Summertime encourages a slightly slower pace of life. Whether you’re a teacher or student on school break, or still working that daily 9-5, the summer contains a more languorous energy than the rest of the year. I don’t know about you, but this unhurried, leisurely vibe gets me into the mood to cook! When I am super busy and overwhelmed, I find cooking to be a drudgery but when I have the time for it, I enjoy preparing a nice meal, especially for my family and friends. To help inspire your creations in the kitchen, we at Night is Alive have made you a playlist of songs that pairs with some specific recipes! So, pour yourself a glass of wine, turn on this music and get out your ingredients . . .

Spinach Kale Crab Avocado Salad | Janis Siegel, John Di Martino & Others – Always On My Mind

Yesterday, I made the most delicious spinach, kale, crab and avocado salad, and I thought it was such a nice light summer meal. Funnily enough, I didn’t use a recipe for the dish but invented it based on the ingredients I had in my fridge. That’s how the best meals emerge sometimes–just by random! I also added some chopped spring onions and cilantro; and wonton chips and salty sunflower seeds. The buttery avocado and soft crab combined with the crispy wontons and crunchy seeds created a wonderful mixture of textures! To pair with this salad, I recommend NiA’s song “Always On My Mind,” from our jazz country western album Cryin’ In My Whiskey,because even after you finish eating, this salad will always be on your mind!

The Healthy Hot Dog | Lonnie Plaxico & Camille Thurman – Can’t Hide Love

Hot dogs are a staple of the American summer diet, but what if we mixed things up a little bit and made them a little healthier and fresher than the standard ketchup and mustard? This August, why not try putting some guacamole or pineapple mango salsa on top of your hot dog? Maybe you could even try using a lettuce or cabbage leaf instead of the typical starchy bun? But no matter how you eat your hot dog, the bottom line is that you can’t hide the love that comes from sharing a summer meal with your friends and family. Turn on this tune, from the funky album Radiance, while you bask in that summer bliss.

Caprese Salad | John Di Martino, Harry Allen & Others – Only The Lonely

Sometimes it can be so lovely to eat a meal by yourself. Solitude doesn’t necessarily have to mean loneliness. There can be great pleasure in silence, particularly when you are mindful of each bite of food you’re eating. We are often in a rush to eat, shower, get ready for the next day and sleep. But it can be so beneficial to slow down and enjoy the process of chopping up some tomatoes, basil and mozzarella, then mixing it all together and topping with some balsamic and olive oil. While you’re cooking, listen to the beautiful crooning vocals of this song, from NiA’s album Call Me Irresponsible.

Salmon & Cucumber Sushi | WJ3 All-Stars – Star Eyes

Sushi may seem like an intimidating food to make, but really it’s not as complicated as it may appear. All that you need is some short-grain white rice, smoked salmon and cucumber; a sushi roller and seaweed paper. Most grocery stores nowadays carry an Asian foods section, so you can easily buy all of these ingredients! Perhaps, if you’re feeling fancy you could get some mirin (sweet rice wine)–just splash a dash into your rice and water before it cooks for an extra special flavor. Cut the cucumbers in long strips, then simply watch a short YouTube video about how to wrap the rolls and you’re done! You’ll have anime eyes, or star eyes, in no time!

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

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

Photo by Moment InFocus on Unsplash

The temperatures this month may be soaring but that doesn’t mean that you need to be sweaty and overheated. There are plenty of ways to stay cool, both physically andmentally that don’t necessarily involve a sky-rocketing air conditioning bill! For example, did you know that in Japan, instead of trying to cool one’s environment, like we do in the U.S., Japanese people aim to cool their bodies? So, this means that instead of blasting the A/C, Japanese people put cold wet towels around their necks, and wear special undershirts that absorb and ventilate sweat and heat. Pretty neat, right?

Since music is our forte at Night is Alive, we put together a playlist of cool jazz to help you chill out this August. Grab a nice tall glass of ice water, put a cold towel around your neck and kick back in the shade while you beat the heat and enjoy these super chill tunes.

Lonnie Plaxico & Camille Thurman – Free

I don’t know about you, but I feel like the heat affects not only my physical health but also my mental health. When I’m constantly in a hot, sunny, humid environment, my mind starts to feel foggy and hazy. I become lethargic and lazy, and feel like those small tasks on my to-do list are insurmountable. But this song, from the groovy album Radiance, will have you feeling free and radiant. Take it easy on yourself! It’s okay to take a break and cool down. Remember, breaks are important because they refresh and revitalize you to accomplish whatever comes next.

WJ3 All-Stars – Wave

Heat stroke is a real problem that occurs more often than you might think! When you’re dehydrated and spend too much time outside in the heat, sometimes your body is unable to cool itself down. It’s important to take precautions to avoid heat stroke, like avoiding laborious physical labor and exercise during peak temperatures, which often occur in the late afternoons. Instead of going for your daily post-work run, why not have a siesta or do some gentle yoga indoors? You could even listen to this song, from NiA’s album My Ship, to help you unwind and sleep or stretch.

Harry Allen Trio – It’s Sunny in Cape Cod

Maybe sometimes instead of trying to beat the heat, it’s better to just lean in and embrace it. It might always be sunny right now, but the sun is a lot more enjoyable when you’re basking by a pool. This tune, from Night is Alive’s album It Takes 3, will have you imagining that you’re on a luxury beach retreat in Cape Cod, even if you may only be at the YMCA in your small hometown!

John DiMartino, Joe Magnarelli, Wayne Escoffery, Lonnie Plaxico & Willie Jones III – Hudson River Wind

In this stifling heat, the breeze can truly feel like a godsend. Listen to this song, from NiA’s album Old New Borrowed and Blue while you blast the fan or go for a bike ride that’ll have the wind rippling through your clothes. Remember, loose, lightweight clothes are the way to go when it comes to embracing the breeze, no matter how small it may be.

Janis Siegel, John DiMartino & others – Hard Candy Christmas

Even though it’s not technically Christmas in July anymore, it could be fun to listen to a holiday tune to remind yourself that the heat is only temporary. The summer heat also often makes me want to listen to country music, which makes this jazz country western Christmas song the perfect tune to imagine a snowy, wintery time. From NiA’s album Cryin’ In My Whiskey, “Hard Candy Christmas” would pair well with a sweet peppermint ice cream!

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

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

Photo by Ibrahim Rifath on Unsplash

“Art is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time.” -Jean-Michel Basquiat

We all know the age-old adage, “don’t judge a book by its cover.” But then again, to play devil’s advocate, doesn’t the cover of a book play a major role in piquing the reader’s interest? Covers aren’t as irrelevant as your grandmother, or other parental figure, may have had you believe when they waved their finger at you and tried to convince you to read some dusty old book with a boring cover. No, let’s face it: the cover is the first thing we see, the image that sticks with us, and colors our understanding of the book. And the exact same is true of album covers! Before a listener hears a single trumpet line or piano chord, the artwork already suggests a mood, a story, or even a musical philosophy. It hints at the tone of the album and quietly prepares the listener for what they’re about to hear.

So, why don’t we dive into some of the most iconic jazz album covers and take a look at what makes them so great?

Bird and Diz – Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie

Did you know that the artist who made this cover, David Stone Martin, was one of the most prolific and iconic jazz album cover artists of the 20th century? He collaborated with countless jazz legends, such as Billie Holiday and Fred Astaire, to create over 400 covers that now evoke the mental image of mid-century jazz.

This specific album, released in 1952, captures the electric energy and exuberance between the dynamic duo of saxophonist Charlie Parker and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. The bold edges and selective use of color highlights the exhilarating improvisation of bebop. Martin used the crowquill ink pen to make delicate designs, such as the embellishments on the instruments. The imagery of the birds suggests to the listener that the instruments will seem to soar and fly away with the passion of the music on the ablum.

Time Out – Dave Brubeck Quartet

The abstract artwork on Time Out is a playful puzzle of colors and shapes, which is fitting, because the music inside the 1959 album experiments with rhythm in a similar way. The Dave Brubeck Quartet built the album around unusual time signatures like 5/4 and 9/8, which turned the rhythm into a kind of musical geometry that resembles the cover art. The bold, modernist cover hints that something innovative is happening within the grooves, and visually echoes the album’s adventurous spirit.

Bitches Brew – Miles Davis

The cover of Bitches Brew is an explosion of cosmic imagery, vibrant colors, dramatic landscapes and mysterious figures. Miles Davis’s previous album covers featured photographic portraits of the artist, so this surreal painting by Mati Klarwein was a big change. Before you even hear a single note, you already know this album will push boundaries and differ from Davis’s previous music. Bitches Brew fused jazz improvisation with electric instruments, rock energy, and studio experimentation to create a seminal landmark that influenced many musicians to come. The wild, psychedelic artwork prepares the listener for a sonic journey that is just as expansive and unpredictable.

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

The cover of Border Widow’s Lament is a woman standing in front of what appears to be a sunrise or a sunset. She obscures the light with her dark silhouette, which, along with the melancholy title, suggests the experience of grief and pain. The border widow is a figure who has lost her beloved; whose sadness stands stark against the orange hues of the sky and the spindly tree branches in the background. Her grief is a powerful and potent force that defies the laws of nature. She exists in the liminal spaces, the borders and boundaries between night and day, life and death. Listeners will expect a deep musical experience that will allow for the catharsis of darker emotions.

My Ship – WJ3 All-Stars

The beautiful cover art for My Ship depicts a small blue sailboat amid the white of the blank canvas. In this interesting reversal, the ocean is white and the sailboat is blue, which is the opposite of what we would expect to see. And then the shore at the top is also blue brushes of paint instead of white sand. This unexpected shift sparks the listener’s imagination and makes one curious and wondrous. What other fun surprises might we expect to hear on this album?

Check out more compelling album art on Night is Alive’s albums page!

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

photo by Pedro Netto on Unsplash