Five Songs for a Road Trip Out West

Five Songs for a Road Trip Out West

I don’t know about you, but I start to feel a bit of ennui during the late part of the summer. Especially when I was a kid, out of school for months, I’d start to feel a bit restless by mid-to-late August. Maybe this is why August is such a popular month for people to take a trip out to the American West?!

The American West is filled with unparalleled natural beauty that is sure to satisfy your craving for the picturesque. The pristine lakes and remarkable mountains of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The stunning red rock landscapes of Moab, Utah. The hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles of Yellowstone National Park.

And with all the outdoor activities—hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, just to name a few—the West is definitely the place to go to find some adventure!

Now, the most important question: what music should you listen to on your road trip out to the great American west? Don’t worry, we got you covered with the best tunes to get you in the mood for your vacation!

Marty Robbins – Ballad of the Alamo

This song comes from the epic 1960 historical war film, “The Alamo,” which stars John Wayne as Davy Crockett. Listen to this ballad before you tour the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas and as you’re walking around, you’ll notice that between the setting and the rising of the sun, you can hear a ghostly bugle as the men go marching by . . .

Eddy Arnold – Cattle Call

As you’re driving out west in your car or RV, you’re going to see plenty of open spaces, fields and, of course, cattle! This fun 1934 tune will be sure to put a grin on your face as you admire the cows and oxen. 

Maybe if you’re feeling especially frisky, you can stick your head out the window and say hello to the livestock! Moo! Who knows, maybe you’ll help scare away the howlin’ coyotes!

Sons of the Pioneers – Tumbling Tumbleweeds

First recorded in 1934, this western ballad captured the spirit of the Great Depression. Following the Dust Bowl, the “Dirty Thirties” saw many men wandering around the country looking for work, drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.

And did you know that the Sons of the Pioneers, founded in 1933, are actually still around today? Of course, the membership has changed frequently over the years, but they are now one of the longest-surviving country groups in the world!

Harve Presnell – They Call the Wind Maria

This song was written for the 1951 Broadway musical, Paint Your Wagon, which takes place during the California Gold Rush of the mid 19th century. The driving, staccato rhythm of the tune, played on the string instruments, creates a sense of restless, unending motion, as if one is riding a horse or cowboy all day and night long!

Janis Siegel, John Di Martino & Lonnie Plaxico – Always on My Mind

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erNCR–NNMk

A classic tune performed by everyone from Loretta Lynn to Elvis, and, of course, the figure of outlaw country himself, Willie Nelson, this iconic ballad just had to be included on our list. The strong sense of bittersweet regret is simply timeless.

But have you ever heard a jazzy rendition of the song? Boy are you in for a treat with this new recording that features an impeccable flute solo by Aaron Heick!

“Always on My Mind” comes from our country jazz album, Cryin’ In My Whiskey, which is available on all major music platforms and in our store today.

Songs to Listen to During a Late Summer Storm

Songs to Listen to During a Late Summer Storm

Did you know that the more heat and humidity there is in the air, the stronger and wetter a thunderstorm will be? Yup, that’s right. The hot, humid draft rises to a point where it eventually condenses and forms a cloud, which grows until it’s ready for a torrential downpour.

But a summer storm doesn’t have to be a downer or disappointment. Rather, the overcast skies and rain can be a nice break from the seemingly relentless sun! And what better way to enjoy a later summer storm than reading a thrilling novel while you sip on a nice glass of crisp white wine and listen to some soft jazz?

Lorca Hart Trio – Here’s That Rainy Day

I don’t know about you, but there’s something about those gray clouds in the sky, obscuring all the blue, that calms me. Ah, there’s nothing like the smooth trinkle of raindrops sprinkling against the windowpane and the musty smell of a well-loved book with worn, dog-eared pages.

This new 2021 tune really captures the spirit of a cozy rainy day. Ralph Moore’s smooth, buttery saxophone really takes the edge off and makes you want to kick back and relax.

Stormy Weather – Etta James

This 1960 ballad is heart wrenching in its exploration of sorrow following the dissolution of a romantic relationship. The speaker’s heart is full of stormy weather since she and her man are no longer together.

She feels like she just can’t go on, yet, at the same time, James’s powerful, sunny vocals and the lyrics about praying to walk in the sun once more seem to hint at future hope. Because remember, after a rainstorm always comes a rainbow.

Come Rain or Come Shine – Ray Charles

Whether we like it or not, there are many ups and downs in life. But without the alternating rain and shine, we would all just be bored, wouldn’t we? The so-called rain is what makes us stronger, and, like Ray Charles sings in this song, it also shows us who is really there for us when it matters.

As you enjoy your later summer storm, why not celebrate love with this beautiful 1959 tune? It’ll remind you of all those people who have stood by you come rain or shine.

John Di Martino, Joe Magnarelli & Wayne Escoffery – Hudson River Wind

Maybe you’ve been having a difficult time lately. Misfortune just keeps knocking at your door and it won’t stop. Well, you know the saying—when it rains it pours, meaning that when things go wrong, they do so all at once.

Challenging periods like that may seem unbearable and insufferable, but if you’ve ever been to the Hudson River in eastern New York, you know that it can actually be quite magical to watch the storm stir up the water. This lovely 2022 song will inspire you to change your perspective and view your setbacks not as reasons to cry but as opportunities to grow.

If you’re looking for some more relaxing, instrumental jazz tunes for your rainy afternoon or evening, I’d recommend our new albums Old New Borrowed & Blue and My Ship, both of which are available in our store and on all major music platforms today!

This post was written by Digital Marketing Manager Jacqueline Knirnschild.

5 Songs for A Girls Night In 

5 Songs for A Girls Night In

Have you spent too much time out in the sun this summer? Between camping, boating and paddle boarding, I know that I’m a bit toasted and could use a rest from all the rays and heat.

And what better way to rest than with a cozy girls’ night in? Staying in is also a good way to save some money! Grab a few friends, a few bottles of booze and enjoy the air conditioning in the basement. While you’re at it, why not grab some aloe to soothe that nasty sunburn? There’s nothing like the salve of cool conversation with friends to revitalize you for the second half of this hot summer!

Of course, as you can probably already predict, we at Night Is Alive put together a fun playlist for your girls’ night in. These tunes will make you want to cry, laugh, and, hopefully, by the end of the night, dance and sing along!  

Janis Siegel, John Di Martino & Lonnie Plaxico – Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue

Face it, after going through a grueling heartbreak, there’s no one you’d rather talk to you than your best gal pals. And as the lyrics of this country classic point out, sometimes it’s really hard to accept that a relationship is over. You might cry so much that your brown eyes turn blue, but your friends will be there to wipe away the tears and pick you back up, so let it all out on girls’ night.

Respect – Aretha Franklin

This 1967 R&B hit is just what you need on a girls’ night because everyone is sure to know the words. From the moment that melody starts to the first vocals, this song is instantly recognizable and will make you tap your toes, or, at the very least, nod your head.

Because at the end of the day, all that we’re asking for is just a little respect when you come home—isn’t that right ladies?

Carole King – Where You Lead

If you’re a Gilmore Girls fan, you’ll know this 1971 tune, which is the theme song of the cult classic TV show. Like Rory and Lorelai, your best girl friends will always follow where you lead. If you need them, they will be there for you, and they will go to the ends of the earth ‘cause darling that’s what you’re worth.

And don’t worry, we won’t judge you if you and your friends belt out all lyrics and sway together with your arms entwined. We’ve all been there.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper

C’mon you knew we had to put this song on the playlist, didn’t you? You got to save the best for last and this 1983 tune is definitely it. Go out with a bang by dancing on top of the tables like you just don’t care because the best of friends knows how to have fun!  

Or maybe your girls’ night isn’t quite as wild as we imagined and you’re looking for some more mellow, classy tunes to which you can sip chardonnay and nibble on goat cheese and olives. In that case, check out our many jazz albums, like our most recent releases My Ship and Old New Borrowed & Blue.

Five Songs for Christmas in July

Five Songs for Christmas in July

Everyone is always thrilled when the weather starts to warm up, but by mid July, you’re probably getting a bit sick of the heat, right? Sunburn, sweat and overheating cellphones can make you nostalgic for wintertime, snow and Yuletide carols.

Popular myth has it that Christmas in July was founded in the 1930s when a summer camp in North Carolina celebrated the holiday on July 24th and 25th with cotton snow, gifts, Christmas trees, and Santa Claus. Then, with the movie Christmas in July, which came out in the 1940s, the somewhat silly holiday hit the mainstream.

So, what are your Christmas in July party ideas? Do you have some quirky decorations with Santa Claus in swim trunks drinking a margarita? A t-shirt with reindeer on the beach? A Christmas-themed cornhole board?

Whatever your plans, you’re going to need music, which is why we, at Night Is Alive, put together a Christmas in July playlist for you! Enjoy!

John Di Martino, Andromeda Turre & Wayne Escoffery – Christmas Ain’t Like It Used to Be

Even though this song is technically about celebrating Christmas without a special someone, it can also be relevant for Christmas in July, which certainly isn’t like any other Christmas you’ve probably celebrated before! Plus, there’s never a bad time to listen to the stellar vocals of Andromeda Turre!

Jonathan Coulton & John Roderick – Christmas in July

This sweet little folk tune really draws attention to the benefits of Christmas in July, like warm breezes by the shore and long days beneath the summer sky. Released in 2012, this song makes me think that maybe celebrating Christmas in Australia—where the seasons are flipped with the Northern Hemisphere—wouldn’t actually be so bad. A barbeque and gift exchange on the beach anyone?

Bill Cunliffe Trio – Christmas Is Coming

From Grammy-award-winning arranger Bill Cunliffe, this 2019 tune will really get you in the mood for Christmas in July! The fast pace, and fun, inventive melodies create excitement for the holiday. And the funky percussion gives it a more tropical feel than many other Christmas songs out there.

Night Is Alive All Stars – Merry Christmas Baby

Nothing beats celebrating a holiday with your beloved—spoiling each other with gifts and furtively glancing into one another’s eye during the festivities. And the buttery vocals and silky-smooth saxophone in this tune produce that sense of romance one often feels around Christmas. As vocalist Christie Dashiell sings, I feel like I’m in paradise.

Bill Cunliffe – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

End the day on a whimsical note with this crisp and jaunty tune that will bring you back to the sweet and dreamy days of your childhood Christmases. The playful piano will put a smile on your face as the sun dips below the horizon and the sky takes on the pink and purple hues of the sugar plum fairy.

If you’re looking for more holiday tunes to listen to this Christmas in July, be sure to check out all of our holiday albums, which are available in our store and on all major music platforms! And if you’d like to book one of our lovely musicians, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

This post was written by Digital Marketing Manager, Jacqueline Knirnschild.

Feature Friday with John Di Martino

Feature Friday with John Di Martino

Summer is really heating up—finally! I don’t know about you, but for a while there, when we were having fifty-degree mornings and evenings, it didn’t really feel like summer. Now, though, with the sound of the ice cream truck around the corner and the sweat slick on the back of my neck, I’m ready to turn on some country music, take a dip in the pool and crack open a beer!

Country music is the sound of summer in America, and there’s really not a hotter country album out right now than Cryin’ In My Whiskey, which offers jazzy renditions of your most favorite country classics, like “Whenever You Come Around.”

And this Friday, we get to chat a little bit with composer, arranger, and pianist John Di Martino, who is featured in Cryin’ In My Whiskey, and who journalist Mark Ruffin described as “one of the most inventive small group arrangers in NYC.”

What was your most beloved song as a child and why?

“Once in a Lifetime” by Anthony Newly.

What is your favorite country song (that is not included in Cryin’ in My Whiskey)? 

“El Paso” by Marty Robbins.

What was it like rehearsing and producing this album? 

I really enjoyed producing and arranging this project. Kathy Salem and I are thinking about making another country music CD featuring a male singer!

Our album Cryin’ In My Whiskey is available on all major music platforms now and in our store.

Feature Friday with Nicolas Bearde

Feature Friday with Nicolas Bearde

Sometimes the week just flies by smoothly by without a hitch! The weekdays blur effortlessly into the weekend, just like the fuzzy white poplar seed pods floating around in the air.

Those hazy days of summer have officially begun and what better way to melt into the encroaching sea of bliss than with a Feature Friday? Today we are chatting with the lovely Nicolas Bearde, whose silky baritone draws in crowds from all around the West Coast!  

Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, award-winning vocalist Nicolas Bearde has always loved listening to music with his mother, and now, he has recorded six CDs, the most recent of which peaked in the Top 20 on the Jazz Week Charts. Bearde also has experience working as a music educator at the California Jazz Conservatory.

If you are not playing jazz, what is your favorite music to play?

R&B and hard funk! Or something like Caribbean-Soul… so much to choose from!

If you were a song, which would you be and why?

I’d likely be something out of the Stevie Wonder catalogue—he goes so deep. Or more likely—at this point in my life—probably “Here’s To Life,” which is an Artie Butler and Phyllis Molinary composition. I think it speaks to where I am in life right now—I seem to be in a period of constant reflection… 

Do you have a favorite place to vacation?

Hawaii is one of my favorite places on earth! I don’t get there very often, but I feel a deep connection with the green-ness of it and the constancy of the ocean-song.

Who is your dream collaboration (living or legend)?

It would be interesting to have spent time with composer/songwriter/arranger like Duke Ellington or the songwriting team of Gamble and Huff. 

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

Treat others as you would be treated… a golden oldie you might say, but it works in every culture! 

Sweet Songs for Strawberry Picking

Sweet Songs for Strawberry Picking

Now that school is out, maybe you’ve been tasked with babysitting your grandchildren or your nieces and nephews, but you’re struggling to come up with fun activities to do with them. Or maybe, if you’re like me, you’ve just been finding yourself googling chocolate covered strawberries near me. Either way, chances are, you could probably use a nice day of strawberry picking!

And you’re in luck because, according to horticulturalists, mid-May to early July is the best time of year to go strawberry picking in the eastern and midwestern northern states! Strawberries are in season now in this area, which means they are the most naturally ripe. So, the local strawberries you’ll be picking will be much tastier than the strawberries you’ll find at the grocery store, which have usually been shipped from thousands of miles away!

Find a wild strawberry patch, farm, or orchard near you, grab a pail and a speaker, and turn on these sweet tunes while you pick some berries!

Miriam Makeba – Love Tastes Like Strawberries

Nicknamed “Mama Africa,” this South African singer, songwriter and civil rights activist was famous in the 1960s and 70s for her many musical accomplishments in Afropop and jazz, and for becoming a symbol of the anti-apartheid movement.

In contrast with her other more political songs, this 1962 tune is very light and whimsical. The dreamy lyrics will make biting into a dewy strawberry feel like true love’s kiss! The berry man cried, won’t you try this / We looked, we stopped, we stole a kiss / The berries are gone and the spring has passed / But I know my love will always last.

Wynton Marsalis – The Strawberry

This 2017 collaboration at the Lincoln Center Orchestra features many wonderful contemporary artists who really do a great job creating a fun, vibrant and eclectic sound that’ll be sure to put a pep in your step as you wake up early on a crisp summer morning to pick some delicious strawberries. Your grandkids and nieces and nephews will also probably love trying to identify all the different instrument sounds in the composition.

Also, here’s a quick tip: morning is the best time to pick strawberries because it is still cool out, so the delicate berries won’t bruise and will last longer and store better!

The Beatles – Strawberry Fields Forever

While you pick some scrumptious berries, embrace your inner free-spirit, and indulge in a sense of childlike wonder with this beloved 1967 tune. Did you know that John Lennon thought this song was his finest work with the Beatles? Do you agree?

Grover Washington, Jr. – Strawberry Moon

This funky 1987 tune comes from one of the founders of smooth jazz—Grover Washington, Jr. I don’t know about you, but the silky saxophone and charming melody of this song really makes me want to sit on the back patio at dusk, sip on some champagne and munch on some chocolate covered strawberries!

Deanna Washington – Strawberry Wine

Inspired by the songwriter’s coming of age story as a teenager at her grandparents’ dairy farm in Wisconsin, this sentimental 1996 ballad became a signature for both Washington and Matraca Berg, who wrote the song.

There’s just something nostalgic about the sweetness of strawberry wine. It brings you back to summers passed, doesn’t it? The hot July moon saw everything / my first taste of love oh bittersweet / Green on the vine.

The WJ3 All-Stars – Star Eyes

All the yummy strawberry sweetness and nectar might just go to your head and give you star eyes! After the day’s adventures, come home, relax with your loved ones, and listen to this peaceful jazz song while you eat some fresh-baked strawberry scones.

If you’re looking for some more dreamy jazz songs that’ll bring you back to your childhood, check out the newest album from the WJ3 All-Stars—My Ship, which is available in our store and on all major music platforms today!  

This post was written by Blog Editor, Jacqueline Knirnschild.