Monday Memories Take 2

Not too long ago, I did a post called Soundtrack Of My Life. In that particular feature I outlined all the wonderful music that I have enjoyed over the years. However, I failed to mention my intense love for Jazz. Being from the rather large town (some call it a city) of Jacksonville, FL where R&B and Rap ruled the airwaves I didn't get turned onto jazz until I made the acquaintance of some older brothers at the University of Florida during my undergraduate years. Prior to meeting those guys (Mike Kemp, Trey Davis, and Sid Smith) I looked at jazz as being elevator music. That theory soon got kicked out the door when I heard the Tutu album by Miles Davis.

Let me tell you, that album knocked me off my feet. By jazz head standards it was probably one of his more contemporary jazz offerings but it was still quintessential Miles, if you ask me. The album never fails to take me on a journey. The musical offerings were so good I not only wore out the original cassette that I purchased, but I have since worn out the CD as well. It's a good thing MP3's are around because having that as part of a digital library means that I will forever be able to enjoy the experience.

But Miles Davis was just the beginning. From there I consumed jazz artists like a man who had been castaway and finally allowed to feast for the first time in years. I will say that my taste is geared more toward contemporary artists, but I have sampled the greats as well. Some of it is cool, but some of it is just too deep for me at times. Like the Marsalis family. I still have yet to find any album put out by either son (Branford or Winston) or their father Ellis) that moves me. I respect them for being pioneers in the game, but I still have a hard time rolling with them.

Since my first introduction to the musical genre I have come to love quite a few artists. I have listed some of them below that you may want to check out, if you haven't already. Also feel free to recommend some artists to me. You can never have too much good music.

Some of the artists I've come to love over the years include, but are not limited to.

Miles Davis, Earl Klugh, David Sanborn, Kim Waters, Grover Washington Jr., Everett Harp, Najee, Kenny G (Duotones era), Larry Carleton, Stanley Clark, Ronnie Jordon, Diane Reeves, Bobby McFerrin, Bob James, Hiroshima, Fattburger, Pieces of a Dream, Thelonius Monk, Wes Montgomery, George Howard, Gerald Albright, Pat Metheny, Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith, Kenny Baron, John Coltrane, Michael Franks, The Crusaders, Joe Sample, Four Play, Stanley Jordon, Hugh Masekala, Ramsey Lewis, Urban Knights, Marcus Miller, J. Spencer, The Rippingtons, Spyro Gyro, Al Jarreau, Diane Schuur, Candy Dulfer, Down to the Bone, George Benson, N'Dea Davenport, Russ Freeman, Walter Beasley, Maysa, just to name a few.

I'm sure I forgot some, as a matter of fact I know I have, because I just can't think of them all. I also love Acid Jazz and many of those artists I haven't managed to keep up with.

For your listening enjoyment I selected two items. One is from the man who started it all for me, Mr. Miles Davis. The title track off the Tutu album. Timeless Music y'all.

[click "play" (the arrow button) to watch]

You Tube wouldn't allow me to embed this track, but you have to check out Pat Metheny, the instrument he plays on this selection is amazing. It's some sort of guitar, but it makes an absolutely wonderful sound. Pat Metheny

Everyone have an absolutely fantastic beginning to the week.

Richly Spoken

Listen and Learn. Happy Friday Y'all.

[click "play" (the arrow button) to watch]

The Mall Whore

I was in the mall on Tuesday evening waiting on the wife to finish some shopping. As I was strolling through the mall while also keeping an eye on my little fella as he tried to touch everything he could get his hands on, I was approached by a sales lady. She was about 5'5", long brunette hair and she had nice eyes. I didn't look close enough to see the color, but there was something about the way she was looking at me. She wanted me to try some lotion. Some lotion, I thought. Do I look ashy? But wait. This was special lotion.

I don’t know what it was. Maybe the way she appealed to me to try it, maybe the way her eyes searched me for compassion for her plight, but I found myself holding out my hand. She dumped some sea salt crystals in my hand and asked me to begin washing them over a white bowl. “How does that feel….Richard” she said looking down at my security badge from work. “It’s okay,” I said to let her know I wasn’t buying jack. I continued to follow her directions, “Rub the top of your hands.” Then she pours water over them and shows me all this supposed dead skin. She reaches for the magic lotion. “Now put a little of this on,” she said trying to ease into her close.

“Doesn’t that feel great!” You would have thought I had just been given fellatio by the look in her eyes.
“It’s okay,” I said, determined to get away with my money intact.
“Just okay,” she said moving into my personal space. She touches my hand. I look around for my son who’s now trying on designer $12 shades at the next booth over.

“Yeah, it’s just okay.”
“You got to be kidding me, your hands feel wonderful. Imagine how this would feel on your feet.” I started to shock her and take me shoes off and tell her to get to rubbing, but I chilled. I was more worried my wife was going to walk up on me while this lady was smiling and rubbing on me.

“Look, it feels okay, but I’m not buying anything. I’m just wasting time until my wife comes to meet me.” I had to say something; this chick was looking at me like she wanted to do me. In case she didn’t see the ring, I needed her to know I was married. I was getting uncomfortable as she looked dreamily at me trying to sell me some doggone lotion. My son came over oblivious to this woman prostituting herself for a sale.

“What’s your name,” she said. Here we go, I thought. Trying to use my son to show some sincerity.

“Miles,” he said.
“That’s a nice name,” she followed.
“Hey, thanks for the lotion, we are going to get going, ” I said.
“Before you go, let me share this deal with you.” She says as she enters my personal space again. Man, she is relentless. I look around to see if wifey is coming. “The sea salt normal goes for $45, because it’s a years supply and the lotion goes for $40, but since I’ve had such a great day and you’ve been such a great guy, I’ll give you both for the cost of the sea salt alone.”
I give her my do I look like I was born yesterday look.

“I’m really not interested today. I just spent a ton of money dropping my daughter off to college.” Where is my wife at? She sure is taking forever to come out of Macy's.
“You don’t have a daughter in college,” she says in a surprising tone.
“Yes I do. I’ll be 40 this year.”
“You don’t look that old,” she says looking at me like I’m the one selling lies.

I pull out my drivers license, clearly flattered that I have the youthful look going. I also figure I’m going nowhere fast. Not to mention, I backed up to get her up out of my face, as she continues to look on smiling like she wants to do me on the spot. Man she has no shame. Doesn’t she see these people walking around? I know I'm fly and all, but damn.

“Wow, you look good for your age.”
“Thanks. So, like I was saying I’m not interested today, but thanks for the offer.”

Girlfriend turns around and tries to sell me another smaller combination for $20, but when I’m not buying….I’m not buying. As I walked off I started tripping about what just went down. I wondered if she was digging me. I let the thought leave me, but I ended up walking back past her about 10 minutes later. “Hi Miles,” she says, but we kept on walking, I wasn't in the mood for another sales attempt. I still hadn’t found my wife, so I was a sitting duck. Did I mention that I hate shopping? So we go sit on the sofa strategically placed in the mall for weary husbands and old folks trying to catch a breather. I can see her sales counter from where I’m sitting. I see a tall blonde guy approaching. He presents the same apprehensiveness that I exhibited, but she reels him in, with just as much ease as she had done with me. I watch as she repeats her flirting sales manner and in that moment it hits me. She was never digging me, it was all about the sale, she's nothing more, than a mall whore.