Mark Blackburn

Isn't it a Pity – there's a song by George Harrison of that name. Add the word “Gershwin” to Google, and be reminded that this, a favorite lyric by George's brother Ira, was from a 1930s Broadway show. Playing at this moment on Sirius radio, my “new favorite version” (not least for the lush and lovely symphonic arrangement) by Barbra Streisand. ”It's such a pity, we never met before!” As I listened to this a moment ago, I pictured a beach in Bermuda at sunset – and just now went to YouTube for the first offering this day – the one with the “most views.” Lo and behold! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7YaF7h_jE0

As you get older, do you find you're experiencing 'coincidences' – more frequently than you ever did before? Carl Jung called it “synchronicity” – when the coincidences come in clusters. Twice this night: Someone connected to that “in the pink” song – turns out that today (4/19/2024) would have been their “100th birthday.” I'm thinking What's next? I awake at the stroke of 5 a.m. I'm thinking of my favorite line of sacred scripture: “Imitate me, for I am gentle and humble of heart.” And thinking, Why only two things? We like things in three (Faith Hope Charity) Why no third thing required of us? Then it dawns on me: We have only two spiritual enemies. Anger and Pride. “A gentle answer turneth away wrath.” If you're gentle – gentle tone of voice, gentle demeanor toward others – you cannot simultaneously be angry. So too, Pride can't co-exist within a heart that's trying to be humble, at every turn. Okay, I turn on my computer and it's my new favorite form of video – birds-eye views of some of the world's most beautiful scenery, never experienced before drones! And the quote on the screen is this: “Matthew 11:39 – Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For I am gentle and lowly of heart and you will find rest for your souls.

GUY LOMBARDO & HIS ROYAL CANADIANS -- Enjoy Yourself I'd just been thinking, amid the aches and pains of old age, about 'the days of wine and roses' – back when we were all “In the Pink.” You need to be nearing 80 yourself to recall the words of a song our parents sang in 1950, with the memorable refrain … Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think! Enjoy yourself, while you're still 'in the pink' The years go by, as quickly as a wink . . . Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself! It's later than you think. Google to be reminded that in the 16th century “pink” meant “the embodiment of perfection.” The “current idiom dates to the year 1900.” And the song? “Enjoy Yourself” by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians. Six witty stanzas. Listen to at least the first two, with their images of vacations and cruises while “you're still in the pink.” Oh yes, the singer: a member of Guy's family as well as his vocalist, Kenny Gardner. Born March 20 1913, Lake View Iowa Died July 26, 2002 (age 89 years) Manhasset, New York. Spouse: Elaine Lombardo (m. 1940-1999) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9VvuoqQdWc

When simple words are music to our ears . . . Michael's essay. Remember your favorite moment in THE BLIND SIDE? When Michael has his epiphany, after his new “Dad” quotes from memory the climax of 'The Charge of the Light Brigade': “Into the valley of death, rode the 600 . . . Theirs, not to reason why – Theirs, but to 'do-or-die'.” Inspired by his Dad's football analogy, “when the coach messes up,” Mike sits down to compose his thoughtful response – writing with an 'artless' style and a lyrical (not to say musical) beauty that rings true. ---- Permit an aside: After determining that I'd never seen The Blind Side, my sister in Toronto sent me both Blu-ray and 'Made in Mexico' DVD versions for my birthday last month. "You will love it," she said, and then "When are you going to watch it?" Poised to transcribe (I type fast) I realized that this 'best scene' must be the favorite of millions – and is already posted at YouTube, right? Sure enough. Four minutes of movie magic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVbSQpoFDb0

MONALISA TWINS – Baby You Can Drive My Car Paul McCartney 4Fans just sent me a link and a thumbs up for something I posted "2 years ago." Just when I was in the mood to hear some talented girls impersonating Paul and John. [I wrote:] "Ever wonder if Paul enjoys Beatles 'covers'? Had that thought again while watching these talented girls with their "two year residency at The Cavern." [left them an appreciative note:] Back in the 60's when all of us it seems were in bands and doing Beatles covers (mine was 'The Suspects' – of Ottawa Canada – you may not have heard of us) I recall how difficult it was to do a good impression of The Fab Four on a song popular with audiences -- like 'Baby You Can Drive My Car.' An American guitarist friend (we trade Chet Atkins anecdotes) just shared this. (Thanks, Bob P.) Talented singer/musicians – the “MonaLisa Twins” – girls and boys having fun at 'The Cavern' in Liverpool, circa Summer of '21.

An Evening With Joe Pass – 1994 I've been waiting my entire adult life for this. You don't have to be a guitarist to love this. Joe's mother would have loved every minute of it! In an interview at the 13:38 mark, when asked What are you going to play tonight? – the disarming response: “I can't tell ya!” Meaning it would spoil the fun if Joe didn't decide on-the-spot, 'what's next?' “I played with Oscar for ten years,” said Joe, “and we never once rehearsed!” Too many highlights – so many questions answered: His guitar resembles a Gibson 175 which Joe Pass played until Ibanez made him a signature model to rival George Benson's. “Gibson asked me what I wanted . . . a thinner body than a 175, just the one pickup, and the neck is slimmer . . . “ Do yourself a favor, and set aside some time to watch this. I guarantee you will love, or … double your money back. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSeJSWwEyoE Correction: It was Epiphone - Joe Pass signature model. I played one, on two occasions. Very fine. They held their value. This one used at Ebay today for $1,487.62 U.S. dollars plus $80 shipping (from Japan). So 2K Canadian. In case any loved ones are tuning in.

FRANK SINATRA JR. – The People That We Never Get to Love It's the syncopated opening notes of an arrangement that could only be Nelson Riddle: It warms my heart each time I hear this poignant song played on Sirius radio about twice a year, including right this minute! A Rupert Holmes song (his best?) and his own favorite rendition, by a dear friend, Frank Sinatra Jr. You're browsing in a second-hand book store . . . She looks up from “WWII” and then you catch her, catching you, catchin' her eye . . . And then you think about the people that we never get to love! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmCf6tAO19g Footnote: This arrangement by Nelson Riddle finally saw the light of day two decades after his death, and about a decade before Frank Jr's passing. Sinatra's son was his musical director at Frank's concert performances in the final ten years of his own life.

DIANA KRALL – Just You, Just Me Just for me, and my continuing musical education, 'Jersey Lou' Simon, programmer extraordinaire at Siriusly Sinatra is playing Diana Krall channeling Oscar Peterson – with a jazz fiddler . . . and I recognize his sound. He is my “other favorite Nashville 'sessions' artist” oh … what's his name? It's as if Lou Simon is saying, “Spot the fiddler, Mark!” I just have to go to James Taylor's Grammy-winning AMERICAN STANDARD album – where James recorded with this jazz virtuoso fiddler in Nashville. To be cont. …. From her THIS DREAM OF YOU (2020) album for Verve. No mention of the accompanying personnel . . . Sure enough, someone who turned 59, two days ago, April 14, 2024. Stuart Duncan – fiddle (tracks 6, 9, 11) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOof3D0cAjk https://www.facebook.com/mark.blackburn.3910/

The Rick Beato video with the most eye-catching title “Greatest Solo of All Time” has attracted more than a million views per year. Deservedly so, we can all agree! I've been a life-long fan of Oscar Peterson and got to see him in concert with my guitar hero Joe Pass (note below) during the period Rick recommends we should “seek out on YouTube.” “Now, imagine” says Mr. Beato at song's end, “being in the audience there, in 1974 – I don't know how many people are still alive from then … none of the people on the bandstand are alive: Barney Kessel passed away 2004, Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson passed away in 2005 and Oscar in 2007. They all died within three years of each other. “Oscar was hit by a stroke – I believe it was in 1994 or so, and lost the use of a couple of his fingers on the left hand; it really impacted him for the rest of his career, eventually retiring. “His recordings from really, 1973 through 1985 are absolutely phenomenal. There's great recordings in the '60s but his technique, his feel, his repertoire of songs – everything really solidified during that time period . . . that's when he was absolutely killing it! And this is one of the best performances I've ever seen on piano. It has so much fire and so much swing that it just blows my mind!" A personal note Rick would appreciate! My wife of 50 years, Irene and I went to see Oscar and guitar giant Joe Pass 'alone together' on the stage of Winnipeg's 2K seat concert hall circa 1982. To this day we both agree it was “the best concert” – and the peak musical experience of both our lives.

Canada's “other greatest-ever jazz singer / pianist” CAROL WELSMAN has the sort of voice you could savor 'by the hour.' And for the past hour Carol's been hosting a “Playing Favorites on Siriusly Sinatra” program: I've never heard a more inspired show – track after track, one song after another that I could celebrate here! And Carol provided my “What a coincidence!” moment of the day: On the phone tonight, my Irene, who is in a care home, asked me to complete a line from a nursery rhyme: “One for the Master, and one for the Dame . . . ?” I replied: “And one for the little boy, who lives down the lane.” And what's it from? “Bah, bah, black sheep, have you any wool.” My turn to quiz Irene: “So what other two 'nursery rhymes' are sung to that same melody?” Irene recalled 'the alphabet song' A, B, C, D, E, F, G . . . next time sing along with me!” as well as the third and most famous lyric: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, how I wonder what you are?” So. Guess what Carol Welsman used as her show closer a moment ago? Carol is a terrific jazz pianist but said “My mentor Herbie Hancock accompanied me on this one.” Is it at YouTube? But of course! Posted "5 years ago" to 3.5K views and "comments are turned off" so we won't "learn more" will we? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzPpEGzu6Dg

The Carter Family is the best 3-stanza poem ever written. Says me . . . and about a million kindred spirits, if they think about it. I didn't need to commit it to memory half a century ago. I could recite it after the first couple of plays. Bought my copy in London summer of '73 and visited the studio where it was recorded. The engineer's name was Robin Geoffrey Cable. He died 4 years ago. His playback speakers? Big JBL's. He told me they had the mid-range 'bite' he needed to listen at high volume, all day. Thanks for the provocative reply (below) by cumulonimbus583 that triggered these memories!

RICK BEATO – All The Things You Are Do you find when you're watching Rick, that it's like you have known him all your life? And that you share his joy, at every turn. I'm still new here, and discovering the extravagance of riches that comprise, not only the best interviews I have ever seen, (you too?) but Mr. Beato's reflections on . . . well, how about the black vinyl LP that Rick says “influenced me more than any other” – Joe Pass – Virtuoso (1973). In the hands of any other interviewer this could stray into self-indulgence. With Rick? Self-effacement, disarming and charming! I'm watching his track-by-track analysis and recall my thinking the exact same thoughts. The riot of modulations, key changes, of ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE (my parents' favorite song; mine too!) The difference? Rick Beato taught himself “in three or four hours” a perfect transcription of what Joe Pass was playing, so he could surprise his Dad when he came home from work that evening. Joe Pass himself would have been astonished! Which is to say, deepest thanks (again) Rick Beato. If you can only spare a few minutes right now, pick it up at the 6:25 mark, "All The Things You Are" for Dad! https://www.facebook.com/mark.blackburn.3910/

JO STAFFORD – Young and Foolish “Smiling in the sunlight, laughing in the rain, I wish that we were young and foolish again!” Jo Stafford is a singer I love, that I've never once celebrated. Her version of YOUNG AND FOOLISH is playing right now on Siriusly Sinatra satellite radio -- whose programmer 'Jersey Lou' Simon is the genius behind channel 70: If asked how I'd to improve on the original Sinatra channel, I'd reply like Larry Hart – 'Don't change a hair for me!' The version I'll always hear in my mind's ear "Tony Bennett & Bill Evans" alone together recording of 1976; 21 years earlier, when 45 rpm records still hadn't displaced 78's from the nations' turntables, this I see on the first YouTube offering this day is a 45. Jo Stafford had a special sound, a vocal texture that was simultaneously strong yet gentle; with a 'wistfulness,' that's perfect for this lyric. See if this affects you? Posted to YouTube with an informed note that this was arranged and conducted by her famous husband's orchestra: “One of several recordings of the minor hit song from a 1955 Broadway musical comedy 'Plain and Fancy' (451 performances). Orchestra conducted by Paul Weston.” t

There is no steel-string acoustic guitar that projects like an OLSON -- and with perfectly balanced sound, at full volume. Which Doyle Dykes elicits on a Beatles song, one of my two favorites composed words and tune by Paul McCartney -- ELEANOR RIGBY. James Olson guitars (most favored by James Taylor) are to steel-string acoustic instruments what "Kirk Sand" is to acoustic-electric nylon stringed guitars. Simply the best there is. Paul McCartney would love this!

A moment ago I was checking on the provenance of a song my musical father enjoyed, from a time period of around 1949/50 -- “C'EST SI BON.” This while Siriusly Sinatra satellite radio radio was playing a version I'd never heard before by Dean Martin. In my reverie I imagined Sinatra urging his friend to record it, even though it “belonged to Louis” and the fact that other important singers, with names like Ertha and Bing, had done memorable versions. FRANK: Dino! – I can hear you making this one all your own . . . DEAN: How? FRANK: Just be yourself. Chat it up – you know, 'An Italian in Paris' – and how you like everything you see. And you wish I were there with you. Maybe even mention me in passing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkKderOit0o