"Summer Wind" is a song Frank Sinatra recorded in 1966.  Wish I could sing like Old Blue Eyes, but I can do my own renditions of songs he helped make famous.  Below is my versions recorded in August 2015.  Anyhow, we both have blue eyes.  

Wineries of Wisconsin lists over 100 wineries for background research leading to the singing of the tune "Bottle of Wine."  The song was made famous by folksinger, Tom Paxton and others.  My version is here.  You could also check out the youtube by the Fireballs.

"Fever" is a song that has been covered by many including Beyonce.  Artists in their own time made temperatures rise along with little bits of love lessons in the lyrics from Pocahontas plus Romeo and Juliet.  Wish I could do that cool bass line that you can hear in Peggy Lee's youtube.  Maybe you can feel that rhythm in my version?

Thomas "Fats" Waller performed "Ain't Misbehavin'" for decades, but I'm sure you can see from his facial expressions and eye rolls that he doesn't know what the lyrics might be about...

Here's my version performed at Baraboo's Village Booksmith where I host a 3rd Friday of the month open mic.

This is a mashup of Gershwin's "Summertime" and "Why Don't You Do Right."   You may remember a sultry version of "Why Don't You Do Right" from the movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?.   Amy Irving was the voice of Jessica Rabbit.  Also here is a video of Annie Lennox doing Summertime. 

"I Can't Give You Anything But Love" is done here by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett.  Taking a song from the era of the Great Depression and making it modern.  Billy Holiday had her 1937 version and mine is also here. 

Doyoursentencesrunonandonandtheaudiencedoesn’tknowwheretheystop?Orwhentheystart?

Doyoursentencesrunonandonandtheaudiencedoesn’tknowwheretheystop?Orwhentheystart?  Having trouble with, like, vocalized pauses?  

For a cure, watch as Victor Borge teaches his Phonetic Punctuation System.  This could revolutionize how people improve their speech delivery skills! 

It's not all Chinese to me.

Explaining “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” to a Confucius Institute visiting professor gave pause at our Christmas caroling party.  She was only in the US a few days, but you could see her trying to understand:

Me:  “He’s a flying reindeer.”  Shell:  “Really?”

Me: “He has a nose that glows red.”  Shell:  quizzical look

Me: “He helps Santa Claus…”  Shell:  more silence

Me:  “Let’s just sing carols and have some fun.” Shell: nodding "yes."

We discovered our new friend, Shell, had a terrific voice.  She shared a few songs from China.  We had a memorable caroling party.  

 

Moving forward in time, we attended a concert of Folk Songs of the World to hear Shell, Xianghua Han, soloing with music professors.  She’s a talent at that level.

Shell returned the favor at the concert.  We didn’t understand the words in her music.  During the explanation we felt like aliens trying to grok flying reindeer.  But she is a singer that sparkles and we had no difficulty receiving emotional meanings.  

She received our meaning and we received hers.  As Bernstein said, “….music is one of basic and deepest levels of communication.” It's not all Chinese to anybody. 

Tia Fuller in Madison

Tia Fuller in Madison

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Second Free Concert Added for Tia Fuller; It’s a clue

by Ron Frye
Madison Music Collective

It’s a clue when there is enough demand for an artist that additional performance time is added, so table your Friday night plans for fish fry and popination to take in the 8 or 10 p.m. Tia Fuller Concert, October 12 http://www.madisonmusiccollective.org/.  She’s that good and it’s free to attend.  There will be more fish fries, but Tia travels internationally so grab the chance to attend. 

Music fans will want to hear her because she is Beyonce’s saxophonist.  You’ll appreciate that her Master’s degree, in Music, Jazz Pedoagogy and Performance, supports what she does. 

More freebies for the community that Fuller will lead while in town are an “Introduction to Jazz” mini concert and workshop at the Boys and Girls Club’s Allied Family Center  and “Mind Body and Spirit of the Saxophone and Jazz Improvisation” at Mt. Zion Baptist Church.  Cool that she takes the time to share what she has as an educator. 

You can join in the learning about “Women in Jazz” at her live music, video and brunch meal at the Sheraton, for $25 adults, and $15 age 14 and under.  Seats are limited so order by October 8^th from here.   Why not reserve a table for a very special morning? 

Here’s the schedule:

o      Wednesday, October 10, 4:00 p.m. “Introduction to Jazz” 

      Dane County Boys & Girls Club, Allied Family Center, 4619 Jenewin Road, Madison

o      Thursday, October 11, 7:00 p.m. “Mind Body and Spirit of the Saxophone and Jazz Improvisation”  Mount Zion Baptist Church, 2019 Fisher Street, Madison

o      Friday, October 12, 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. Free Concert

the Sett, UW Union South

o      Sunday, October 13, 10 a.m. “Women In Jazz Sheraton”, 706 John Nolen Drive, Madison