YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW

Listen to YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW by Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen.

I don't think I mentioned this before, but the reason why we have so many Beatles covers is because we decided one weekend not too long ago that it would be neat if we could get a cover version of every single Beatles song ever recorded, including the German language ones, the joke ones, and everything else in between.

As it turns out, there are a couple of resources on the web that makes this project easier than one would think (obscure completist collections--not just for total obsessives any more!), so by the time the weekend was over we had successfully augmented our collection to include at least one cover of every song (and usually many more--we've now got about 16 versions of Yesterday, for example).

A few songs were understandably more difficult to find than others. Your Mother Should Know, from the "Magical Mystery Tour" EP doesn't have many champions. I eventually found a version I liked on iTunes, by this guy, Kenny Ball (and His Jazzmen). I refuse to learn anything about Mr. Ball and His Jazzmen beyond that they got the arrangement right where Paul failed over many attempts. So kudos to them.

Photo: Ft. Tilden (3).

SAN FRANCISCO and MASSACHUSETTS

Listen to SAN FRANCISCO by Marek i Wacek.
Listen to MASSACHUSETTS by Marek i Wacek.

Speaking of the piano, if it ain't Chopin, it'd better be good on its own. And what's good is two tracks that, for their own reason, sound great together. (The whiz-kid in me wanted to combine today's tracks into one, but the 30-something in me couldn't figure out how to do it!).

And what's better is if the two tracks are played by two dualing pianists: Marek Tomaszewski and Wacław Kisielewski. Acive and very popular from the mid-60's to the early 80's (until Wacek's untimely death in a car crash) their greatest hits disc is still a staple in many tiny fiats, and is chock-a-block full of traditional pop and classical melodies sped up and double tracked in real time. Although at points it can sound like a 3-ring circus, it can occasionally do justice to an overworked pop standard. So, with a wink to Amigo Corbett, let's start out with John Phillips' 1967 songwriting hit "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)", and then follow with a nod to Amiga Amy with a Bee Gees hit, "Massachusetts", also from 1967.


Photo: forest.

ETUDE OP 25 NUMBER 4

Listen to ETUDE OP 25 NUMBER 4 by Leszek Możdżer.

Hello and Happy Memorial Day! John here. Bill has graciously turned over the keys to the blog to me for the next few days, and I hope not to let either him or you down. With that in mind, I'd like to peek into a corner of my music collection that I rarely have an opportunity to share, and present some tunes from Poland. I've spent quite a bit of time on that block and, always a sucker for cover art or crazy names, I've kissed a lot of toads, but found a few princes.

As for today... In a land with no shortage of national heroes, Frédéric Chopin casts a long shadow. He has been idolized, nationalized, and standardized. Airports, vodka, trains, and other things have all latched onto the brand. Perhaps because of this heavy identification with, or rather claiming of, a romantic composer whose piano works are admired around the world, the piano is Important To The Nation. Hence, it's de rigeur for pianists who do not recite Chopin normally to make the Chopin handshake album.

Jazz composer and star Leszek Możdżer did just that with his "Chopin Impressions" album, which opens with today's track. The original Etude 25 lends itself well to cover versions: contemplative minor key, good harmony...a dual hand octave barn burner. But Możdżer tempts fate by weaving a few bars of Charlie Parker into the mix. A nice new blend of old and older, or so I think.

Photo: hay stack.