FriPod

Today's random playlist, with some notes.

1. Victory at Sea (Richard Rodgers) The Portsmouth New Horizons Band "Concert of Thanksgiving 2008" - This has never happened before, but I hit shuffle and the first recording to pop up is a PMAC student performance. One of our clarinet players recently asked me to put this arrangement back into our repertoire for this summer. Listening to it both reminds me how much rehearsal it takes to put it together, and how much fun it is to play. We might just have to bring this one out of the library again soon.

2. The Larger Bowl Rush "Snakes and Arrows Live" - My two sons are huge Rush fans, thus the presence of about a dozen Rush albums in my iTunes catalog. Do have to admit that taking the boys to see them in concert in 2008 was fun.

3. Off the Wall Michael Jackson "The Essential Michael Jackson" - Katie picked this one up last summer after his untimely passing. The title track from his pre-Thriller masterpiece. It can be hard to remember back to pre-scandal, even pre-Thriller Michael, but if you can ignore all the baggage, you can still groove to the self-proclaimed "King of Pop" who I think would have been better crowned the "King of Soul," as clearly evidenced in this track.

4. You Dress Up For Armageddon, I Dress For Summer The Hives "The Black and White Album" - Reminiscent of the punk-pop anthems of the early 1980s, I've never thought of The Hives as a terribly original band. But they can provide some great background music for a summer party. I'd sooner listen to the Arctic Monkeys any day.

5. Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) The Jacksons "The Essential Michael Jackson" - Guess it's going to be one of those FriPods. Alright, I admit it. I hit the advance button as soon as this came on.

6. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F-sharp minor, Op. 23 - Andante (Third Movement) (Scriabin) Evgeny Kissin "Scriabin: Sonata No. 3, 5 Preludes; Medtner: Sonata Reminiscenza; Stravinsky: Three Movements from Pétrouchka" - Finally, something to really share! If you do not know Scriabin, listen to some of his piano music ASAP. This gorgeous recording is a great place to start - with the bonus of Stravinsky.

7. La la La the bird and the bee "the bird and the bee" - Another recommendation. Some of the more catchy pop out there right now with just the right amount of saccharine. Fun - but some explicit lyrics (not on this tune).

8. Perdido de Amor Luiz Bonfá "In the Mind of Jamie Cullum" - From an intriguing compilation album put together by jazz hipster Jamie Cullum. Beautiful piece. I might need to go out and find some more Bonfá. Cullum has achieved his goal.

9. I'm Shipping Up To Boston Dropkick Murphys "The Warrior's Code" - Love it. Dropkick at their best. Al Barr told me the story behind the discovery of this tune after a clinic he did with the youth rock bands at PMAC. Ask him about it the next time you run into him at Cafe Kilim.

10. Hook Blues Traveler "four" - From the definitive Blues Traveler album. Reminds me of Cat Stevens, in a really good way.

Well, that's what you sometimes get when you hit shuffle. The Scriabin alone makes it worth hitting "publish." Enjoy your weekend and I hope to see you tonight at PMAC's Spring Fever for the Arts!