fiona Apple's songs are always on my mp3 player. Whether I'm walking, or sitting on the Tube, or out jogging, I must have some Apple on (and as GPs usually say "an Apple a day keeps the doctor away"). As an artist Fiona exudes maturity and her innovative and cutting-edge brand of pop is light years away from the bland mix to which we've grown accustomed. Let's share some of her music, shall we?



It was the cover that did it. When I bought Horace Silver's "Song for My Father" some years ago, it was the image of Horace's dad smoking a cigar that made me part with my money for a record that has the last word in swinging, deep groove. Electrifying.



I always make it a point to have an anthemic, hands-in-the-air, lighters-aloft, stadium-filler on my mp3 player. And Oasis ticks all the boxes. Especially their old songs. And it doesn't get more bombastic than "Don't Look Back in Anger". Does it bring back any memories?

These are the tunes on my mp3 player. What are you listening to on your gadget?



© 2011

Next Post: “Sunday Mornings: Coffee, Reflections and Music”, to be published on Sunday 12th June at 10am (GMT)

Food, Music, Food, Music, Food, Music, Food, Music, Ad Infinitum...

Some of the most popular dishes in Cuba involve the red and black varities of kidney bean. The red kidney bean, usually called 'colora'o' has a buttery flavour. Its counterpart, the black one, is usually cooked with white rice.


When my mother was here in the UK five years ago I helped her make black bean soup. I write 'help', but I was as much of a nuisance to her as a mosquito is when buzzing close to one's ear at night. So, technically speaking I have never prepared this dish on my own. But that doesn't mean that I won't in the near future. Yes, I am cheating. Slightly.


Anyway, Black Bean Soup, ladies and gents.

450g (1lb) dried black beans, soaked overnight
2 bay leaves
175ml (6 fl oz) olive oil
1 sweet red bell pepper, seeded and chopped coarsely
1 sweet green bell pepper, seeded and chopped coarsely
4 shallots, sliced finely
2 tbs fresh, finely chopped coriander
5 pints of water
juice of 3 oranges (what we call 'naranja agria' in Spanish, I have never seen it in the UK)
juice of 1 lime
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 small onion, sliced fine
1 tbs white rum (optional)
1 tbs sherry (optional)
pinch of salt
1 tbs dried oregano
¼ tsp ground cumin
½ tbs fresh root gingr, finely chopped
1 ½ tbs soft brown sugar (optional. Or if you're from Camagüey)


Boil the beans in the water with the bay leaves. Reduce to simmer, and cook for 3 1/2 hours until tender. Sauté the shallots, peppers, ginger and garlic in the oil. When tender, add the coriander and sugar. Fry for 30 seconds. Add lime and orange juice, rum, sherry, oregano and cumin. Cook for 2 minutes and salt. Remove bay leaves from beans and add sautéed mixture to beans. Stir and serve hot.


Taken from Classic Cuban Cookery by Andy Gravette, published by fusion press.

Now, I like my music to have the same flavour as my black beans, so that's why I have selected a playlist that reflects my culinary tastes. Important note: the tracks will start playing automatically, and if you don't fancy one, you can always fast-forward or rewind to another, just like a normal stereo.

Jazzyfatnastess - 'Show Your Face' (Live) (very rare performance by one of the better jazz and soul duets I have seen in years).


Fiona Apple - 'Sleep to Dream' (Live). This is a beauty and I love Fiona's voice.


Juan Luis Guerra - 'La Bilirrubina' (Live). Who can keep quiet with this upbeat tune? 'Quisiera Ser Un Pez' (Live). It brings back memories of my uni days, powerful lyrics.


Bob Marley - 'No Woman, No Cry' (Live). The great Bob, a great tune for a great dish.


Ojos de Brujo - 'Sultanas de Merkaillo' (Live on Jools Holland). Excellent performance by the Spanish flamenco troupe.

Food, Music, Food, Music, Food, Music, Food, Music, Ad Infinitum...

Garlic Prawns

This is a Nigel Slater's recipe which I first saw in one of The Observer's Food Monthly supplements.

Serves 12 (or more depending on how many prawns you put out)

Ingredients:

Large live prawns, shell on - 48-64

Garlic - 5 or 6 large cloves

Olive oil

Butter - 200 g approximately

Lemons - 4

Rinse the prawns and put them in a bowl. Peel and finely crush the garlic and then add it to the prawns with a slug of olive oil. Toss the prawns to cover them in seasoned oil.

Cook them under a preheated grill until their shells have turned a brilliant orange pink. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small pan. Serve the hot prawns with the lemon, salt and the melted butter.

As in with my first recipe, Cat's Crumbs (Migas de Gato), this can be served as a snack, a starter, or a light meal, especially when you have a few friends around. And because you will get your hands mucky (all that tearing of shells and dipping in butter is as messy as it gets, isn't it?), try to have a good and long playlist ready. Remember, handling CDs with greasy hands is a no-no. Go for music that packs up a few punches. So, my suggestions for this week are:

Nitin Sawhney & Sharon Duncan - Eastern Eyes

Maria Rita - Muito Pouco

Fiona Apple-Criminal

U2 - Where The Streets Have No Name

Robert Plant-Black Country Woman

Erykah Badu - Next Lifetime

Silvio Rodriguez y Pablo Milanes "Sabado Corto"

David Gilmour - Shine On You Crazy Diamond

The Piano - Michael Nyman

Copyright 2008