My Favorite Things

One of my all-time favorite movies is “The Sound of Music.”

I have loved it since the fay I was strongly built and until today, it is like a fresh breath of air. Time has not changed the tide of love that flurries through my body when I see Julie Andrews walking across each scene doing what she did so beautifully. I guess my love for music falls in line with hearing her song the Do-Re-Mi song. Her singing lured me in and I never miss an opportunity when it is on television to let the hills come alive with the sound of music in my home.

So, when the opportunity to sing the song live came about, you can imagine how many times I had to brush the tears from my eyes to face the audience and sing “My Favorite Things.”

“My Favorite Things” is a tune by Rogers & Hammerstein from 1959 which was originally written for their play, “The Sound of Music.”The main character from the play, Maria, loved raindrops and roses and whiskers on kittens. I don’t like kittens so much but the stuffed kitten animals are cute. 

I do love roses though. You should know that on almost every stage that I sung on in Russia, somebody from the audience gave me a beautiful bouquet of roses and it was such a beautiful and welcoming thing for me that kept me smiling in the beautiful, distant place, for miles around.

Maria loved bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. I love bright copper kettles because I am a tea lover and try to have a spot of tea daily. I love woolen mittens and wish I had some when I was in Russia because it was cold. But at least I had gloves. Maybe I’ll get some for the NYC winter that has suddenly embraced us. I mean it is December.

Maria love brown paper packages tied up with strings and I love the strings of a bass guitar that seem to enhance the sound of music, when you listen to it; especially when it is live. She loved girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes. I love my nephews in anything they wear and in whatever they do because they are such cute young gentlemen with so much promise. I also love hearing my mother sing and when my father comes out of nowhere and compliments some aspect of my music. I love when my older sister invites me somewhere and when my younger sister sends me leads that might help me with my music. 

You can probably tell that most of my favorite things involve music. Like for instance, I love listening to frank Sinatra sing and I love to listen to Grover Washington Jr’s music. I love poinsettias and I love singing Christmas carols.

“My Favorite Things” has become a song that many refer to as a tune for the holidays. I love John Coltrane’s version and can’t resist enjoying Betty Carter’s rendition. For just one moment, I hope that you will stop and indulge in my rendition, as I performed it live with the Medgar Evers Jazz Ensemble at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY.  Here is the link: https://youtu.be/Q9NLJ6w2LXE

Today's post is dedicated to Frank Sinatra and Grover Washington Jr; two fellow sagges who celebrate their birthdays this week.  As I rambled about some of my favorite things, I am interested in hearing about some of yours. Would you please leave a comment and share those things that make your heart flutter with me? 

Thank you so much for reading my blogpost and from my heart to yours, happy holidays. 

Jazz on the Jnote: Recap of MEC Jazz Ensemble at Jazzy Jazz Festival

“I strongly encourage listening to the radio

to hear something you haven't heard before.

It's a very healthy thing to do. It's strange:

unless you reload your iPods every couple

of weeks, you're listening to and recycling

the same music all of the time. I'm serious.

Listen to your radio station.”  - Alvin Lee

  

I am excited to announce that this Sunday, August 2, 2015, the show Jazz on the Jnote, which I produce and also radio host, will be airing on WNYE 91.5 FM via Medgar Evers College Radio. Please turn your radio dials to 91.5 FM at 6PM for a recap of the Medgar Evers College Jazz Ensemble’s live performance at the Dr Mary Umolu Jazzy Jazz Festival that took place this past Friday, July 24,^, 2015.

The Medgar Evers College Jazz Ensemble was founded in 2005 by Professor of music education at Medgar Evers College who is also the ensemble’s leader, director, trumpeter and pianist, Professor Roman G Mitchell.  Over the course of time it transformed from a group primarily of musicians to a group that now features vocalists.

The radio show will feature somewhat of a condensed sound feed of the music performed by this wonderful group, as well as interview segments of some of the their fans and audience members answering the question, “What is Jazz?”  

Slideshow

While you are waiting to hear some exciting moments that happened during the jazz ensembles performance on July 24^th, 2015, perhaps you might be interested in checking out some of the still shots and frames that are included in the following slideshow now on youtube and featuring different selections than that which will be shared on the air on Sunday, August 2, 2015 at 6PM.  Check it out here: https://youtu.be/krBGcUJao1o

 

DR Mary Umolu Jazzy Jazz Festival

Please note that each and every Friday on July and August from July 10^th to August 28^th, the Dr Mary Umolu Jazzy Jazz Festival takes place at 1638 Bedford Avenue (Crown Street) in Brooklyn, NY and it occurs from 7PM to 10PM rain or shine.  The following is a list of what you might find at this live outdoor summer concert:

7/10 Firey String Sisters

7/17 Touch of Ambience

7/24 Medgar Evers College Jazz Ensemble

7/31 Damon Banks “Travel Guides” with Special guest Gwen Laster

8/07 Brandon Sanders & the Swing Machine

8/14 Pan Sonatas

8/21 Vincent Gardner Quintet

8/28 Randy Weston

 

Thank you for checking out my blogpost! You can also find me at http://www.facebook.com/jnotemusic or http://www.instagram.com/musiqal1