Sombras De Noite

***********************************WARNING***********************************
***********************************RANTING***********************************
***********************************AHEAD***************************************

My girlfriend gave me permision to rant, so therefore, I rant. As far as the warning is concerned I feel like I should have adopted my best pirate voice and quoted Pirates of the Caribbean.

"Psst! Avast there. It be too late to alter course, mateys. And there be plunderin' pirates lurkin' in ev'ry cove, waitin' to board. Sit closer together, and keep your ruddy hands in board. That be the best way to repel boarders. And mark well me words, mateys; Dead men tell no tales! Ye come seekin' adventure with salty old pirates, eh? Sure you've come to the proper place. But keep a weather eye open mates, and hold on tight. With both hands if you please. Thar be squalls ahead, and Davy Jones waitin for them that don't obey."

Tuesday and Wednesday are cool days. I host radio shows. Webertainment Weekly on Tuesday night from 7-8 in the evening and Blues in Orbit from 7-10 in the evening. During those days I come up with a playlist for Blues in Orbit. It's a great time scouring CD's and websites for music to play. New music, as well as classics and unknown artists. (How do you like that sentence frag Nazi's?)

Before I launch into my tirade, let me say this "I am grateful to all of the music promoters who send new music my way. Without the promoters, I couldn't make Blues in Orbit the fun time it is."

Now, for the rant or squall if you will. There be nothing more tiring then receiving a new CD from an artist who records nothing but jazz standards. I get three or four CDs a week from artists who don't have an original song on the album. Trust me Davy Jones be waitin' at the bottom of the Caribbean for the remnants of your jazz career after the squall dashes your CD to pieces.

Does that mean I don't like covers, or jazz standards? Not at all. The title of this blog is based off of a great cover of Sombras De Noite (Night Shadows) by George Khan off of his Secrets from the Jazz Ghetto album which is a mixture of new tunes as well as previously released tracks.

Mr. Khan did a great job of mixing jazz standards as well as original recordings. Of course, this isn't Mr. Khan's first album. However, if it was and it had nothing but covers on it...well, that doesn't bode well for his CD. Why do I want to listen to a CD full of songs everybody and their mom has recorded over and over again?

So...new jazz artists...are we straight? No more CD's full of jazz standards...right? Else I may have to enlist the aid of Davy Jones and the Kraken to wipe out your career.

Okay, that might be a little harsh, but I find the albums that catch my attention most are the ones that contain either all originals, or originals with a smattering of standards. There have been many times where an artist's CD had all originals with one standard and the standard was the song that caught my attention. It can happen.

To the promoters I say this..."Thanks again for all you do. I spend many hours reviewing all the music I recieve, whether I pass on it or not."

In the meantime, Yo-Ho Yo-Ho It's a Pirate's Life for Me! I mean, who doesn't want all the loot, rum and wenches they can handle?