Today's DailyOM Offerings...
December 10, 2007
Charlie Parker with Strings: The Master Takes
Charlie Parker
1995
Perhaps no single figure is more synonymous with bebop jazz than Charlie Parker. An architect of the virtuosic, solo-heavy form of jazz that developed in the mid-'40s as the dance-oriented big band craze was on its way out, Parker's alto saxophone playing pushed the boundaries of jazz musicianship in terms of speed, harmonic complexity, and sheer melodic inventiveness. On this marvelous compilation, recorded between 1949 and 1953, a full orchestra joins Parker for a series of lush ballads and romantic standards. What could have been a stylistic train wreck is anything but. Parker reigns in his customary blitzkrieg chops and slides in beautifully with the cushy, spacious orchestral arrangements. What results is an album of jazz concertos, with enough whirligig creativity to wow the jazzbos and plenty of lamplit moments for the lovers in the room.
One listen to the opening track "Just Friends" and it's clear why Parker was also known as "Bird." There he is, flying into the track lighter than air, fluttering downward with harplike grace then spiraling up and out. Soft gusts of strings keep him aloft, and oboe and piano solos trade off with his silky sax like birds of a feather, but Parker is the leader of the flock. A humid string arrangement keeps the Porgy and Bess classic "Summertime" hovering just off the ground; Parker's brassy alto hews close to the melody, a keening crow call at dusk when the sun's about to sink behind the mountains.
Anyone looking for the bebop acrobatics of Parker's small combo work need look no further than Parker's take on Rodgers and Hart's "Lover," given a fiery big band arrangement with punchy horns and glowing woodwinds. Parker pile drives through the breakneck tempo with remarkable control, unleashing torrents of syncopated runs that dazzle and fade like fireworks. It's the lone brow-mopping number here. The rest of Charlie Parker with Strings: The Master Takes is given over to slow-dancing and swooning romance, with Parker's sophisticated sax playing the debonair leading man atop these cinematic orchestral scores. Brass and string swells lead us through the end credits of "Stella By Starlight," and Parker's glittering leads shine bright, illuminating the way back home.
December 10, 2007
Your Expectations
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
You may seem focused on your goals today, which may make you feel extremely productive. It could seem that your expectations are steering you to work harder in order to attain what you want. If you feel pressure as a result of your ambition, you may want to reevaluate your expectations of yourself. You might imagine that you are viewing yourself from the position of another person. Think about what that person feels about your work and what they expect from you. You may notice that when you view your work through a different lens, you will find a less critical view of yourself. You could be surprised to find that achieving your goals requires less zeal than you originally thought.
Realigning our expectations helps us reach our dreams in a way that is more constructive. There are times when we expect perfection from ourselves and overwork as a result. We can be our own worst critics and make up for any perceived lack through our work. But when we learn to set goals that are realistic, we create more rational expectations of ourselves. We become less apt to burnout and increase our efficiency and creativity. Seeing ourselves as we are allows us to find satisfaction in our present circumstances rather than looking beyond ourselves for it. This helps us realize that what we do in the moment is one step closer toward obtaining our goals. By setting realistic goals today, you will find that your work will become more prolific and creative.
December 10, 2007
Like A Small Town
In A Hurry
Our lives have become increasingly fast-paced, and the effort to keep up often occupies all our time and attention. We are so busy rushing from point A to point B that we forget to enjoy the ride. We race to the store without noticing the leaves on the trees or the clouds in the sky. We go through the checkout line feeling too pressed to converse with the cashier or the other people in line. At the end of a day filled with this kind of frantic pace, we may begin to wonder what it is we do all these things for, if we don’t even have the time to occasionally stop and just take it all in.
Always being rushed and in a hurry doesn’t allow time for the soul to enjoy life, which is composed of small, ordinary moments, like watching snow fall from the sky, having a spontaneous conversation with a stranger, or lingering over a meal for several hours. Small towns and the people who live in them can teach us all a thing or two about living life to the fullest as a daily matter. City people have a tendency to think that their lives are full because they are doing so many different things, but in a small town, there tends to be more time left open to be spontaneous or take an extended moment of rest. This certainly doesn’t mean that we can’t live in a city and enjoy life fully-we can and do; it just takes a little more awareness.
One thing we can do, wherever we live, is bring awareness breaks into our day and take 10 minutes to simply look out the window and observe what’s happening outside. We might also choose to cultivate a relationship with someone we see regularly, such as a clerk at the convenience mart, a neighbor, or someone we see in the elevator at work. Taking time to have a conversation that is not necessary is a true luxury in this day and age, as is staring out the window. Participating in these acts of timelessness makes the biggest city in the world start to feel a little bit more like a small town.
Charlie Parker with Strings: The Master Takes
Charlie Parker
1995
Perhaps no single figure is more synonymous with bebop jazz than Charlie Parker. An architect of the virtuosic, solo-heavy form of jazz that developed in the mid-'40s as the dance-oriented big band craze was on its way out, Parker's alto saxophone playing pushed the boundaries of jazz musicianship in terms of speed, harmonic complexity, and sheer melodic inventiveness. On this marvelous compilation, recorded between 1949 and 1953, a full orchestra joins Parker for a series of lush ballads and romantic standards. What could have been a stylistic train wreck is anything but. Parker reigns in his customary blitzkrieg chops and slides in beautifully with the cushy, spacious orchestral arrangements. What results is an album of jazz concertos, with enough whirligig creativity to wow the jazzbos and plenty of lamplit moments for the lovers in the room.
One listen to the opening track "Just Friends" and it's clear why Parker was also known as "Bird." There he is, flying into the track lighter than air, fluttering downward with harplike grace then spiraling up and out. Soft gusts of strings keep him aloft, and oboe and piano solos trade off with his silky sax like birds of a feather, but Parker is the leader of the flock. A humid string arrangement keeps the Porgy and Bess classic "Summertime" hovering just off the ground; Parker's brassy alto hews close to the melody, a keening crow call at dusk when the sun's about to sink behind the mountains.
Anyone looking for the bebop acrobatics of Parker's small combo work need look no further than Parker's take on Rodgers and Hart's "Lover," given a fiery big band arrangement with punchy horns and glowing woodwinds. Parker pile drives through the breakneck tempo with remarkable control, unleashing torrents of syncopated runs that dazzle and fade like fireworks. It's the lone brow-mopping number here. The rest of Charlie Parker with Strings: The Master Takes is given over to slow-dancing and swooning romance, with Parker's sophisticated sax playing the debonair leading man atop these cinematic orchestral scores. Brass and string swells lead us through the end credits of "Stella By Starlight," and Parker's glittering leads shine bright, illuminating the way back home.
December 10, 2007
Your Expectations
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
You may seem focused on your goals today, which may make you feel extremely productive. It could seem that your expectations are steering you to work harder in order to attain what you want. If you feel pressure as a result of your ambition, you may want to reevaluate your expectations of yourself. You might imagine that you are viewing yourself from the position of another person. Think about what that person feels about your work and what they expect from you. You may notice that when you view your work through a different lens, you will find a less critical view of yourself. You could be surprised to find that achieving your goals requires less zeal than you originally thought.
Realigning our expectations helps us reach our dreams in a way that is more constructive. There are times when we expect perfection from ourselves and overwork as a result. We can be our own worst critics and make up for any perceived lack through our work. But when we learn to set goals that are realistic, we create more rational expectations of ourselves. We become less apt to burnout and increase our efficiency and creativity. Seeing ourselves as we are allows us to find satisfaction in our present circumstances rather than looking beyond ourselves for it. This helps us realize that what we do in the moment is one step closer toward obtaining our goals. By setting realistic goals today, you will find that your work will become more prolific and creative.
December 10, 2007
Like A Small Town
In A Hurry
Our lives have become increasingly fast-paced, and the effort to keep up often occupies all our time and attention. We are so busy rushing from point A to point B that we forget to enjoy the ride. We race to the store without noticing the leaves on the trees or the clouds in the sky. We go through the checkout line feeling too pressed to converse with the cashier or the other people in line. At the end of a day filled with this kind of frantic pace, we may begin to wonder what it is we do all these things for, if we don’t even have the time to occasionally stop and just take it all in.
Always being rushed and in a hurry doesn’t allow time for the soul to enjoy life, which is composed of small, ordinary moments, like watching snow fall from the sky, having a spontaneous conversation with a stranger, or lingering over a meal for several hours. Small towns and the people who live in them can teach us all a thing or two about living life to the fullest as a daily matter. City people have a tendency to think that their lives are full because they are doing so many different things, but in a small town, there tends to be more time left open to be spontaneous or take an extended moment of rest. This certainly doesn’t mean that we can’t live in a city and enjoy life fully-we can and do; it just takes a little more awareness.
One thing we can do, wherever we live, is bring awareness breaks into our day and take 10 minutes to simply look out the window and observe what’s happening outside. We might also choose to cultivate a relationship with someone we see regularly, such as a clerk at the convenience mart, a neighbor, or someone we see in the elevator at work. Taking time to have a conversation that is not necessary is a true luxury in this day and age, as is staring out the window. Participating in these acts of timelessness makes the biggest city in the world start to feel a little bit more like a small town.