Kristos Voskres! Happy Easter!

The dutiful daughter always goes with her mom to Russian church on Easter, even if that means getting up early on a Sunday to take a crowded Metro North train to Stamford, where the people were almost outnumbered by the potted Hyacinths everyone seemed to be carrying. (Hostess gifts. Let's stop the madness.)

It was a struggle, since I was up late the night before because I went to see Jon Batiste at Webster Hall. As usual, it was an amazing concert, and I have now seen him perform three times in less than a year. I am getting dangerously close to being a fan girl.

If anyone wonders why I am so into Batiste, his song "The Jazz Man Speaks" pretty much sums it up. I love how Batiste, a modern, 20-something jazz man, samples from Jelly Roll Morton's Library of Congress Recordings. The old with the new, all while moving the genre forward. Which is essentially what jazz is all about.

Fun fact: 90% of the time when I go to a show, I go alone. I accepted the fact a long ago that my taste in music can be esoteric, if not a little advanced, and so I just buy myself a ticket and show up when there is someone I want to see. I've lived in Manhattan since the beginning of time (1999) so I often see someone I know at the venue anyhow. There's rarely a reason to bring anyone along as an arm charm.

Case in point: I saw Mike! I met him through Erin C. back in 2006, and he popped up at the show.

Every weekend begins with a run, and Saturday morning I ran with the people from Juice Press, an organic juice company with locations -- and weekend run clubs -- all over Manhattan. We ran 22nd and Fifth Avenue all the way down to Tribeca via the West Side Highway. I'm kind of loving West Side runs lately. Everyone seems so much more glamorous.

The gal in yellow is Theodora, who runs the Preppy Runner blog, and is a fellow Junior Leaguer.

Their Doctor Earth juice could probably cure anything that ails you.

Wynton Marsalis: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas

This is from 1990!

Wynton Marsalis Reads " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" from Wynton Marsalis on Vimeo.

Get Jon Batiste Into Your iPod. Now.

It's rare that a performance at Carnegie Hall actually gets rowdy, but that's exactly what the Jon Batiste show was last night. Jazz can be a tough enough pill to swallow for the uninitiated, and anyone moving the genre forward can get lumped into the "experimental" realm.

But good music is good music, and Batiste's blend of New Orleans jazz and classical composition is an experience, especially live.

His new album, Social Music, is out now.

Below are three of my favorite tracks.

San Spirito	The Jazz Man Speaks

And his version of "The Entertainer," from an earlier album.

In Heavy Rotation

It's no secret that I'm into jazz, and I love finding new and exciting acts. Jon Batiste, the 26-year-old, Juilliard-trained pianist via New Orleans is getting a lot of air time here on the 21st floor. The jazz nerds already know about him, but he is about to implode on everyone's cultural radar.

He played the McKittrick Hotel last week, filming it for a PBS special. The show was face-meltingly good. The drum solo was the stuff of legend. I have never seen anyone rock a tambourine like that.

He has a new album coming out on October 15th, but do yourself a favor and get into him now, before everyone else claims to have been into him for eons.

This is a performance in Paris:


His version of The Star Spangled Banner.

A Jazzy Interlude

Sinatra's great, but when it comes to jazz I am always looking for what's new.

Tape Five has an incredible, modern interpretation on jazz. Original songs with back beats that remind me of hip-hop. Play this at your next party, once the drinks kick in. People will dance.

Ice From Russia	Fabulous Swing Kid

While we're on the theme of swing, this song from the All-American Rejects, "Swing, Swing." Catchy and it's eleven years old.

Nothing Bothering Me That A Piece Of Roast Beef Can't Fix Up

Source: static2.pixdaus.com via Diy Craft on Pinterest

I have the apartment to myself for the next four days, which means there will be no one telling me to turn off my "old man music," my beloved jazz.

Which is great, since yesterday on Spotify I fell into a wormhole of Louis Armstrong, shortly after reading this piece about the Christmas offerings at the Louis Armstrong House out in Queens.

My favorite find is this one, "All That Meat And No Potatoes," if only for the line, "Nothing bothering me that a piece of roast beef can't fix up." He has a point.



And of course, my favorite Louis ditty:

I Forget How Much I Like This Song

Once jazz gets into your veins, it never leaves. You can ignore it, but it always tugs at your sleeves saying, "Remember me?"

I do.

A Little Ellington For Your Wednesday.

No one does a boogie like Duke Ellington

I'm Secretly An Old Man

If people didn't know better, they would think I was an 80-year-old man based on some of the posts on this blog. Between the jazz tickets and the love of CBS Sunday morning, you'd think I was like every other octogenarian in Murray Hill, spending my Sunday afternoons at Walgreen's stocking up Metamucil and paper towels.

That said, there is a Cab Calloway special on PBS starting tomorrow, February 27th. Below is a sample of one of the segments.

Watch Chris Calloway Brooks Discuss His Grandfather on PBS. See more from American Masters.

These are two of my favorite Cab Calloway numbers. Upbeat, "Fifteen Minute Intermission."


Ballad, "That Old Black Magic."

Very Good Advice

It's things like this on Pinterist that keep me from reading my books at night. :-)

Source: thoughtballoonhelium.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest

That's Jazz: An Outlook For 2012

About a year or so ago I went to a Columbia Alumni event at Jazz At Lincoln Center. One of the speakers was a jazz studies professor named Christopher Washburne. Jazz studies is a required course for Columbia undergrads, and one exercise he gave his students was to walk home a different way every day, even if it was just one block out of the way.

"That's jazz," Professor Washburne said. "Even changing things up a little gives you a whole new perspective."

Over the past year I always kept that in the back of my head. If I wanted to go to the same dumpling place for lunch, I would turn and head south instead. Sure, I could hop on the treadmill, but what about trying that Boot Camp class?

It's a New Year and everyone's making resolutions to lose weight, get their finances in order, etc. Those are big overhauls that will all likely peter out in two weeks. Instead, I like the That's Jazz approach: small changes, often improvised, that can change your day, or at least your frame of mind. Anyone who understands music knows what a difference a grace note can make. 2012, perhaps, could be the year of the grace note.

The best part about this video is the singer in the white dress. She is my alter ego.

How About Some Favorite Jazz Standards?

As far as jazz standards go, "Dream A Little Dream" is very close to the top of my list. Mama Cass obviously did the most famous version. Ella Fitzgerald also has a nice one.

Up until 10 minutes ago I had no idea Bing Crosby had a version as well. (Thanks, Pandora!) It's Friday. Enjoy!



Pair it with this Louis Armstrong ditty (easily in my Top 5 of jazz favorites) and you've got the makings of a good happy hour soundtrack.

A Little Louis Armstrong For Your Sunday

This song has been popping up on my Pandora a lot lately, so I figured I would share.



This Benny Goodman number is totally cliche and overdone, but still catchy.


A short bit about Benny Goodman's first concert at Carnegie Hall, which may have legitimized jazz.

Best 4th of July BBQ Ever!

Yesterday afternoon I was feeling glum and didn't feel like going to a BBQ, but then I realized sitting around and doing nothing would really not cure my mood.

I hosed myself down and hopped the A train with Jen and Tanner and off we went to Bed Stuy, where I met a couple who actually bought an intact brownstone with a backyard. It was originally built in 1886 and still had all its original details. Bed Stuy is not as scary as everyone says. In fact, it's actually really pretty and the brownstones are amazing.

There was lots of food and nice folks, and then the previous owner of the brownstone and his family showed up. He started playing his saxophone, which was cool on its own, and then out of nowhere someone else showed up with an upbright bass. All of a sudden the backyard was full of jazz standards, and in the middle of Bed Stuy.

I didn't see a single firework, but I did hear an impromptu version of "Night and Day." Can't beat that!

Here is Jen and I, digging the tunes.