Jul 22, 2011
Here in Western Massachusetts the mercury in the ol' thermometer ha hit well over 90 degrees all week, with no relief in sight for the weekend. That won't stop Nancy and me from seeing Lucinda Williams and Amos Lee in a dual-headlining concert Saturday night, though. It's worth pointing out that Lee is signed to Blue Note Records, the home of jazz artists exclusively in the past. However, the label's talent has been widened over the past few years, becoming the home of Al Green, Van Morrison, Norah Jones, Lee, and even Jeff Bridges. There is still plenty of good jazz on the label - Robert Glasper, Lionel Loueke, Cassandra Wilson and others are still laying down cutting edge sounds. Music business economics being what they are, it's hard to blame the label. But one wonders - what would Alfred Lion, the label's famous founder say?
But back to the weather, and a song to enjoy it by. While I could post "(We're having a) Heat Wave", today seems like an appropriate time to bring out Cole Porter's "Too Darn Hot", particularly when hearing lyrics like "I'd lile to fool with my baby tonight/Break ev'ry rule with my baby tonight/But pillow you'll be my baby tonight/ 'Cause it's too darn hot."
This version comes from Holly Cole, from her ironically titled 2003 CD Shade. She's recorded albums of standards, as well as an exception album of Tom Waits tunes called Temptation that is well worth checking out. Here she sings, adds a bit of xylophone, and is backed by Aaron Davis on piano, George Koller on bass, Kevin Brett on guitar and Mark Kelso on drums and percussion.