Trails, Trekking & Tunes

Photo by Peter Thomas on Unsplash

Songs to listen to while you hike

Trekking has become all the rage recently, and by trekking I don’t just mean hiking, I mean packing up all your gear–tent, sleeping bag, dehydrated meals–and carrying them on your back through the trails. I actually just went for my first time this past weekend, and it was challenging, but rewarding! Carrying everything you need to survive on your back really makes you feel like a nomadic warrior, and being in the woods for days on end really allows you to immerse yourself in nature. I think the only thing that would make trekking better is a badass playlist that amplifies the vibe. So grab your portable speaker, clip it to the outside of your pack and turn on these tunes to really feel like an explorer!

Harry Allen Trio – Runnin’ Wild

Kick off your adventure with this fast-paced, exciting tune from Night is Alive’s newest album It Takes 3. Allow yourself the freedom to run wild and free through the woods, let your eyes wander and explore all that the wilderness has to offer. Feel the weight of your pack, the strength in your legs and the power in each step forward. You are strong, wild and free, like the piano in this tune!

Lorca Hart Trio – Recluse

Sometimes it can be fun to feel like a little recluse out in the woods, all on your own. Maybe you’re even bold enough for a solitary trek. If so, this song, from Night is Alive’s album Inspiration and Gratitude is for you! Enjoy getting away from all the hustle and bustle of the city and the routines of your daily life, and enjoy the solitude of nature, the snazzy musical notes emanating from your speaker and maybe even your soul.

Bill Cunliffe, Martin Wind & Tim Horner – Marching Season

This hauntingly beautiful song, from Night is Alive’s album Border Widow’s Lament, will remind you of the enchantment and magic that exists in the woods. Allow the hypnotic piano and drums to carry your imagination away into your surroundings–is that a woodland elf hiding behind a tree? Is that a little fairy inside of a blooming flower? What about those eyes up in the leaves?

Lorca Hart Trio – Dew Drop

As you’ve already begun to notice, trekking gives you the perfect opportunity to be mindful and meditative. Take this chance to be present in the moment and appreciate the filigrees of beauty in every step you take forward. Is that a spiderweb? A dew drop on a leaf? Some tracks in the dirt? A little chipmunk? You may also take time to notice the cadence and sound of each lovely note in this song, from Night is Alive’s album Colors of Jazz.

WJ3 All-Stars – Star Eyes

You’ve done it–you’ve arrived at your campsite. Good work and perseverance through the heat and bugs. Now it is time to set up your tent, have a good meal and relax. The sun is beginning to set, and the stars are peeking out in the sky. Sit down, breathe in the fragrant air of nature and gaze up at the stars. Maybe, like this song, from Night is Alive’s album My Ship, you’ll be able to see the stars reflected in your trekking partner’s eyes.

Check out this music and more on Night is Alive’s albums page!

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

Photo by Peter Thomas on Unsplash

Whimsical Wedding Songs

Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash

Jazz songs for the wedding season.

It’s midsummer and that means the wedding season is in full swing! How many weddings are you attending this summer? From engagement parties to bridal showers, bachelorette parties and rehearsal dinners, you are probably very busy finding just the right outfit and gift for every event. But amid all the craziness, make sure to stop and enjoy every moment. Weddings are an important life moment and it’s crucial that you are there, in mind, body and spirit, to celebrate your loved ones. Don’t let the checklists and schedules eclipse the real reason for the season: true love. We at Night is Alive, have created a playlist of love songs to help you destress and be present in the moment.

Lorca Hart Trio – A Time For Love

Wedding season is all about making time in our busy lives for love. Let this song, from Night is Alive’s album Inspiration and Gratitude, wash over you and remind you that right now is a time for love. While you are getting ready for a wedding event, whether it be doing your nails, washing your hair or fixing your bowtie, listen to this song to get you into the wedding spirit!

WJ3 All-Stars – First Time I Saw Your Face

They say that when you know, you just know. From that very first time you saw each others’ faces, you probably knew that this was the person meant for you. And this beautiful song, from Night is Alive’s album Lover and Love Songs perfectly captures that love-at-first-sight moment. Maybe it was at a coffee shop, or maybe it was a bar, or in the office, when your eyes first locked and you saw a future in your beloved’s face.

Harry Allen Trio – It’s You Or No One

With its whimsical melody, this snazzy tune, from Night is Alive’s newest album It Takes 3, really gives strong wedding season energy. The swinging beat brings to mind a bunch of couples grooving and jiving, hand-in-hand, on the dancefloor. So, dust off those dancing shoes, grab a partner and have a ball! Why not?

WJ3 All-Stars – Taking A Chance on Love

Even when you know you’re with the right person, love still feels risky, doesn’t it? It’s scary to be vulnerable with another person; it’s scary to share all your feelings and take a chance on love. This song, from Night is Alive’s album My Ship, conjures that feeling of vulnerability and risk while also being playful about it. Yes, love is risky and means taking a chance, but that’s what life is all about, isn’t it? Maybe you’re a single guest at the wedding reception, and you notice a cute guest across the hall smiling at you–take a chance on love and go ask that person to dance!

John Di Martino, Janis Siegel & Others – Whenever You Come Around

This jazzy rendition of the beloved 1994 Vince Gill country tune will truly melt your heart. From Night is Alive’s album Cryin’ in My Whiskey, this sappy song will have you tearing you when you think about your lover. Or it also gives you the perfect opportunity to slow dance with a new crush. I’m standin’ here holding the biggest heartache in town / Whenever you come around / I get weak in the knees and I lose my breath…

Check out this music and more on Night is Alive’s albums page!

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash

Now Available: Radiance by Lonnie Plaxico

Immerse yourself in Radiance, the brilliant new release from Lonnie Plaxico—a soul-jazz masterclass featuring the luminous Camille Thurman, rhythmic heartbeat of Douglas Plaxico, and the rich piano textures of Lafayette Harris Jr. This reimagined collection of classics, including “Don’t Know Why,” “The Closer I Get to You,” and “All This Love,” showcases Camille Thurman’s expressive vocals and saxophone, Douglas Plaxico’s driving drums and vocals, and Lafayette Harris Jr.’s elegant piano and Rhodes grooves—together crafting a deeply emotional and groove-forward journey.

From tender balladry to up‑tempo soul, each track on Radiance delivers warmth, sophistication, and musical virtuosity. Whether you’re a longtime jazz aficionado or newly exploring soulful interpretations of beloved songs, this album extends a heartfelt invitation to experience something timeless and fresh. Rich in arrangement and intimate in spirit, Radiance resonates with depth and vibrancy.

Catch Radiance now on your favorite platforms: listen on Bandcamp (with high‑resolution 24‑bit/96 kHz downloads) Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and on Night is Alive. Radiance is available now—stream it, download it, and let its luminous sound move you.

5 Jazz Songs for Christmas in July

Who says you have to wait until it’s snowy and cold in December to “jingle all the way”? Why not have some fun and celebrate Christmas now while the sun is a-blazing? Barbeques and pool parties are how the Australians usually celebrate the Yuletide, so why shouldn’t we give Christmas in the summer a try in the northern hemisphere too!? Grab a cold beverage or an ice cream sundae with red and green sprinkles and let these jazz tunes inspire your festivities.

Teddy Horangic, Frank Lacy & others – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Who needs Mariah Carey when you have this lovely new rendition of one of the most beloved Christmas songs from Night is Alive? Whenever I hear this song start coming on the radio, it always puts me into the jolliest spirit! Enjoy Frank Lacy’s baritone and, like he sings, let your heart be light as you bask in the sun or float in the pool.

John Di Martino, Willie Jones III & others – Christmas Ain’t Like It Used to Be

The titular song of the Night is Alive album, this groovy tune adds some spice to the typical holiday music playlist, which is perfect for a Christmas in July celebration! Christmas sure ain’t like it used to be, it’s sweaty and slick and daylight is much longer now, so why not stay up late twistin’ and jivin’ to this stellar saxophone solo?

Bill Cunliffe Trio – Linus and Lucy

This playful song is perfect for a summer holiday party! From the Night is Alive album Christmas in the Dog House, this upbeat tune captures the childlike wonder of the holiday season. It’ll bring back memories of watching A Charlie Brown Christmas, and, perhaps, eating one too many gingerbread cookies…don’t forget to leave some for Santa!

Bill Cunliffe – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Christmas in July is the time for the fun and fast-paced tunes, like this one from Night is Alive’s album That Time of Year. Maybe you’re lucky enough to have seen the beloved musical, The Nutcracker? If so, you’ll recognize this lovely, whimsical song, which really captures the magical spirit of the Yuletide season. Watch out, the sugar plum fairy might even leave some sparkly fairy dust on your pillow!

Teddy Horangic, Frank Lacy & others – O Holy Night

To round out this playlist, we’d like to finish with a classic from This Christmas With Night is Alive that you can all sing along to! By this point, you’ve probably had a few spirited drinks and are hopefully feeling quite jolly, so gather round, maybe arm-in-arm, and sing together! Maybe you can even make it into a carol for the neighbors?

Check out this music and more on Night is Alive’s albums page!

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

Q&A with David Basse from Kansas City Radio – Part 3

Here we wrap up our conversation with the acclaimed David Basse, a living legend in today’s jazz world. Stay tuned for more interviews with your favorite artists!

NiA: Your singing has been compared to Mel Tormé, Jon Hendricks and Al Jarreau. Are these the musicians you look up to the most? Which musicians do you most admire and why?

DB: I think what that comparison speaks to is that I don’t really copy anybody. There’s also another article that compared me to Dr. John. But I really actually patterned myself after Tom Waits for quite a while, and Joe Williams who sang with Count Basie Orchestra. And each time that somebody would say, oh you sound like that guy, and if I was trying to sound like that person, I would try to sound like someone else. I didn’t really start singing, really singing until I was 19, when I came to Kansas City. When I got to Kansas City it was like I had a new life. I could try anything, dress however I wanted to dress, be whoever I wanted to be, so I felt comfortable singing. But I’ve changed a lot over the years and I don’t pattern myself after anyone anymore and I don’t really hear that anymore. I’m just doing what I do.

NiA: Which musicians are you most jazzed to be listening to at the moment?

DB: I like to explore music and I guess that’s why I started doing radio, which was in 1998. Recently, I went to the last two Sarah Vaughan music competitions in Newark, New Jersey. And Tyreke McDole, he won in 2023, and the next winner was April May Webb. In 2023, I picked Tyreke and my wife and I went to dinner and he won, so we went back the next year and I picked April May and she won! I’ve kept in touch with both of them. They’re really great; they’re really saying something with their music. And then there’s a young trombonist, Altin Sencalar, he’s Turkish and Mexican, and he’s a terrific trombonist. So those are my three favorite people right now in jazz. And it’s not like my opinion means anything, it’s just something I like. I’m not listening to any particular kind of jazz–I just love music. So, on my radio show we play a wide range–blues, smooth jazz, classic jazz, whatever it is, I make a case for it.

NiA: Could you talk a bit about your transition from performing to the radio?

DB: I don’t really make a differentiation–in both, I play the music I want to play. As I’ve gotten older I want to play my original music more and play less of the standards and things I used to play although I do play a lot of those songs because people want to hear them and they come into my head. With radio, I try to make it like a symphony, so there’s the first movement of the symphony and then it has to lead into the next movement. Even if I’m going to talk in between the songs and explain things–which I don’t always do–I want the key, the tempo, and the feel of the music to bleed into the next piece of music. So curating the jazz for the radio is the most fun and the most challenging; it takes the most time.

NiA: Could you talk about how exactly you decide which songs to play on the radio? What is the selection process?

DB: Record companies and artists work with radio promoters and they send an awful lot of music. I get maybe 30 or 40 CDs a month and 10-20 downloads a day from various places and artists from all over the world. So, I’m able to have a good amount of music and it’s really run me out of a couple studios so far and I’m currently looking for a place to house my collection of recordings–my albums and CDs, drives with shows. I’ve done about 8,000 hours of jazz at this point, and I was involved in a syndicated radio show before this for a decade and that show is no longer–it’s housed in a library now–it’s no longer on the air. That’s a lot of music! And I pick a Top 10 every year. You can look on my website from 2015 to 2023 to see the Top 10s. So if you think of all the albums, I’m distilling them down to 10 top songs of 10 top albums. I’ve been curating 15 hours of jazz per week and there’s 9-10 songs in an hour–that’s 150 albums a week! And I put a post-in note in every CD or album that says when I played it and the track that I played. The only way that the album can be in the Top 10 is if I play every track in the album and so at the end of the year I have a tabletop full of stacks of CDs and I start to rethink and play those great songs again. Then I can say over the air that this is one of my Top 10 picks for the year.

NiA: What do you think about NiA’s music?

DB: Well as someone who has had their own record label for quite a while, I think it’s a good endeavour. I think she’s doing good things with it. I think she’s making nice, really good albums with influential musicians. You know, it’s a hard thing to do. It’s a labor of love and a lot of jazz labels don’t last for a long, long time. But she has some very good music, so…it’ll probably be something very special as time goes on.

Since I’m a radio person, I receive stacks of CDs from everywhere, and downloads come in all the time, so there’s a lot of competition. But she has a style that’s specific and it’s a wide genre, it’s not just jazz, it’s Night is Alive! The way that she puts these albums together is very personal, so I usually play all the songs, which is my criteria for a good album.

NiA: Yeah, I know what you mean. With a really good album you listen to every single song, no skips.

DB: Yeah, sometimes there’s just one good song, and sometimes there’s no good song. And it depends on a lot of aspects, and it’s really hard. I’m making my own recording right now and sometimes I really like it, and other times, I’m like “am I doing the right thing? Is this going to be successful in any way?” It has to be something that you really choose to do, and that seems like what Kathy does–she really chooses what she wants it to sound like, which I think is the best course of action.

NiA: Which Night is Alive album of ours is your favorite?

DB: Call Me Irresponsible is my favorite because it really captures an excellent singer in the beginning of her career, and it’s off-handed in a way. I love John Di Martino–the pianist–too. He was the director of the band. But I remember all the albums as joyful to open up. They always come in the mail and I like everything about them. I like the way Kathy presents the albums, so I always play them.

Learn more about David Basse at davidbasse.com

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

photo from facebook.com/davidbassejazz/

Q&A with David Basse from Kansas City Radio – Part 2

Welcome to part two of Night is Alive’s interview with the legendary David Basse!

NiA: How did you get into singing?

DB: I graduated from high school when I was 17 and two weeks later, a band came through town and they happened to need a drummer and they were going on to Colorado and other places. So, I joined the band and left, and as we were driving away, the bandleader asked if I could sing and I said no. The band leader said, well that’s too bad because I would give you more money if you sang. He suggested I sing without a microphone and see if I could find a part to sing harmony and just get comfortable singing from the drums. So, I’m more comfortable singing from the drums than without the drums. I guess I’m equally comfortable now, after many, many years.

NiA: When did you decide to become a bandleader?

DB: I decided to be a bandleader in 1980. So I stopped playing what somebody else wanted to play and I started playing the music I loved, which was a mixture of jazz and blues–the music of Kansas City is what really drew me in. In the first two years I was on the road I went to all the places I wanted to go and I hadn’t found one that stuck–I went to Nashville, New Orleans, LA, New York–and I didn’t know about Kansas City. Then somebody in Iowa said, “you know, you ought to go to Kansas City, here’s the number of an agent.” And when I came here, I found that you can make a living on music in Kansas City and there are a lot of people doing it and it’s not that difficult. So, I was playing as many as nine gigs a week, playing seven nights and taking a couple of matinees and going to jam sessions and it was just great.

NiA: Wow, that’s incredible–it sounds like you really found where you belong, found your home.

DB: Yeah, I think I did. You know, about ten years ago I was talking to John Clayton–the bassist with Diana Krall and the Hollywood Bowl, a prominent musician–and I was having dinner with him, and I told him I was so impressed by his career and all the things he’s done, and he said, “you know, you have a place too–you’re our guy in Kansas City, so don’t be too impressed with me, just be you.” And I was very taken by that.

NiA: What was it like being a part of the City Light Orchestra?

DB: In 1980 when I became a bandleader there was a vocalist named Priscilla Bowman and she had a hit record called “Keep Your Hands Off Him, He Don’t Belong To You,” so it’s blues and it was a million-seller hit. I was going to my tenth high school reunion and a trumpeter said, we got this gig tonight–you should come and play drums with Priscilla Bowman, and I did. Then towards the end of the second set, she said she was going to go home, she was tired, so the club owner said to me, I heard you’re a vocalist, can you sing in the last set? And I said sure, so I sang some songs and after the set, he asked, what would you call this band? And I said I’d call it the City Light Orchestra. He asked, why orchestra? Why not the City Light Band because we’re the City Light Jazz Club. I said no, ‘orchestra’ sounds better, so that’s what we named it. And one thing led to another and we played there for seven nights, five nights a week.

NiA: What are some of your most memorable moments and experiences from being the bandleader of the City Light Orchestra?

DB: We got to go to New York. The editor of the newspaper here had been married in a nightclub on Upper East Side, 91st and 2nd avenue, and the club had just piano players, some of the exceptional piano players there, and this editor got us a gig for two weeks. So, the first time we went to New York we played for two weeks in a nightclub and that was phenomenal. We got to meet a lot of cool people, like Benny Goodman, Southside Johnny. To think of it now–to go to New York and play two weeks in a nightclub, twelve nights in a row with a Sunday off. That’s not really possible anymore unless you’re somebody of great stature. We were just a bar band.

NiA: It sounds like a dream!

DB: Yeah, it seems like a dream to me too.

To be continued in part three… In the meantime, check out Night is Alive’s albums page for the very best in jazz.

Learn more about David Basse at davidbasse.com

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

photo from facebook.com/davidbassejazz/

Q&A with David Basse from Kansas City Radio – Part 1

Part One of Night is Alive’s exclusive interview with David Basse

This week we were lucky enough to speak with David Basse, who you may recognize from his very own radio show Jazz with David Basse, which explores the depth and breadth of jazz through fifteen hours of curated songs per week. And not only is David the host of this nationally syndicated show, but he also has an impressive musical career spanning fifty years. David has played the drums and sang since the 1970s, and was the leader of The City Light Orchestra, which played at the 1997 Inaugural Gala for President Clinton. Before Jazz with David Basse, David also hosted The Jazz Scene, and he instructed jazz at Lincoln Center’s Swing University in 2022 and 2023. Now let’s hear from David…

Night is Alive: You’ve been playing music, and have been a part of the jazz music scene, since the 70s. How have you seen jazz change throughout the decades? How do you see the current state of jazz music today?

David Basse: You know I love all kinds of jazz–I’ve never met jazz I didn’t like, even the kind that drives people crazy, I still like it. I think jazz is really thriving because there’s so many young people involved in jazz these days. These young musicians have a very interesting take on the music and they’re not afraid to jump in and do what they gotta do. I’ve always loved the fact that jazz is passed down from the elders to the young people and I really think that’s the best of all jazz education–just standing next to someone fifty years older than you and trying to play music with them.

NiA: I’m curious, what kind of jazz music do you think “drives people crazy”?

DB: Well, it’s such a free-form music that if you have a strong opinion of what the music should be, there’s a good chance that you’re driving somebody crazy. I mean Kenny G didn’t set out to drive people nuts with his music and neither did Ornette Coleman; they’re just playing what’s in their heart–I would think–because that’s what most jazz musicians do.

NiA: Is that what you were doing–playing what’s in your heart–when you were playing the drums and singing?

DB: I started out playing the drums when I was 11. I lived in a very small town in Nebraska–I went to a two-room schoolhouse with an outhouse, out in the country. I had no exposure to jazz except for what I heard on a station called KAAY in Little Rock, Arkansas. After 11 o’clock at night I could pick up on a transistor radio, so I would listen with one headphone, and listen to Miles Davis and Ornette Coleman, mixed in with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. The song “Mellow Yellow” by Donovan is what drove me to the drums; I loved the drumbeat. I thought, “man I gotta do that! I gotta play the drums! I love the drums!” I was ten going on eleven and I talked my mother into paying for a drum lesson. I told her when I left the lesson that I found my career. She laughed, of course, and people still laugh, which is just fine because I play what I like to play and do what I want to do, which is why I like being a jazz musician.

Look for the second part of this compelling interview, coming soon! In the meantime, check out Night is Alive’s albums page for the very best in jazz.

Learn more about David Basse at davidbasse.com

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

photo from facebook.com/davidbassejazz/

What Does It Mean to Swing?

The Origins and Meaning of One of Jazz’s Most Iconic Terms

If jazz had a heartbeat, it would swing.
But what does that word actually mean—to “swing”? Is it a rhythm? A feeling? A genre? The answer is yes… and more.

Let’s break down the origins of the word, what it means musically, and how it became one of the most iconic ideas in all of jazz.

The Origins of the Term “Swing”

The word “swing” predates jazz, showing up in English in the 16th century to describe pendulum-like motion—back-and-forth, side-to-side. Think of a literal swing on a playground or the smooth arc of a dancer’s hips. The idea of rhythmic, loping movement was baked into the word from the start.

In the early 20th century, when jazz was still young and evolving in cities like New Orleans, Chicago, and New York, musicians began to apply “swing” informally to music that had a particular kind of bounce or groove. By the 1930s, the term had stuck—and “swing music” became a label for an entire big band era.

What Swing Means Musically

Swing isn’t just a vibe—it’s a specific rhythmic feel. Technically, swing refers to how eighth notes are played:

  • In straight time (like in pop or rock), eighth notes are evenly spaced:
    1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
  • In swing time, those eighth notes are uneven, often interpreted as a triplet feel:
    1 (trip) let, 2 (trip) let, 3 (trip) let, 4 (trip) let

But instead of playing all three parts of the triplet, swing usually hits the first and the third:
DA — duh, DA — duh
That subtle delay on the second note is what gives swing its unique forward-rolling momentum.

This rhythmic shape creates a loping, infectious pulse that makes listeners want to tap their feet—or dance. It’s both loose and precise, relaxed yet driving.

What Swing Means in Jazz

In jazz, to swing goes way beyond note spacing. It’s about groove, timing, and expression. When someone says, “That band swings,” they don’t just mean the eighth notes are syncopated—they mean the music is alive. It’s locked in, flowing, and in the pocket.

Here’s what swinging really means to jazz musicians:

  • Rhythmic Drive: Everyone in the band plays in sync, creating a groove that propels the music forward like a train on a smooth track.
  • Feel Over Math: It’s not mechanically “tripletized”—great swing is flexible. Musicians subtly vary the swing ratio depending on tempo, context, and emotion.
  • Interaction: Jazz swing lives and dies on communication between players. The drummer might push the beat, the bassist might hold it back, and the soloist floats somewhere in between. That tension is magic.

Famously, Duke Ellington once said, “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.” He wasn’t just talking about rhythm—he was talking about soul.

Swing as a Genre

While swing is a rhythmic concept, it also names an era and a style of jazz. The Swing Era (roughly 1935–1945) was the age of big bands: Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and of course, Ellington himself.

These bands played intricate arrangements, featured virtuosic soloists, and—most importantly—made people dance. Swing music lit up ballrooms across America and brought jazz to the center of popular culture.

Even after the big bands faded and bebop took over, the essence of swing remained in jazz’s DNA. Miles Davis swung. Coltrane swung. Modern jazz trios still swing today—even when they’re experimenting with odd time signatures or electronic textures.

So… What Does It Mean to Swing?

It means more than just playing with a certain rhythm. To swing is to lean into the groove. To lift the music. To make it breathe, dance, and spark. It’s a handshake between players, a grin from the drums to the bass, a nod from the horn to the piano. It’s jazz at its most human.

And when it’s really working, you don’t have to define it.
You just feel it.

Night is Alive Productions is your source for modern & classic Jazz!

Songs for Calm Outdoor Yoga

Photo by kike vega on Unsplash

Celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21st

With muggy, humid weather like this, you can have a hot yoga class in your backyard! Just step outside with your yoga mat and I guarantee the temperatures and sweat will be as high as you’d be paying for in an infrared studio! It’ll also be nice to stretch out your body, breathe into your muscles and hear the birds chirping outside. Plus, did you know that June 21st is International Yoga Day? What better way to celebrate than with some calm outdoor yoga and smooth jazz tunes! We at Night is Alive have got you covered with a playlist that’ll help you unwind and unfold.

Lorca Hart Trio – Let Me in Your Life

I think yoga is best when it is done with a specific intention in mind. Whether it be to let go of the past, be in the present moment or allow yourself to make mistakes, it’s important to set a goal to work towards in your yoga practice, which is why I thought it’d be great to start our playlist with a song from Lorca Hart Trio’s album Inspiration and Gratitude. Maybe your intention could be to be grateful for all that you have, or to let some love into your life?

Harry Allen Trio – Each and Every Yesterday

This beautiful slow tune from Night is Alive’s newest album It Takes 3 really showcases the buttery brilliance of Harry Allen’s saxophone. Allow the mellow melody to smooth out all the kinks in your back and neck as you warm up and stretch out, maybe with some table-top positions and cat/cow. Let all the stress of each and every yesterday roll off your body like every music note rolls so effortlessly from the instruments.

Bill Cunliffe, Tim Horner & Martin Wind – Border Widow’s Lament

I think Wind’s bass really stands out in this track from the album of the same title, released by Night is Alive. And Cunliffe’s masterful piano is also incredibly peaceful, while Horner’s drums pull everything all together. A song like this makes me want to get into a child’s pose and allow the laments of the day to slip away, like the drops of sweat, onto my mat.

John Di Martino & Others – Only the Lonely

This song, from Night is Alive’s album Call Me Irresponsible, is hauntingly beautiful and I guarantee it will stick with you long after it’s over, much like your yoga practice. Maybe it feels a bit lonely to be outside practicing yoga by yourself, but you’re not alone–you have the music to keep you company. You have the arresting vocals, the piano, guitar, bass, drums to guide you as you unwind your body further and push it to the threshold where growth occurs.

The Lorca Hart Trio – Duke and Billy

As you finish up your half-pigeon pose and do your final pose, maybe it’s a wheel or full bridge, or even a shoulder stand, this snazzy tune will only serve to enhance your relaxation. Then, when you get into that final resting pose, flat on your back on the mat, allow the Colors of Jazz (the name of this album) to wash over you and spark your synapses with joy and accomplishment. You did it. You took this time for yourself today and your body greatly appreciates it.

Check out this music and more on Night is Alive’s albums page!

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

Photo by kike vega on Unsplash

Music for a Farmers Market

Photo by mk. s on Unsplash

Farmers Markets & Fun Jazz

Now that spring is here, and summer is right around the corner, I bet you’re thrilled about all the farmers markets and food festivals popping up in your community! I know that I sure am. There’s no better way to spend a Saturday morning than to grab your family and walk or bike to the local farmers market. I just love soaking up the wicker baskets and wooden crates full of fresh fruits and veggies, and hand-picked flowers. There are always so many tents to explore – homemade blackberry jams, shiny red cherry tomatoes, local clover honey, and goats milk soap. It’s all so wonderful!

Or maybe you’re responsible for one of those tents – maybe you’re a farmer, or a farmhand tasked to sell your goods at the local market. I bet you also love those brisk Saturday mornings loading up the truck with all your fresh produce and salted smoked meats. And then I bet it must be so much fun to greet the customers, chit-chat with the regulars and slowly get to know everyone in your community! But have you ever thought about bringing a speaker to your tent and playing some fun jazz tunes to enhance the mood? I’m sure your customers would love it, and research suggests that music can even make people more likely to buy something!

Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World

After extolling the many wonderful colors and textures of the farmers market, I couldn’t help but to kick off our playlist with this beloved classic, first released in 1967. Even though I’ve heard this song countless times, it never fails to move me and make me feel a deep sense of gratitude. The colors of the rainbow / so pretty in the sky / Are also on the faces / Of people going by / I see friends shaking hands, saying “How do you do?” / They’re really saying, “I love you.”

Harry Allen Trio – You’re My Everything

In this new rendition of the 1931 jazz standard, you can really hear the synergy among the three musicians: Harry Allen’s smooth tenor saxophone intertwining with Rossano Sportiello’s swinging piano, both of which build upon the strong foundation of Bryan Carter’s dynamic drumming. This beautiful collaboration from Night is Alive’s newest album, It Takes 3, captures the interconnectedness of the farmers market. Like the musicians, everyone at the market is working together to foster an atmosphere of love, health and community.

Janis Siegel, John Di Martino, Aaron Heick, Harry Allen & others – Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue

Don’t you agree that a warm sunny day at the farmers market absolutely would not be complete without at least one country tune? Well lucky for you, Night is Alive has an excellent country jazz album, Cryin’ in My Whiskey! This rendition of Crystal Gayle’s lovely song captures the melancholy of an unrequited love, yet still manages to feel upbeat and light. You never know, maybe after losing a love, you might just bump into someone new, perhaps at your local farmers’ market? 

John DiMartino, Joe Magnarelli, Wayne Escoffery, Lonnie Plaxico & Willie Jones III – Tune for Mr T

Maybe by this point you’ve finished purchasing the essential ingredients and you’re perusing the jewellery and arts tents, and want a funkier tune to accompany your shopping! This groovy little song, from Night is Alive’s album Old New Borrowed and Blue will match the energy of the local artisans and might even convince you to finally buy that oil painting you’ve been eyeing for weeks. It’s going to look so good in that spot right above the mantel – you know just what I’m talking about!

The WJ3 All-Stars – Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You

Well, all good things must come to an end, including the farmers’ market. But before you leave, make sure to listen to this lovely tune from Night is Alive’s album Lovers and Love Songs, and don’t forget to treat yourself to a sweet baked good from the tent near the exit! I’ve heard that their lavender banana bread is to die for, or you can’t go wrong with the classic blueberry muffin! Gee baby, ain’t the farmer’s market good to us? 

Check out some of this music and more on Night is Alive’s albums page!

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

Photo by mk. s on Unsplash