John Coltrane - Naima (Album:Giant Steps) 1959

[JHan]

achingly beautiful ballad.

[Kind of Blue]

1. It surely is, JHan. "Naima," a song I can't tire of.

An incredible tribute that fills me with love. Nice way to start the evening.

Thanks, Girl

[JHan]

2. this and Debussy's Claire de Lune does me in everytime :)

You might like this version as well :

[Kind of Blue]

3. Of course, I'm going to listen now! but just had to say

my sister just said, "She," JHan, "is a classy dame and a jazzy babe."

[JHan]

4. hahahaha aw . *blush*.

Tell her thank you !

[Kind of Blue]

6. I will :)

[Kind of Blue]

5. Lovely!

I have to say the One thing that made me less homesick in France and Belgium were the two countries' love of jazz but I never heard of Les Double Six while there. Going to dive into them some more.

But first, have to listen to Debussy's Claire de Lune to hear what you hear.

[JHan]

7. There are some interesting jazzy takes on Clair out there

the piece itself is enough for me, it just deeply moves me like Naima.

You've got interesting people like Claude Bolling doing the jazz/classical hybrid thing. Kamasi Washington also takes on Clair. Not at the pace or feel I like but I appreciate it all the same.

[Kind of Blue]

8. Listening to just about an hour recording of Clair de Lune now by Brian McFadden.

It's so painful and makes me weepy - got to find out the story behind this sadness, if there is one. I'm intrigued because there must be a story!

I do hear the hauntingly beautiful instead of just a nice classical piece. Interesting though, I'm reminded of my dad's classical selections for us on Sundays after Mass, always followed by Antonio Carlos Jobim - no funk for us on Sundays

Eager to listen to Washington's piece and will stop McFadden at 30 minutes if there is no change.

Thanks, JHan

[JHan]

9. I've had two music mentors when I was studying music in my teens..

One has a massive jazz collection and the other is classically trained. Also lucky enough to have nerdy friends obsessed with music

Clair de Lune means moonlight, but it was originally called "promenade Sentimentale" - a sentimental walk, I actually prefer the latter title because listening to it feels like a journey. Debussy knew technically how to evoke the emotions you're feeling. The piece is in 9/8th's time, and he starts with a rest (harmonically the piece stays in tonic throughout with little modulation). Clair also has triplets and duplets ( with some long eighth notes) which kind of break up the rhythm a bit and gives the player room for interpretation. The silences in the piece also break up the rhythm, which is why musicians must approach playing it in a "free" way that isn't primarily concerned with the 9/8th time...These silences also give the listener a moment to reflect and expect more ...

And then there are the fluid arpeggios, usually soaked in the pedal so dim, which evokes introspection and pathos I think. Since the piece ends on the tonic as it started, there's some resolution that's satisfying. There are enough harmonic patterns in there to please us, without it being formulaic. It constantly surprises, no matter how many times you hear it

[Kind of Blue]

10. "It constantly surprises, no matter how many times you hear it... It pleases us,

without it being formulaic."

Good Lord! I could Not Stop listening after 30 minutes though it was repetitive after about 15 minutes. The 9/8ths, triplets, duplets, arpeggios and tonics has my eyes watering and glazed over. I can only feel. But for you to explain the reality of feelings is more than I hoped for.

I will check back with musician sister to explain further the scientific stuffs that I stop her at. But right now, I feel how you can relate Naima with Clair de Lune and this for me is a blessing. What? actually learned something new today!

[JHan]

11. :)

[Kind of Blue]

12. After listening to Kamasi Washington's version, I instantly

felt that this rendition is a dirge and of the New Orleans funereal style, as well as Coltrane around the edges. I Love It!

Trying to find references perhaps why Clair de Lune is about death (a death?), unfortunately it is just a story without proof. It goes that Debussy though of modest means wanted to marry a girl of a lower class that was impossible at the time. After his approved marriage(s) failed, he went back home and contemplated his first love watching the woman that still worked the grounds of his family's property and composed the music

[JHan]

13. Kamasi really reworked it into...

Last edited Wed Nov 28, 2018, 11:47 AM - Edit history (1)

something new and fresh while retaining the feel of clair - rest, solitude, sweetness and the moments of calm. I like your comparison to a dirge.

As for Debussy's personal life, I know he had at least one scandalous relationship and was a spendthrift who lived beyond his means, which caused him trouble. I really don't know if Clair is inspired by a particular experience in his life.

[Kind of Blue]

14. Oh, that experience was from a commenter at the

Youtube page featuring McFadden. She said that a 103-year-old woman told her the story that came down through her family. So it might be made up. It was interesting reading so many accounts of how Clair de Lune's soothing power has helped them through love, unrequited love and deep loneliness. One piece of music can take one deeper into the depths of their feelings yet still fill them up to carry on. Just amazing.