WHERE THE HOKEY POKEY "IS" WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT
CeeOhBee
CeeOhBee
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I once was lost . . .

Posted about 1 year ago
Dear MOG friends. I hope you'll forgive my bad use of that lyric, but it has to be said. . . I once was lost, but now I am found. I left MOG for a while, but have returned with a happier outlook (oh, and a new name). And, because of this, and with the help of the lyric from Amazing Grace, I have decided to give you a fantastic version of that very song performed by the fabulous violinist, and member of the Uptown String Quartet, Diane Monroe.You may not recognize the name of this group, but you'll probably recognize the last names of some of the players: in addition to Diane, we have violinist Lesa Terry, (daughter of Clark Terry) violist Maxine Roach, (daughter of Max Roach) and cellist Eileen M. Folson. All of these wonderful performers are classically trained, in addition to having strong jazz backgrounds. Diane's solo rendition of Amazing Grace is just the best I have ever heard. Its sparse, yet ghostly and plaintive opening moves to a funky and soulful second verse with virtuosic self-accompaniment, and gets downright raunchy and ballsy towards the finish line, followed by a beautiful final verse and echo of the opening. I just can't recommend their recordings enough. I have missed you all so much. Thanks for welcoming me back into MOG. Hope you dig this as much as I do.
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Comments (20)

  1. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says Here's the full quartet on the Charlie Parker tune, Moose the Mooche.
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  2. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Strings, oh yes, give me some o' that ole strings. -- What a come-back! I really enjoyed Diane Monroe's take on John Newton's hymn. I don't know if it's the right word but her version makes somehow very American-pie as it were it were homegrown. Just like a fine Copeland piece, there is something unmistakably American about its sound, I dare say. I will put the Uptown String Quartet on my to-listen-to list at once. It's nice to have you to bring some much needed strings and swing back to MOG.
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  3. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says And finally just because it's so damned funny to hear a string quartet do a little James Brown up in here, I give you . . .OW! I Feel Good!
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  4. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says Aw, my sweet Bartleby, so good to hear from you first. I'm glad you dig it. I loves me some strings, so it's always good to find a like mind. I know what you mean about Amazing Grace being so American and homegrown sounding, not to mention when it's played by a gifted performer like her. Also her jazzy and funky take on it makes it even more American. You should hear their version of Summertime. It's pretty up-tempo and humorous. If interested, I'll post it now.
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  5. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Crikey, I wasn't expecting such a generous portion... I almost missed the James Brown homage. Let's not be stingy and get some more superfluous comments as Oscar Wilde would say. Of the 3 tracks, I must say I feel the "revamp" of the Charlie Parker tune the most. You can really hear the interplay and dynamism in progress within the quartet. You know like in a polyphonic piece by Palestrina the voices interweave and speak to each other to finally reveal the shared subject matter on the last note. Beautiful. The JB tune is definitely funky and I don't think I've heard any strings sound so groovy before in my life. -- You know you had me at I once... (I've always loved that word "once" - don't the best stories always start with it? I sure hope there'll be an "ever after" to your post)
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  6. ivylander
    ivylander says It's so satisfying on so many levels to see this conversation - wasn't sure either of one of you would be back for a while there.... B is right - this is a treasure chest of a post, "Amazing Grace" being the most striking, beautifully proportioned bauble. It's remarkable the way she can get the violin to sound exactly like a harmonica in the first verse....
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  7. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Hey Ivy, welcome to the fun... What you've said about the sound of the harmonica must have one of the reasons our Cee chose it ;) Coming back to the proposition, could we please have that "Summertime" (though I've yet to feel the spring)?
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  8. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says well, I tell ya, kids, it's hard to believe I ever left with all this warmth and kinship. Bartleby: I'm with you on the Charlie Parker tune. We can thank Lesa Terry for her cool arrangement. I love all the counterpoint and interplay. And, god, if I don't adore Palestrina too, and your bringing him up. Now I have to listen to that!! I'll never get any work done with all this fun. Ivylander: I'm so glad you dig it and yes, isn't that amazing how she sounds like a harmonica!? I love that you brought that up because it's so hard to create that sound. It takes three components. 1. The perfect balance of physics with bow against strings (and believe me, many a fiddler would covet her strength and finesse); 2. Perfect intonation; and 3. Strict omission of the typical vibrato you hear most string players using. Without that 1 and 2, this lack of vibrato would sound terrible. You can hide a million sins with vibrato, but when you don't use it, problems with pitch and the balance of the bow are completely naked. I worship her for her choice to use vibrato sparingly. Omission of vibrato in the opening makes her sound all the more alone, just that lonely single voice. Then when she starts to use it, it makes the piece seem less solo, more like multiple voices, and for that matter, makes the piece sound all the more sumptuous. As for non-vibrato, I'll find some examples of strings with and without and put it on another post for you very soon. You'll be so moved by the different tone quality that each can bring. I have a recording of a Finnish quartet playing a piece without vibrato. Together the sound like a harmonium. It's simply eerie and it's a funeral tune at that, just to add to the ghostly powers.
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  9. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says Bartleby, you know I cannot refuse you. May this speed up the process at least towards your feeling something like spring. Oh, and BTW, this is NOT my favorite version of Summertime, not by the longest shot. But I do find it kind of quirky and worth a listen. I will share my favorite version of that tune another day when it is ACTUALLY summer. Remind me, will ya?
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  10. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Thanks Cee. That was a swell swing with a bit of soulful breath near the end. Quirky and comical indeed.
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  11. Dzendvokh
    Dzendvokh says Wow, how'd she do that? I mean... with Amazing Grace... a song so well worn you'd think every variation under the sun had been contemplated.... the confluence of an exceptional player and an exceptional song.... very nice! Love the other interpretations as well.... Thanks for gracing this motley crew with your exceptional selections once again C. Maybe this'll inspire me
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  12. I am
    I am says Carolyn, I have to say it is so good to have you back. My brain has been fried by the sun, so I don't/can't say more than that. And at 9:30pm I can say, "I am going to bed soon".
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  13. Spike
    Spike says It is great to have you back. I really enjoyed how the Uptown String Quartet chose, arranged and played these pieces. Your explanation about hiding a million sins with vibrato made sense also. I read somewhere once that when the Beatles had strings accompany "Eleanor Rigby" and "Yesterday," they insisted on no vibrato, which was unheard of at the time, supposedly.
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  14. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says wow, well listening to Yesterday (online) right now, and the vibrato is molto. But Eleanor does sound like it may be lacking vibrato. That would be so hard to do without it since the strings are so prominent and intense and cry for vibrato. I'll bet the string players rebelled like mad! Confession, Spike, and don't hate me. I don't own a single Beatles album. I'll stop there. I know you've probably fainted from the shock of it. When you come to, we'll discuss. . .
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  15. Spike
    Spike says I know I should have re-listened to "Yesterday" before writing that. About the moptops, I was able to hold onto a table. I have a friend who was in a hippie commune for a while in the late sixties, and at one point the leader convinced everyone that only Beatles records should be played. My friend still can't listen to them. Like him, you have to many other far more exciting interests without having the Beatles holding you back.
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  16. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says I rarely admit to musicians that I'm not their hugest fan. I will admit, though, that I like John Lennon, especially when I hear a song like "Look at Me." I have to say that it is the brilliance of Mark Mothersbaugh's choices for the Royal Tennenbaum's score that made me re-think those fab 4, but mostly just JL. His solo acoustic guitar work is so sweet, vulnerable and raw. I respect that so much. Paul, though . . . well . . . for me, it's Blackbird, and well . . . hmmm . . . that's it, I think. Don't hate me. I think I'm just missing a chromosome or something. Too much peace and love gives me hives.
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  17. Spike
    Spike says Mothersbaugh also chose "She Smiled Sweetly," another good choice. Hives, eh? With honey in them I bet.
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  18. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says hahahaha, honey??! nice one, but I doubt I'm filled with honey . . . more like lard. hahaha. yes, great choices from Mothersbaugh. I also enjoy his use of Nico, The Velvet Underground and Nick Drake.
    Permalink posted 04/17/2008
  19. contrabandwidth
    contrabandwidth says I would listen, but the song makes me cry every time I hear it. Maybe later, when I'm not at work.
    Permalink posted 04/18/2008
  20. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says aaaah, that's wonderful. you know, it messes with me too. even more so when I learned the history of the song. not to worry. you can listen at home and cry your eyes out. I won't tell.
    Permalink posted 04/18/2008

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