Some of my Favorite Music

My musical interests can be very broad. Last night it was a lot of Bach Cello Suites by Yo-Yo Ma and Pablo Casals. Soul-searching music.

It can't all be law and politics and so, today, as the afternoon fades away, I've been listening to two of my favorite albums, and I thought I'd let you in on them so you can start getting ready for Christmas giving (and don't forget to give yourself one of each as well). No, really, these are two fantastic albums.

The first, probably my favorite album - Getz/Gilberto (Stan Getz, tenor sax, Joao Gilberto, guitar, vocals, Antonio Carlos Jobim, piano, and Astrud Gilbertoon some vocals). It is really soothing bossa nova music, probably one of the best albums ever. Just listen to some of the samples, Girl from Ipanema, Desafinado, Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars). You will not be sorry if you get this album. This incredible album has been around for some time, having been recorded about 1964. Good music lasts forever! But beware of another album also named Getz/Gilberto, because it is a lousy album. As the story goes, Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto had agreed to make two albums. The first was the linked to fantastic one. The other is a lousy album, to fulfill a contract obligation, but when Getz and Gilberto had already had their differences after Stan stole Joao's wife, Astrud. Not a nice thing to do to a friend.

Then there is Sax for Lovers [Sony] - another really great album I got in one of those chance buys and it turned out to be terrific. This is one of those albums in which they have included an all-star lineup of sax players: Ben Webster, Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Stanley Turrentine, Paul Desmond, Arthur Blythe, Tom Scott, Kirk Whalum, and Grover Washington, Jr. The music is fantastic. There is not a bad or mediocre song or musician on this album. If you like tenor sax, this you will love. Warning: If you sit by yourself to listen to this album you will have a hard time not drifting into a dream-like state. One of my favorite all time albums. Makes a great present for any friend you want to give great music to, especially yourself.