Myriam Phiro: “Becoming Marlene Dietrich” (2023) CD Review

Jazz vocalist Myriam Phiro honors the incredible talent of Marlene Dietrich on her latest release, Becoming Marlene Dietrich. When I think of Marlene Dietrich, I generally think of her film work, such as The Blue Angel, The Scarlet Empress, Destry Rides Again and Stage Fright, and forget that she released several albums. But of course she sang in several of her films, including The Blue Angel, Destry Rides Again and Stage Fright. And Myriam Phiro covers songs from her movies as well as from her albums. Joining the vocalist on this album are Hyuna Park on piano and accordion, Elias Bailey on upright bass, Alex Raderman on drums, and Linus Wyrsch on tenor saxophone and clarinet.

The album opens with “You’ve Got That Look,” a song Marlene Dietrich recorded fairly early in her career. Myriam Phiro delivers a wonderful rendition. Like Marlene Dietrich, she certainly has her own strong allure. “You’ve got that look/That look between the lines/You with your let’s-get-more-than-friendly designs.” And just listen to the way she sings, “But oh what’s the use when I know I love it.” This track features some really nice work on piano. It’s followed by “Lili Marlene,” a song that Marlene Dietrich recorded in the 1940s. She also sang a bit of it in the 1961 movie Judgment At Nuremberg. It’s a song that Leonard Cohen refers to in “Famous Blue Raincoat.” Hyuna Park starts this one on piano. The drum beat takes on the feel of a march when Myriam Phiro sings the line, “When we are marching in the mud and cold.” Toward the end, Myriam sings a bit of in German. Marlene Dietrich had recorded both English and German versions of this song.

“Makin’ Whoopee” is a song that Marlene Dietrich included on her live album Dietrich In Rio. There is a hint of melancholy as Myriam sings, “Weddings make a lot of people sad/But if you’re not the groom, it’s not so bad,” but with a wink contained within the line, getting us ready for the next lines. This is a sweet and delightful rendition. Elias Bailey on bass then begins “Que Reste-t-il Nos Amours,” which Myriam Phiro delivers in French. And what a delicious vocal performance! This track also features some excellent work on piano. And in the middle, there is a cool lead on bass. The English version of this song is titled “I Wish You Love,” and Myriam Phiro delivers some of that in the second half, as Marlene Dietrich did. Marlene Dietrich also performed the English version on its own. That’s followed by “La Vie En Rose,” one of the songs that Marlene Dietrich sings in Stage Fright. She also included it on At The Café De Paris. Myriam Phiro delivers an absolutely beautiful and stirring rendition, singing it in both French and English. “When you press me to your heart/I’m in a world apart/A world where roses bloom.” We are all transported to that world just by listening to this remarkable vocal performance. This track features Hyuna Park on both piano and accordion, and I especially love that work on accordion. This is one of my favorite tracks.

“Quand L’Amour Meurt” is a song that Marlene Dietrich recorded in the early 1930s and is another that is delivered in French.  I love that moment when it takes a joyful turn. Myriam Phiro’s voice is incredibly expressive, and even when we might not understand the language, we understand the emotion, and we are right with her. She delivers a beautiful performance. Myriam Phiro then covers a song that Marlene Dietrick did later in her career, “Where Have All The Flowers Gone.” As I understand it, she started performing this song in the early 1960s, and recorded it both in English and German. This rendition by Myriam Phiro is delivered in English. On the verse about soldiers, the drums take on a military feel. “When will we ever learn?” she asks at the end. Then “Jonny, Wenn Due Geburtstag Hast” is delivered in German. This is an interesting song. It is both powerful and playful, as she takes us through different sections, including a short intimate section. This is a dramatic performance, with a final whisper of “Jonny” at the end. I also love Linus Wyrsch’s work. This ends up being another of my personal favorites.

Golden Earrings is a Marlene Dietrich film that came out in 1947. The song “Golden Earrings” is from the movie. Linus Wyrsch delivers some excellent work on this one, a big part of this track’s appeal. “So be my gypsy/Make love your guiding light/And let this pair of golden earrings/Cast their spell tonight.” Oh yes, this music will cast its own lovely spell on all who listen. This wonderful music transports me. That’s followed by “Another Spring, Another Love,” a song that Marlene Dietrich included on an EP. Here Myriam Phiro delivers another touching performance. Even her humming in the second half has a strong effect. This track also features some really nice work on both piano and accordion. “The Boys In The Back Room” is a song that Marlene Dietrich sings in Destry Rides Again. Myriam Phiro has a good time with this playful number. This is totally enjoyable.

“My Blue Heaven” has been in several movies, though I’m not sure of any Marlene Dietrich movies to feature it (but there are many of her films I’ve yet to see). Marlene did include it on her Dietrich In Rio album. This version begins warmly on piano and vocals, and soon includes some delightful work on clarinet. This track also features an absolutely delicious instrumental section, featuring some great stuff from all four musicians, including excellent leads by both Hyuna Park and Linus Wyrsch. Myriam Phiro then wraps up the album with “Falling In Love Again,” a song that Marlene Dietrich sings in her classic film The Blue Angel, which was released in 1930. Myriam Phiro delivers a gorgeous rendition. Oh, just you try to remain aloof and unaffected while listening. She is supported by some beautiful work on piano. A wonderful conclusion to an excellent album.

CD Track List

1. You’ve Got That Look
2. Lili Marlene
3. Makin’ Whoopee
4. Que Reste-t-il/I Wish You Love
5. La Vie En Rose
6. Quand L’Amour Meurt
7. Where Have All The Flowers Gone
8. Jonny, Wenn Du Geburtstag Hast
9. Golden Earrings
10. Another Spring, Another Love
11. The Boys In The Back Room
12. My Blue Heaven
13. Falling In Love Again

Become Marlene Dietrich was released on October 6, 2023.

Sun Ra: “At The Showcase: Live In Chicago 1976-1977” (2024) CD Review

There were some excellent releases this past Saturday for Record Store Day, including a previously unreleased live album from Sun Ra titled At The Showcase: Live In Chicago 1976-1977, which was limited to 3,000 copies. If you didn’t manage to pick up a vinyl copy, do not despair. This special album is being released on CD this Friday. It is a two-disc set, and it comes complete with a 36-page booklet of liner notes and photos. Sun Ra is the name that jazz composer and keyboard player Herman Poole Blunt began performing under in the 1950s in Chicago, so that city is, in a sense, where he as a performer was born. And it was to that city that he returned regularly. This two-disc set contains music that Sun Ra performed on February 21, 1976, November 4, 1977, and November 10, 1977, at Joe Segal’s Jazz Showcase. The music is not presented in chronological order, because it is from 1977 that the early set comes, while the late set is from 1976. The music is mostly original material.

CD 1

The first disc kicks off with, appropriately, “New Beginning,” and immediately things get loose and lively, the music itself determining the course of things. With Sun Ra, you know it’s going to be an interesting ride. And that ride soon takes us into another realm with “View From Another Dimension,” which begins with some interesting percussion, welcoming us to the dance, to the tribe, to the ceremony. It is when the percussion suddenly stops that the weirdness really begins. Once that work on keys takes over, we have crossed over into that other dimension fully. There is no longer easy access to an escape route. We are fully committed to the journey. And it isn’t long before the place is crowded with voices of horns, hustling and making urgent announcements in what may simply be a bustling marketplace or could be the edge of existence. Things get pretty intense and exciting. They do, however, relax before the end. The audience applause is heard at the end of the track, and from the sound of it, the venue must not have been all that large.

“Synthesis Approach” quickly develops a catchy groove, the tune sounding like aliens engaging in their own second line, winding along some interstellar promenade. This track is probably more accessible for folks than the first two, and it’s fun, with a delicious energy. I love the joy of the horns. It’s like they don’t want to, or can’t, hold back, but must shout out. This track is seriously enjoyable, and it features some very cool stuff on keys, particularly in the second half. And when the horns join in again, the joy splashes across the planets and moons and whatever might lie in between. That’s followed by “Ankhnaton.” I love how this music might have its origin in familiar places, but then goes far afield, twisting the familiar into something new and exciting, shaking new worlds from the old, looking at reality from a different angle, and pulling us along for the ride. Who knows what we ourselves will be able to create as we shake and groove and move to this track? And who expects the band to do a standard at this point? No one, I bet. Well, these guys follow “Ankhnaton” with “Rose Room,” composed by Art Hickman and Harry Williams. The arrangement is by Sun Ra, so you can count on things to stay at least somewhat within the realm of the strange and exciting, keeping us on our toes. This track is hopping, and features some delicious work on keys and a great bass line.

“Moonship Journey” is a tune that comes from Sun Ra’s 1976 album Cosmos. This rendition quickly develops that groove and then the vocals come in, “Prepare yourself for the moonship journey.” Yes, it’s the first of the disc’s tracks to feature vocals. I like the rhythm of the vocals. The saxophone then comes in and takes over, drowning out the vocals and becoming the dominant voice itself. This journey soon begins to sound like a party. It must be one of those party moonships I’ve been hearing about, but haven’t yet been able to book. This track is a lot of fun. The band stretches out on this one a bit, this rendition being more than ten minutes long. It’s one of my personal favorite tracks. The first disc then concludes with “Velvet,” a piece that was included on Sun Ra’s 1959 album Jazz In Silhouette and on his 1967 album We Travel The Space Ways. It moves at a good clip, and features some great stuff on trumpet. Actually, several of the players have opportunities to shine here. And I love that rhythm, it makes me feel that everything is happening at once, and we can somehow enjoy it all. This track is a total delight.

CD 2

The second disc opens with “Calling Planet Earth,” a piece that was included on the 1963 Sun Ra album When Sun Comes Out. As it begins, several voices urgently join in the call, along with the horns and drums, and things become deliciously chaotic. Ah, that’s planet Earth, all right! With waves of thunder. Then it sounds like frantic radio signals being picked up by those of us lost in the outer reaches of the solar system, and interpreted by unhinged machines, though not into any language that we can readily understand. It may be that the machines are attacking each other, for things get more and more wild. The band goes straight into “The Shadow World,” presented on the same track here. That piece comes from the 1966 Sun Ra album The Magic City, and it takes us into more unusual and intriguing territory. The darkness has several forms and they all come rushing at us, demanding our attention. This is an exciting track.

“Theme Of The Stargazers” begins on keys, like someone got at the organ at the ball park and was battling his own visions through the instrument. That comes to an abrupt halt, and the voices come in: “This is the theme of the stargazers/Stargazers in the sky/This is the song of tomorrow’s world/A cosmic paradise.” The horns join the keyboard in a wild blaze, a shout up to the heavens, more of a demand than an entreaty. That leads straight into “Space Is The Place,” which is presented as a different track. This is the title track to a 1973 Sun Ra album. The vocalists tell us, “Space is the place,” and we get the feeling that Space is a night club with a particularly good band and some dancing girls that have to be seen to be believed, the kind of place where the party goes all night, the windows darkened to keep the sun from disturbing the festivities. And we seem encouraged to join in singing that title line, and clap along if we so choose. That is followed by a track titled “Applause,” and that is largely what it is, not a composition. We hear people calling out “Sun Ra.”

And then Sun Ra returns to the stage, much to the delight of the crowd, and he goes into “Ebah Speaks In Cosmic Tongue,” asking, “Have you heard the latest news from Neptune?” Apparently, the rest of the track is the latest news from Neptune. But as this is from 1976, it is probably no longer the latest news from Neptune. What’s happening out there now? Why are we not hearing anything about it? What are they keeping from us? Well, the crowd is totally digging it. That’s followed by “Greetings From The 21st Century.” “It’s only twenty-four years before the century of twenty-one,” we learn. Ah, who knows what the 21st century will bring? This is a vocal piece, with some great backing vocal work. There is a sort of gospel bent to them, and again, folks are clapping along. The second disc then concludes with a track titled “Joe Segal Announcements.” It’s kind of cool that this was included. The crowd applauds again for Sun Ra. Then Joe Segal says: “Sun Ra is here one more day, and your student and musician discount is good tomorrow, so be sure to come in. It’s three dollars, as opposed to the five.” Oh man, that’s when concert ticket prices were reasonable.

CD Track List

CD 1

1. New Beginning
2. View From Another Dimension
3. Synthesis Approach
4. Ankhnaton
5. Rose Room
6. Moonship Journey
7. Velvet

CD 2

1. Calling Planet Earth & The Shadow World
2. Theme Of The Stargazers
3. Space Is The Place
4. Applause
5. Ebah Speaks In Cosmic Tongue
6. Greetings From The 21st Century
7. Joe Segal Announcements

At The Showcase: Live In Chicago 1976-1977 is scheduled to be released on CD on April 26, 2024. It was released on vinyl on Record Store Day, April 20, 2024.

The Town And The City Festival 2024 Features Strong Lineup

I’ll be in Massachusetts soon, but sadly not soon enough to enjoy the Town And The City Festival in Lowell this Friday and Saturday. There is quite a good lineup this year, with Robyn Hitchcock, Ryan Montbleau Band, Air Traffic Controller, Syd Straw, and Sofia Talvik among the highlights. The festival, for those who don’t know, is named after the Jack Kerouac novel, which takes place in Lowell, where Kerouac was raised. The festival takes place in various venues in the city, and includes comedy as well as music. Tickets are not very expensive. Visit the festival’s website for the completely lineup and schedule, and to purchase tickets.

Steven Keene: “This World Is Your World” (2024) CD Single Review

Many years ago, a folksinger friend of mine opined that Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” should be our national anthem. I quickly came to agree with that idea. It’s a much better song than “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and it aims to unite folks in a way that the other song doesn’t. It’s also a protest song, though the first versions I heard were missing certain verses, and so felt more like a straight celebration of the country. Even without those verses, it’s a great song.

Steven Keene now takes the song, and creates his own verses for it, expanding it from this country to this world, and thus changing the title to “This World To Your World.” We are living in a strange and dangerous time, when certain countries are again at war, and these wars are in constant threat of expanding. And here in our own country, democracy is threatened by one of its two major political parties, something that seemed inconceivable only a decade ago. It’s not about policy differences. The country is divided in a way that seems nearly impossible to fix, since the two sides hate each other, and seem to be living in two separate realities. How can we unite again? And how can the world come together? How do we remind everyone that our similarities far outweigh our differences? When politics fail, as they nearly always do, music comes through.

In this new version of the song, Steven Keene sings, “This world is your world/This world is our world/From the highest mountain/To the deepest valley/From her rich green forests/To her clear blue waters/This world was made for you and me.” Steven Keene plays acoustic guitar and harmonica on this track. Joining him are Joseph Chiarolanza on bass, Joseph Napolitano on pedal steel, Matt O’Ree on guitar, Arne Wendt on keyboards, Chris Russo on drums, and Lisa Testa on backing vocals. One of the verses of Woody Guthrie’s song that is often dropped is the one about the “No Trespassing” sign. Steven Keene in his version sings, “I spied a high wall/Said ‘Don’t pass over’/So I climbed over/Freedom has no border/And on the other side/It was just like my side/Both sides were made for you and me.” I love that, particularly when many people in this nation want to build a big wall to keep people out. It also reminds me of that scene from Harold And Maude, where Maude says, “What sense in borders and nations and patriotism?” I love the spirit of this rendition, and Steven Keene’s vocal performance is excellent. I hope songs like this can help restore what’s best in humanity.

This World Is Your World was released on April 19, 2024.

Mel And Friends: “Swingset Serenade” (2024) Vinyl Review

When I was a child, much of the children’s music that I heard and loved was jazz, though I didn’t know it at the time. Think of Vince Guaraldi’s music for the Peanuts television specials or a lot of the songs on The Muppet Show. Great stuff! My friends and I didn’t know it was jazz, we just knew we loved it. Melanie Dill and Tom Johnson were inspired by just that sort of music when creating the new album, Swingset Serenade, which is being released on vinyl as well as compact disc, another way this album takes me back to the music of my childhood. I think it’s excellent that kids these days will be able to start their own record collections, the way we did, and learn to handle the records with care. The record features all original material, written by Melanie Dill and Tom Johnson, and the music is a lot of fun. Joining them on this release are Chris Leopold on trumpet, Zak Pischnotte on saxophone, Mike Horan on guitar, Eric Mardis on guitar, Nick Weiser on piano, Will Dinkel on double bass, Danny Rojas on drums, J. Metz on percussion, and Danny O’Brien on trumpet, along with some guests on certain tracks.

Side A

The album opens with its title track, “Swingset Serenade,” which soon becomes absolutely adorable, as we hear a child asking to be pushed on the swing, while a delicious jazz rhythm is established. “Higher, higher,” the child says, and then, “That’s too high.” Then there is some great vocal work from Melanie Dill, her performance bright and joyous. The kids are still present at times, even delivering that wonderfully cheesy joke, when one child asks, “How do you feel about swings?” The other child answers, “I don’t know, I go back and forth on them.” This song is a total delight with a big band sound. Then we get into a Latin thing with “Jugo De Naranja,” with Kelfel Aqui on vocals. Sure, the lyrics are simple, but this is a totally enjoyable tune, with plenty of great percussion. Rhyno Hensley joins the group on drums on this track. Children’s voices are present on this one too, and on all this album’s tracks. I’ll be singing this song each morning as I pour myself a glass of orange juice and dance into my day. At least, I hope I start my day that way.

“Make A Garden” is totally delightful song. It’s great fun for adults as well as children, with that gypsy jazz vibe, featuring some excellent stuff on guitar. And the lyrics are delivered at a fast pace at the start. “So come on and grab a shovel on the double, here we go!” Children are on vocals for some of this track. And there is a wonderful sense of humor to it as well, heard when one child asks, “Is this a lemon or a lime?” and another answers, “That’s a potato.” Adorable! This track also features nice work on bass. Chris Shaw plays bass on this one, and Ashley Zeigenbein is on piano. Chris Shaw also plays bass on “Mariposa,” a song that is mostly sung in Spanish and features a pretty vocal performance. This short track also contains some really nice work on guitar. Bill Crahan plays guitar on this one, and Clark Jamison is on percussion. At the end, a child says, “Butterfly.”

There is some humor in “Ruth’s Couscous,” a song about having a potluck picnic, as one child says, “I’m feeling potlucky today.” I love those swells from the brass section. “What is couscous?” a child asks in the middle of the track, and another child provides information. This track gets wonderfully silly toward the end. This music will have you smiling, no matter your age. The band then slows things down with “Come Back Balloon,” which begins with a forlorn child’s entreaty to a wayward balloon. Then the adult vocals take on the character of the balloon itself. Shannon Savoie joins the band on vocals. The child is eventually cheered up by other children and by the balloon itself. This track ends with the child saying, “Goodbye, balloon” after the instruments have faded out.

Side B

“The Speed Of Light” has a snappy rhythm which works well with the song’s subject. Children provide the scientific facts about light on this track, not adults. When one says, “Most of our light comes from the sun,” they all shout “Yay, sun!” Yes, I feel that way myself sometimes, like cheering on the sun. “When you get closer to the speed of light, weird things start to happen,” a child says at one point. Oh, weird things happen everywhere, kid. And what other song gives you a group of children shouting “Einstein’s theory of relativity”? I love the drum work on this song. As the band continues to jam, the music fades out, while the sounds of night continue. That leads straight into “Me Gustan Las Estrellas,” which is perfect. And we are prepared for this track, for in “The Speed Of Light” one child asks, “How do you say ‘star’ in Spanish,” and another kid answers, “Estrella.” And actually another child says, “Me gustan las estrellas.” So we are ready for this one. This track has a relaxed vibe and features a really sweet vocal performance, the lyrics sung mainly in Spanish. A child comes in and sings a section in English. This one also ends with the sounds of night.

“Bunk Bed” is a fun, lively number, with a big band vibe. I love the percussion from the moment the song kicks in, and there is great percussion throughout this track. This track also contains a vibrant, fun vocal performance. “Be careful not to bump your head/Let your imagination fly/It’s easy if you really try.” And this song’s lyrics mention the speed of light. Things then get mellow with the album’s final track, “Bedtime.” This song will help your little ones relax, especially after the excitement of the previous track. “Bedtime/Everything’s quiet now.” This track features some gentle, pretty work on piano. At the end, it drifts off, and so do we. A sweet conclusion to a fun record.

Record Track List

Side A

1. Swingset Serenade
2. Jugo De Naranja
3. Make A Garden
4. Mariposa
5. Ruth’s Couscous
6. Come Back Balloon

Side B

1. The Speed Of Light
2. Me Gustan Las Estrellas
3. Bunk Bed
4. Bedtime

Swingset Serenade is available digitally now, and is scheduled to be released on vinyl and CD on May 3, 2024.