The Autumn Leaves…..
As I traveled today from Austin to JFK, I got myself (and my endlessly heavy luggage) to the Hertz rental car counter. I realized that I left my new temporary paper driver’s license at home and proceeded to eat a sandwich before I phoned my manager who proceeded to find a car service to get me to Poughkeepsie, New York, which was a good 2.5 hours away…it was a nasty day here of rain, cold and snow. There was a bad accident on the way up here as well, and ambulances and medical personnel were attending to a car that swerved off the highway. I had a very self-assured driver who made the car feel like it was in his way when driving…we were invincible. I started to snooze in the back seat and when I opened my eyes, I realized how much snow was coming down on the trees and roads outside. It made me think of how I was on my way this next week to finishing my newest album, ‘Dreams’ that will be released early next year. ‘Dreams’ is another interesting assortment of music, very much a la ‘Smile’. People thought the ‘Smile’ program was so eclectic but I found it to be incredibly ‘normal’. Sort of like a 10 course tasting menu with wine pairing-fun, mysterious and delicious….Being that I hate the conventional recital methods employed by the very conservative classical music industry, I always have found so much joy and inspiration having different arrangements of music we can’t even place anymore as it has been played so much-this makes one remember what it was you liked about the piece in the first place!
The album is called ‘Seasons…dreams’ after Wagner’s ‘Traume’. A truly beautiful song that is a dream…and continues with a seasonal bent, including the Beethoven ‘Spring’ Sonata, to one of the most beautiful songs ever written, ‘Autumn Leaves’. I asked the arranger to pair ‘Tenderly’ with ‘Autumn Leaves’ as I have always had a mad crush on both songs….after listening to many versions, including one that was sung by Ella Fitzgerald at my recent wedding, I found one if not the most beguiling renditions performed by Ms.Eva Cassidy.
She takes your breath away and all you do is feel the music…this is how music is supposed to translate and make you feel….and so the snow continues to fall and I continue to dream about the Autumn Leaves…….
First of all, now I have to thank you for bringing Ms. Cassidy into my life. Very special, very tragic.
I met you, well not really, but you came into my life at the Bardovan last Saturday. Thanks for making the trip through the snow and cold of New York’s Hudson Valley. My lady, Barbara, asked you to sign a copy of “Smile”, and I’m so glad that she did as we got to be up close and personal. After listening to Smile a few times on the intro to your website, I ventured inside. You are a world treasure. Thank you for being. And thank you very much for your invitation to the recital at Caspary Auditorium where you will be playing with Reiko who is so darn cute in that video from the Carson show. We will see you tomorrow at noon in the big apple. As you would say, “yipeeeee!” ralph, a new fan