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Abbey Road - The Beatles

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This is perhaps my favorite Beatles album - It has aged well.
 
I dont listen to Rock as much as I used to do back in the day. But one person whose music I never seem to tire of is Van the Man. There is a certain soulful magic in the voice of this brooding bard. I dont think there is quite an album like Astral Weeks.
But apart from his studio works the energy of Van Morrison is best captured in his live performances. His Caravan with The Band in their The Last Waltz is as well known for his crooning as his leg kicks and his nonchalant walk off stage which surprise even Robbie Robertson and his cohorts.
The pinnacle however of Morrisons live performances ( in venues in the UK and US) are showcased in his double album Its Too Late to Stop Now.
The synergy between him and the 11 piece The Caledonia Soul Orchestra is quite something.
Its no wonder then that some consider it to be the best live performance ever.
For the audiophile the sound too is top notch and a worthy tape to carry around for auditions.
 
A few wonderful, recent discoveries from YouTube:

1/ Alma Deutscher, a 12-year old composer, pianist and violinist from England performing the Adagio movement of her new piano concerto:

https://youtu.be/kURlp17F1wo

She's composed every part, not just the piano part. I do believe we're witnessing the future of classical.

2/ Joey Alexander, a 13 year old jazz pianist from Indonesia who's been nominated thrice for the Grammy Awards. Here he is performing John Coltrane's Countdown with his Trio:

https://youtu.be/Rqrz4sNoqpk

It won't be far fetched to assert that we're witnessing the shape of jazz to come.

3/ Shaun Martin is a jazz pianist with gospel background. He is part of the big band ensemble Snarky Puppy. Here he is as band leader. This song is gospel-meets-funk jazz:

https://youtu.be/XlcKiizWQVI

The cover by this Moscow based band is even nicer than the original:

https://youtu.be/DXBOrSFIxu4

A very tightly knit band, if you ask me. And they're totally having fun playing this number.

4/ John Daversa Big Band is a modern jazz big band (he also has a small band). Here's their cover of the Beatles classic Do You Wanna Know A Secret, sung in the style of 40s big band. Renee Olstead features on vocals:

https://youtu.be/z8o1VKIvaOU

Their cover of another Beatles classic Here Comes The b Sun is also worth watching.
 
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