I remember one day when I was in college, visiting my dad on the weekend, when he played me this album.
I was always a jazz fan, as was he, and when I was little, he and my mom often put me to sleep at night by playing Wes Montgomery on the stereo console in my bedroom. He was hands down my favorite jazz musician.
Years later, when seeking out my favorite Wes Montgomery album, I mistakenly remembered it being "Down Here on the Ground;" but when the CD arrived, although it is a great album, it wasn't the album I was expecting.
The album that was actually my favorite, which was released shortly after "Down Here on the Ground," was "Tequila," featuring my #1 favorite jazz song of all time; "Bumpin' on Sunset." And, tellingly, the album was arranged and conducted by Claus Ogerman.
So, on that lovely, long ago afternoon, we sat drinking green tea, and my dad put on this album. And from the first swells of the string section I was hooked. And, as the first movement went on, suddenly a guitar came on the scene, and I sat up in my chair, exclaiming, "That's George Benson!"
My dad just beamed. He loved it, as did my mom, when I recognized a musician's style quickly; but then, Benson's playing was hard to miss.
With further excellent solos by keyboardist Joe Sample and saxophonist David Sanborn, and a tenor sax solo later in the album by Michael Brecker, the album is a wonderful tribute to a moment in time, the California jazz sound, and more personally, to a wonderful memory of an afternoon spent with my dad.
I hadn't realized until that day how many of my favorite albums were arranged and/or conducted by Ogerman, and on some he added his talents as a pianist as well.
"Wave" by Antonio Carlos Jobim.
"Symbiosis" by Bill Evans.
"Amoroso" by João Gilberto.
"The Shadow of Your Smile" by Astrud Gilberto.
I won't bore you with the rest, but you can see a partial listing here.
This video has stitched together the first three tracks of the album, "Time Passed Autumn I, II and III" into a single, flowing piece, which is of course how it is heard on the album.
It is a singularly beautiful piece, and the album is a lyrical and contemplative instrumental jazz masterpiece.
Enjoy.
And I would love to hear your take in the comments.
Our Spice Bush Abounds – Day 84 – Daily Haiku
Spring is Moving On – Day 83 – Daily Haiku
I Dance Toward My Blessed Death – Original Poetry
Our Black and White Hope – Day 82 – Daily Haiku
Marek, My Best Friend – Day 81 – Daily Haiku
Sorting Through Receipts – Day 80 – Daily Haiku
Forms of Life – Jean-Luc Ponty – Jazz That Changed Me, part 2
Once a Blue Planet – Jean-Luc Ponty – Jazz That Changed Me
Black and White Kitty
Hickory Syrup – Day 78 – Daily Haiku
If you feel my posts are undervalued, and/or you want to
donate to tip me, I would appreciate it very much.
In the process, you will be helping our small organic farm to operate,
to help others, and to feed and house all our animals better. Thank you!
Bitcoin (BTC) – 37Z9UabFyygFYXMoChifdCkyFgPJtKwXRj
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) – qq5p7dkr9239u6fer98lyc3cjvhcwcggzuxyde9mjp
Ethereum (ETH) - 0x731e363a4e6C680D47aFA63e4620342964a9d0Fb
LiteCoin (LTC) – MprMcJSAXKvtBouDQRSSk85qbms8ak3xDY
The following are a few affiliate links, to companies we really
believe in, that will further help us to operate, to help others,
and to care for and feed our animals.
If you have any interest in becoming affiliated with these companies,
which may bring you additional income, please contact me,
and perhaps we can work together!
Dr. Al Sears, well known anti-aging doctor, with his first-class
line of supplements that actually work:
https://primalforce.net/?aff=1893
Melaleuca, a company that has been making natural, eco-friendly
products since the 1980s, that not only work as well as
chemically laden versions from the supermarket,
but are safer, and typically save money overall in addition.
I was introduced to them by a co-worker in 1990, lost track
of them, and was thrilled to find them again about a year
and a half ago. I strongly recommend their products.
http://www.melaleuca.com/corimacnaughton
Prime My Body offers a nanoenhanced hemp-based CBD oil
that is legal in all 50 United States, and clinically proven to be
absorbed 3X better than the leading pharmaceutical brand.
I have used it on myself and my animals with excellent results.
https://Crescendo.primemybody.com
If you are interested in becoming an affiliate yourself,
check out this link:
https://enrollpmb.com/Crescendo
All words are my own.
The photo of our dog, Lolo, and our late cat, Miod, I took as they were cooperatively begging at the dinner table, despite our longstanding rule of not feeding them from the table.
You can see how much that deterred them both.
The image and video are the intellectual property of Claus Ogerman's estate, his producers and record companies, and all rights remain with them.
I claim no rights, but offer this video, as I offer all the music videos I post, in the hopes of promoting my favorite music artists, so that more people become familiar with their music, and that they grow their fan base in the process, as they so richly deserve.
Resteeming is welcome, you may link to my post from your own website or blog, and you may use excerpts and/or images as long as you credit me, and link back to this post.
Please ask for permission, before using my work otherwise, as all rights are reserved.