Making a Melody Music Company, LLC

Entries in Cool Songs (3)

Tuesday

16Feb2010

Quincy Jones: From Billy Holiday to Lil’ Wayne

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 11:08PM

Another one of my musical inspirations is Quincy Jones. “Q”(a nick named coined by Frank Sinatra) is living “music history”. He’s worked with every major musical performing artist in some capacity from the 1950’s to the present.

He’s been apart of every major evolution in popular music. He wrote the arrangement that made “Fly Me To The Moon” famous. He produced the number #1 Album of all times, Thriller. And he co-produced “We are the World”, the first single to ever be certified as multi-platinum. It’s a fascinating thing to look him up and see what he has been involved in over the past 60 years…. A living and breathing “music history”

I appreciate his efforts to raise money for the people of Haiti. I was watching the video today and it’s a very interesting thing to see what has happened in music over the past 25 years since “We are the World” was first released. Rap music was in its infant stage and now it’s as popular as jazz was when Quincy Jones starting to learn how to play music. Michael Jackson was the most popular artist at the time and now Lil’ Wayne is one of the most popular artists of this time. The implication of this reality is very interesting. I don’t know how I feel about that.

Let me know what you think.

…Meanwhile...

Check out both of the “We Are The World” videos. Also, please responsibly give to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

David Bailey |

Cannonball

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 11:29PM

Since this is the month our Nation celebrates African-American history, I thought that I would highlight some of the black people who have inspired me musically.

Cannonball Adderly is the man who introduce me to jazz.

I was over my grandmothers house and I saw a Miles Davis recording. I don't think I knew at the time who Miles Davis was, but I put on the recording. I heard this amazing introduction of the song "Autumn Leaves". After the introduction I heard this silky muted trumpet play the melody. The music was still mellow and groovin' as Miles played a beautiful spacious melody and then out of no where, this soulful alto saxophone improvises a solo that made me feel like I was at church! ... but I wasn't?

Hello Jazz!

This had to be almost 20 years ago and I remember the experience like it was yesterday.

Julian "Cannonball" Adderly was a post-bop alto saxophone player that was considered to be the "new Bird" (a reference to Charlie "Bird" Parker, the co-creator of Bebop jazz music). Cannonball had a unique way of swinging (playing notes in a certain rhythm), creating melodies, and playing with good ol' church soul! I've listened to Cannonbal thousands of times and I've never heard him repeat himself improvising something he played before.

Some of his most noted work is with Miles Davis and the "Kind of Blue" album is probably the most famous album of them all. The work that he did on his own is noteworthy also.

As I've matured, I've come to appreciate the educator and resilience in him. The way that Cannonball dealt with injustice and the history of his people was beautiful. When his band mate, Miles Davis, was being eaten up by the anger and bitterness of being a victim of injustice, Cannonball did the opposite. Cannonball used his music as a tool to make people feel good during hard times while educating them about the realities of brokenness. One of my favorite songs that he recorded is a song called, "Work Song". A work song comes from the slave tradition of working and singing while they worked. Listen to how he conveys the pain of a work song and converts it into a feel good time.

David Bailey |

Urbana Day #1 - A Day of Waiting

Monday, December 28, 2009 at 8:00PM

Airport terminals, hotel lobbies, and long registration lines are not comfortable.

Yesterday was a long day because it was a day of waiting. I’m playing with the worship team for Urbana 09’s international students. I generally try not to travel 1-2 days after Christmas because I prefer not to have to wait in long lines, but I had to fly out yesterday morning. There was a long line at the airport for the check in rituals. The flight wasn’t too bad, but when I arrived in St. Louis and got to my hotel, I had to wait once again.

… a day of waiting.

When I finally got into my hotel room, I had to go to another place to get in another long line to register with Urbana. When I finally got to our rehearsal, there was a mix up and the band had to wait once again.

… a day of waiting.

My day of waiting has reminded me of the great Advent Hymn “O, Come Emmanuel”. In the song we get a glimpse of how God’s people of old wanted Him to come, dwell among them, and do something about their disappointing situation, but…

They had a day of waiting

A day of waiting can be disappointing, frustrating, and lonely at times. We all have things that we are waiting for small and great. A wise man told me that the pains and discomforts of life digs out a cup for joy to fill it. I like the song, “O, Come Emmanuel” because it acknowledges the reality of being in a broken world, but it also acknowledges the hope and joy of God coming to be with us now and in the future. The great hope that we have is that when we acknowledge Jesus, God is with us and we get a little bit more of heaven each time.

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

David Bailey |