泪的小雨

在之前说过的“泪的小雨”，这里做个比较：

邓丽君的版本：

何芸妮的版本：

爵士乐追求的永远都不是模仿，而是在已经杰出的音乐上面建构自己的看法，自己的主见，自己的世界。那新的版本是一定强过旧的版本吗？那又是见仁见智的了。我们并不主张新的一定好，这不是Darwinism生物学，这是艺术。不过还是强调的是，如果一定要模仿，那我倒不如去听原版的更好。

Jazz Cover of Beatles

I have to admit, covering Beatles tunes ain't never easy. Some of their tunes SHOULD sound like how they did it, period. Some of their songs are easier to be covered than others, usually they are lyrical and more conventional in terms of harmony, melody contour, and instrumentation. But Jazz musicians just wouldn't give up trying, and that's the spirit of jazz, ain't it? There is even a few Beatles jazz albums out there, most notably is a compilation done by GRP: The Beatles Tribute, An All Stars Celebration.

There are also quite a numbers of Beatles covers that I've enjoyed, some are pure magic, some are quite pleasant, some are passable.

And I Love Her (Diana Krall) From above mentioned album:

Stylish, Elegant, Lyrical. I've came to know this particular version many years ago, and still enjoy it tremendously. Midnight Jazz kind of feeling, smoky and sensuous.

Brad Mehldau has got to be the Messiah for Jazz Piano Trio, when he first came out in the late 90s. He attracted a lot of attention updating the repertoire of jazz by including many tunes that he heard while growing up, outside of the mainstream jazz repertory. He covered tunes by Beatles, Radiohead, Oasis, Verve, Nick Drake, Paul Simon, Sound Garden, Pink Floyd, Massive Attack, just to name a few. Maybe it didn't really started from him (Herbie Hancock did a whole album of 'New Standards' in 1996, covering Rock tunes. Definitely worth collecting) but from him onward we have seen the Piano Trio format came back to the forefront of mainstream Jazz scene. There are also a trend of covering unconventional tunes by many jazz bands.

Here are several versions of Brad Mehldau's treatment of Beatles tunes that I like a lot:

Blackbird (Brad Mehldau) From The Art of the Trio Vol I:

I love this particular song from Beatles's White album, always find it to be heart warming, and the unusual harmony color, even that little wing fluttering sound in the middle of the song could make my heart leap. Paul's voice is also so gentle and lovely. Love this one! Here is some interesting fact about the song. The harmony is inspired by Bach! Damn it, this whole musical legacy is just so damn interesting, proud to be a little part of this whole legacy! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbird_(song))

Another tune from the White Album. This is my favorite albums from the Beatles legacy, which I have spent my teens listening to no less than a hundred times in the span of half year's time. At first, Martha My Dear just feel like a weird song, the way the melody goes and the harmony, seems to be at odd. The brass arrangement was really quite out for my ears at the time as well. But I came to embrace every songs in the album and appreciate every notes in there. When I first heard this version from Brad in 2007, it was another rude awakening as well. What the hell! What is going on here!!! But with my friend's insistence, I listened to it a few more times, Wow! The whole Left Hand Right Hand coordination, the contrapuntal playing, the unusual modulations, the discords and resolutions, damn! This is the shit!

You just got to give it to him, that he redefined Jazz piano, set another high goal for everyone after him to attain. He definitely change the sound of jazz, when most people at the time thoughts jazz is dead (Jazz had been announced dead too many times over the years. Some people claimed it is not dead, just smelled funny. But from a musician's perspective and from listening to what is available out there, Jazz can't be more alive and kicking, and Thriving!)

Martha My Dear (Brad Mehldau) From Day is Done. 

She's Leaving Home (Brad Mehldau) The Day is Done:

Another one from The Day is Done album. She's Leaving Home is from the legendary Sgt. Pepper and the Lonely Hearts Club Band, written by the Lennon and McCartney team.
A story telling song with great melody (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She%27s_Leaving_Home)

Brad Mehldau's arrangement isn't far from the original, and sticks true to the traditional Head Solo Head format. Of course his signature left hand right hand conversation is apparent here, with much inner movement of harmony changes. There is a rhythm tacet section where he rips through an ostinasto then back to the head. Amazing shit.

Mother Nature's Son (Brad Mehldau)

This particular version of Mother Nature's Son by Mehldau is played solo in a concert in Argentina. I know of two other versions recorded in his album Largo and also a duet album with Joel Frahm.

There are no youtube uploads for these two versions, thus what I posted here is from the Argentina concert. Amazing as usual. Check out that reaction from the audience. Man, I just wish we could see something like that in KL. But with the gradually idiotic people up there, slim chance. Let's kick them out and get our country moving ahead instead of backwards.

Dear Prudence (Brad Mehldau) Largo:

From White Album again, psychedelic feel kind of song. ]

She's Leaving Home (McCoy Tyner): All Star Tribute

One of my favorite pianists, Mr. McCoy Tyner's version of She's Leaving Home is pleasant and straight forward, with his signature voicings and lines. (Worth check out another tribute album he did, all Burt Bacharach tunes for Impulse! Amazing stuff)

Something (Sarah Vaughan): Sarah Sings the Beatles

Brazilian groove of Something! Written by the great George Harrison (every time he writes, it came out great. But he didn't write that many when he was with Beatles)
Check out this version, the nice whistling counter line, and sexy Portuguese lyrics at the verse.

Can't Buy Me Love (Count Basie): Basie's Beatle Bag

The typical Basie's band explosion, swing you off your chair, the big contrasting sections. The organ a bit dated, but once in awhile, it sounded cool. Damn. Basie is cool.

With A Little Help From My Friend (Count Basie): Basie on the Beatles

A normal trio arrangement, nothing too fancy here. He is usually so under play, but here, he swing hard and played so much. The more I listen, the more it sounded like Oscar Peterson playing, anyone point it out?

The Long and Winding Road (George Benson): All Stars Tribute

Nice string arrangement here. Smooth and slick.

Norwegian Wood (Buddy Rich): Big Swing Face

There are actually so many more versions out there, but due to lack of youtube uploads, I feel reluctant to share the information here.
Oh by the way, The movie: Across the Universe has to be one of the best movies that was inspired by music of Beatles. Check it out. I love some of the re arrangements of songs in the movie.

Great Plays liked Movies

When one flies more than 24 hours and couldn't fall asleep in the economy class's less than spacious seats, one succumbs to pass the time with on board entertainment provided. Even though one's buttocks were in pain, with good movies, these less than glamorous irritations could easily be forgiven. Such was the case after I've seen this unexpectedly great movie. Of course the prerequisite is that, the flight you have decided to fly in provide such selections. (Read somewhere that a first class passenger in the infamous American Airlines was offered, to his great horror, latest selection of 90s movies on VHS tapes wheeled on a cart for his perusal. My friend can't stop laughing when hearing this.)

Those spanking new airlines from the Middle Eastern cities are the best when it came to offering top and newest offerings in movies selections, on their spanking new latest technology big screen touch pad crystal clear personal LCD screens (oil money is might). But you have to be tolerant of kissing scene suddenly jumped to "after action" smoking scene. There are always surprising selections, thus it is always a good time for me to catch up on movies that I longed to watch, or just didn't have the time to watch when I wasn't flying.

This trip to New York, I got to watch this otherwise missed masterpiece, Glengarry Glen Ross. If it wasn't for the glittering cast, I wouldn't even be curious enough to watch this one. By the title of the movie, one wouldn't half guess what it is about. But such a catch! It was essentially a play at first, adapted into a film, starring such glittering cast, one respect these cast's commitment to good script, good direction, and their enjoyment of what they do: acting. I read somewhere that they are not getting paid much for doing this movie, but man, aren't they enjoyed every moment of it, and immersed themselves in the accompaniment of their peers. This is like great jazz, it is not about one person stand out, but rather everybody play together with good interaction, mutual respects and everybody shine!

The cast consists of Al Pacino (his character only enters the scene after about a whole hour), Alec Baldwin (only appears for about 15 minutes, but wow), Ed Harris, Jack Lemmon (I only know his works in those Black & White movies, and JFK, isn't he good!) Kevin Spacey (maybe of the constraint of his character here, he is just like a bassist dutifully doing his job) Just by looking at such list one would be tempted to watch this movie, even if the movie sucks. But this is great one!

I always find it hard to immerse myself into lengthy, conversation and narration based movies on the plane, simply because such environment isn't prone to deep concentration to dialogues. I would rather watch some action flicks without having to listen to anything being said on the screen. But this particular movie had me absorbed throughout.

Rather than spoil the movie for you, I suggest you to watch it if you have the chance.

Which brought me to my fascination to Movies with Minimal set, or rather movies that are like Plays.
Here is one of my favorite, 12 Angry Men:

What a treat, such simple story line, only one location (maybe several, but most of the happening was in that jury's room) and 12 amazing actors, amazing script and dialogues. Damn! Just by thinking of it, I would want to watch this again. Must see if you are into movies.

Of course one wouldn't forget the powerhouse Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf:

Amazing Elizabeth Taylor before her name is equaled to that woman that married for 8 times and each time is proportionately more disastrous than the last time. This is of course a movie that is adapted from a play. Watching this, I would love to have seen the play somehow. This is also one of the three movies, that all the cast on screen were nominated for Oscar nominations.

For some reason, I love Lars Von Triers's stuff. Over the years, I would try to appreciate his output, some I genuinely like, some I would save for later time. But this particular movie (but positively Play, stripped down Play) is amazing. The message, the lesson is clear, but disturbing. The sequel to this movie, Manderlay is equally disturbing with another set of message.

Both movies are anti-movie to the extreme. There are no set, no props, no nothing. Only a stages with chalked lines outlining spaces. They are even more stripped down than a stage play!
Without spoiling the movies for you, I recommend these very much, and I am sure they would open up your world even more, maybe for better or for worse....

By the way, if you haven't find out about Lars von Triers yet, please find his stuff. They are powerful and fresh. Try:

Breaking the Wave
Dancer in the Dark
Antichrist
Melancholia

 My world isn't the same anymore after these movies, or after some of those mind blowing Japanese or Korean movies, or Akira Kurosawa, or Ozu Yasujiro, or Ang Lee, or Christopher Nolan, or Martin Scorcessee, or Sophia Coppola or........

Cherish Life with Wonderful Art. 

何芸妮：靡靡之音，邓丽君经典爵士乐

终于出版了，制作了近半年的时间。

从去年中的靡靡之音演唱会开始，一直到这个月专辑出版，对这个计划都在步步为营。刚开始接受这个企划时，当然是充满希望，同时也是怀疑是否人们能够接受这样大胆的计划？碰邓丽君多年来人人会唱，耳熟能详的金曲等于是进入了禁区。接二连三来的批评都是：破坏了原来歌曲的美感，歌手的声音都不像邓丽君的，改到不伦不类。
不过说真的，爵士乐就是秉持着在经典歌曲上面重新创作的精神，这才叫做爵士乐。如果跟原版一样的话，就叫做口水歌（中文报章都喜欢叫这专辑口水歌，可是却不正确。这是爵士乐，来，大家跟我一起念：爵---士---乐！！！）

爵士乐的精神就是在人人都熟悉的曲子上面，由音乐家的重新想象出发来重新演绎，重新创造，重新赋予新生命。其实想象一下如果音乐就好像是生活一样：我们过生活的方式一定跟爷爷过生活的方式不一样，对吗？可是我们都是在过生活啊，对吗？这就是爵士乐的精神。
太抽象了？
那么我们试试看：

梁山伯祝英台的故事大家都知道吧？

影视界当中一共有七个不同的版本，年代上面的不一样，处理剧情的方式也不一样，可是说的是完全一样的故事，对吗？每个新的时代对待这个故事都有他们自己的看法。而爵士乐就是这么一回事。
同样的一首歌，比如说”泪的小雨“， 邓丽君的版本是非常70年代感觉的。那个 “当当当当当当”的节奏，那个Saxophone 的音色（非常福建歌的音色），吉他的音色，等等都很清楚的构成这个版本的 ”泪的小雨“是属于那个时代的（就连视觉上的效果也是非常那个年代，拍的照片都会朦朦的，口红画成红红的）。我并不是批评那个年代的音乐（反而觉得他们就是有个别的特色，好过惨谈无色）而是觉得，如果要21世纪的何芸妮唱这首歌的话，不可能以上世纪70年代的声音来给她伴奏；就像我不可能像我爷爷时代指腹为婚一样（同样是结婚，两个时代的做法是不一样的）

那么爵士乐又只是随随便便改个风格就可以了吗？我的出发点都是以歌曲的主题为主。
 “泪的小雨”是首伤感的歌曲，泪流下，在雨中分离：其实蛮适合比较摇滚蓝调的感觉，那种想呐喊的感觉，对我来说都在在的以摇滚蓝调的感觉在我脑海里盘旋。在决定了感觉后，吩咐鼓手以最基本的摇滚蓝调节奏来击鼓，不需要太多。其他乐器也都是演奏非常基本的节奏，就是要描绘那个小雨在顽固的下，不太多表情。而芸妮的唱法就在这个茫茫小雨中嘶喊，发泄歌曲中的压抑情感；渐渐小雨也强了起来，泪似乎也多了。。。。。
我相信音乐是需要很有画面感的。

而南海姑娘的编曲更是向两位作曲家致敬：马来西亚的作曲家汤尼（南海姑娘）以及The Girl From Ipanema 的巴西作曲家Antonio Carlos Jobim。这两位处在世界以南的作曲家（马来西亚华人处在当时中华文化掌握主动权的台湾以南，而巴西则处在西方世界的南方）不约而同的眼光射向向淡淡哀愁的南海姑娘。

虽然无可考据，不过我天马行空的想象是：The Girl From Ipanema首 先出现（1960年代）。这首歌曲说的是在沙滩上走着的漂亮女孩，虽然她吸引了许多人的目光，可是她却若有所思的走向海边。虽然主人翁想向她表达爱意，她的眼神却投往他方。
这首曲子在当时轰动乐坛，专辑还差点赢得当时的Grammy Award (败给了英伦旋风The Beatles) 所以在马来西亚可能是听得到的，不过当然是在小圈子里面流行吧。而写南海姑娘的汤尼先生可能就喜欢这首曲子，而灵机一动，写下了以马来西亚风情衬托的一首隽永歌曲：同样的哀愁，同样的思念着远方的那个人，虽然观察者都给予她多多的赞美，她还是不为所动而继续忧伤下去。

同样美丽的两位南海姑娘，串联起来中西合拼，唱出不同的风情：爵士乐就是这么自由的承载体。在这个版本中我们甚至请来了巴西的歌手与敲击乐手Valtinho Anastacio 参与我们的录制工作，带来原汁原味的巴西节奏。

不过说起来，爵士乐除了聆听，其实还得有个旷阔的想象力，许多有趣的小东西就隐藏在编曲，唱法，即兴演奏，节奏，甚至典故当中。一些联想，一点想象力，音乐可以突然超越只是声音的境界。（当然不只是音乐，所有的艺术都是如此吧）


能够有幸完成这个企划，背后许多人的付出，努力，功不可没。
希望你会喜欢。

2012 年极忙碌的开始，似乎是好的开始？

2011 年是充实的。
忙碌，可是却似乎有做了些有意义的事。
读了许多许多觉得有趣的书，看了一些不错的电影，觉得至少增长了些见识。
游览了好多的地方，沉淀了不少。
而且终于安定下来了，虽然人还是分两地。

很期待2012年到底会是怎样的一年。至少如果世界末日的话，可以多做些什么事才一起玩完。
如果是的话，希望有点确实的消息咯。

忙碌的开始，可以看到前方有些有趣的东西！

2012 年 农历新年

2012年的农历新年是在家过的。在过去的几年都因为工作的关系，和尽量避开放年假的回乡交通而没有在家吃除夕的年夜饭。今年决定了不再接这些工作而得以在年二十九就上路了。路上车子比想象中的少，不过还是在一些路段稍微多点车子。倒霉的是在休息站的时候路墩撞破了轮胎，换上后备胎上路，小心开到马六甲。

忘了在哪里读到的一段句子，说的是出外多年后回乡，开始觉得以前小时候以为终生总会流连的家，不可能会离开的家，无法想象还会有另外一个家的老家，开始变成那么陈旧，那么陌生了。我开始有这个感受了。这个我曾经在里面做梦的家，这个我经历了人生开始的十数载的家，这个我曾经以为很难会离开的家，现在看起来好多东西都破落了；家具都破败了，书本都发霉了，电器都过时了，曾经的梦也达到了而不足以哂了，父母也衰老了。曾经是那么凶，激进，不耐烦，令我充满恐惧感的父亲（简直就是贾宝玉对他父亲的态度一样，一听到父亲的声音回家就先无趣了），现在衰老的身躯看起来不堪一击，态度也已经大大转变。曾经什么都是他对到完，现在却充满了战战兢兢，说话中气似乎也不足了。母亲曾经巨人一样的身躯，在我留学后归家突然发现她怎么突然眼角下垂了？怎么好像突然间老了许多？两个曾经是两个极端的性格的人在多年前被双方家长凑在一起而结合，在后来谈起时所谓“没有感情的结合”，在我们四个兄弟姐妹诞生后被无可奈何的锁在一起，一直过了三十五个年头。他们的关系可能也是千千万万个上一代的婚姻一样，若即若离；多少个年头充满了多少的无奈，多少的斗气，多少的忍气吞声，多少的被压抑的希望。好像什么时候就会突然断掉的姻缘，在过了三十多年后的现在，好像两个人找到那个默契了，两老似乎开始以他们三十多个年头练习好了的舞步来走下去。
很多时候还是为父亲的固执而生气，时常回家都遇上些受不了的事情而赶紧砍断时间而选择离开（这是还没有独立时非常期望的奢侈，可以选择离开）可是常常又都回想是否自己太过敏感和太过偏见。记得一次在很生气父亲的一意孤行后选择离开，可是上了车后却又懊悔而头涔涔泪潸潸起来。
父母亲的姻缘再怎么美化都很难说是美满的婚姻，一方太过的霸道而另一方太过的软弱；两个截然不同，甚至是偏激的两极性格，价值观和世界观都背道而驰；很奇怪的竟然可以维持了三十多年。当然要谢谢他们的坚持，为了我们儿女。可是我有时会想象，如果他们没有坚持的话，我们的生活，我们的人生观，我们的性格是否会有不同。

无可否认的是，造就今天的我是来自这两极的双亲；只是希望他们可以快乐，而什么是快乐，就只有他们去定义了。

新年回家其实就是吃和睡，往常的生活中午睡是奢侈的，不过在老家过年的期间几乎每天都午睡一番，起来就吃，累了又睡。真是养猪的生活。有时不想回老家也是这个原因吧：失去了奋斗的动力。可能是借口。

老妈说，最开心的事是你们可以回来团聚。听了真的挺难过的，这个小得可怜的愿望竟然可以令老妈开心了，而我还真是不孝，对不起了。
从小在家里的时候其实就一直期望要出去，离开这个充满压迫感的家。虽然当时的想法却很矛盾的认为可能永远不会离开；因为根本想像不到怎样离开。离开了后，好多年都跟老家若即若离的，就像跟父亲的关系也是若即若离；现在在外组织了自己的家，跟老家更是远了。就像刚才说到的，回家后感觉很多的东西都破旧了，窄小了。

有教训吗？有结束前的感想吗？没有。生活上哪来那么多的教训和感想？还不只是新年发发牢骚？照片也都是九不搭八的。

学习

看林夕的散文，那个苦口婆心很令人动容。读到这两段，说的根本就是好多在各领域里面相对成功人士的学习态度：

       ”我自少就喜欢中国历史，何须老师提供，知识是可以自动争取吸收的，如果今天的中史科老师还是像那位关老师一样抄黑板，你有心的话，一样可以自己找『万历十五年』来看，再看同作者黄仁宇的『中国大历史』，『大历史不会萎缩』。如果嫌柏杨的『资治通鉴』闷，看高阳的历史小说，这些其实都不用来世推介，多走走书局，多上上浏览卖书的网站，就可以自学。谋事在教改，城市在己。一个人肯学，没有学不来的门路”

或者这段：


      “我不怕惭愧的在这里说一下我学普通话的经过。

我首先跟一个北京老师单对单，一期三课每课两小时，从汉语拼音学起。大概半年时间，跟着老师把那三本初中高阶课本学完了，我还不满足，就拿张爱玲的小说念给她听，那可以接触到一些不常用的字眼。然后在订台湾的报纸，在她面前读报纸，兼吸收台湾的常用语。那还不够，老师跟我上至天文下之地理聊天，务求发音用字准确以外，要做到流畅如闲话家常。之后，老师说教无可教了，我就开始看内地出版的词典，凡遇上不懂读音的都牢牢记住。然后为要掌握内地与台湾用字的分别，有整整一个月时间，写歌词的时候都开着凤凰卫视，之后，看大量台湾时装剧集。因为我的工作不容许我长期离港，唯有以这方法让自己或在普通话的氛围当中。。。。

这算不算苦学？为了要写好国语歌词，写得与内地及台湾人无异，这是必须的装备。中文的老师们，我当时还有正职要上班，下班后每年平均要写两百首歌词。

我要做好这份工，就要下苦工，牺牲打游戏机的时间。时间用在哪里是可以看见的。还是那一句，自求多福”


（以上来自『我所爱的香港』中，两篇短文，林夕著）


不愧是现代诗人林夕，能够写得好，除了天分，额外付出的代价都比常人多出了千百倍不止。同样的引申到音乐上面来，除了天分（这很重要，连do 和 re 都听不出有什么差别的人可能可以放弃音乐吧）苦工很重要。除了练琴，还得听音乐（而且不是只是开着音乐去做家事般听，而是像在做功课般听，在分析音乐里面的音符，和声，配器，结构等等等等），读音乐历史，音乐评论，音乐家传记，音乐分析著作。另外补充的还最好多读文学小说历史传记（多多联想文学世界里面和音乐的关联），多看电影（注意听电影里面的音乐），多看各种类的艺术表演：舞蹈，戏剧，或者看画，雕塑（联想各种艺术之间的相互影响，艺术规律与世界规律的相关性等等等等）
现今的科技更加让学生们有更方便，更便宜，更直接，更快速的下载，浏览，观赏，阅读到各种以上说到的各种各样的知识。

不过时间用在哪里，真的是看得到的。

共勉之。