On stage, under the spotlight, with an audience in front and a band behind me, that’s where I like living most of all. I discovered this when I was a little kid and would sing for my mom’s friends. Today nothing has changed. That’s still my most favourite place to be. I think i live […]
I Think It’s Time For You To Go
Just for fun, I wrote a new song called, ‘I Think It’s Time For You To Go.’ This was a few weeks ago in honour of my band (the people I love), who came over to play after one year of crouching somewhere under their masks. It was fun but we didn’t record it. Who […]
You’ve Changed
You’ve Changed is a very popular song from the 1940s, covered by vocalists from #BillieHoliday to #GeorgeMichael, #EllaFitzgerald and #JoniMichell. It is a most beautiful song that I learned many years ago.If you listen to a few versions you’ll see how it can be really grand and lush. I think our version is pretty stark, […]
Trinkets and Things (2021)
#TrinketsAndThings was a song #RyoKawasaki and I wrote back in 1978 and recorded in 1979. It’s a really pretty song and we did a very upbeat and very orchestral version that included many of #NYC top #JazzMusicians of the day. In 1979, When the album #MirrorOfMyMind came out, it was considered a fusion breakthrough or […]
You Don’t Know What Love Is
I find it odd that #YouDontKnowWhatLoveIs was originally written for an #AbbotAndCostello film back in 1941. It eventually appeared in another comedy film in 1942, but this is such a tragic song, I can hardly believe someone would hear the pathos in the tune and immediately say, ‘Oh let’s fall down a flight of stairs.’ […]
Load Shedding (2021)
Today, Feb 17, 2021 there has been no power all day in many parts of Bangalore. Seems like the perfect day to share this lovely tune. I heard Aman Mahajan playing #LoadShedding at a gig (without me I might add) and loved it. So I just went ahead and wrote lyrics to it. That was […]
Stormy Weather
#StormyWeather was first performed by the marvelous #EthelWaters at #TheCottonClub in #Harlem and a lot of iconic singers have performed it ever since. #HaroldArlen and #TedKoehler wrote it back in 1933. It’s one of those songs that wraps you in velvety sadness and you wish it wouldn’t stop. Singing is a great pain reliever. Physical […]
Jailer (2021)
I wrote this song #Jailer back in 2013. And as I was finishing up the final bits, my son Stefan Persson actually said, ‘Mom, what’s that? I like it.’ For me that was a huge thing since he is most circumspect with his praise. Aman Mahajan and I have performed it many times as a […]
Midnight Sun
Vibes player #LionelHampton wrote #MidnightSun in 1954 as an instrumental, possibly not considering vocalists at all. This mostly chromatic, definitely non-foot-tapping melody is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard or sung. But according to #PhilipFuria (English professor, writer and expert on lyricists of the #TinPanAlley era) #JohnnyMercer (famed lyricist and co-founder […]
But Not For Me
There have been many, many, many #jazzsingers and #jazzinstrumentalists who’ve covered #ButNotForMe in the past 90 years, when it was first written by #GeorgeandIraGershwin for a musical. Including #ChetBaker, who both sang and took a #trumpetsolo. And since I love writing lyrics and then singing his solos, that’s what I’ve done here. #Vocalese, they call […]
So What
One of #MilesDavis most famous tunes is #SoWhat. Arranged by #GilEvans with the signature melody payed by #PaulChambers on bass and #BillEvans on piano, the tune kicks off with Miles’ unforgettable trumpet solo. This was back in 1959 on the album #KindofBlue which many say is the most important album in all of jazz. But […]
