Fw: Voodoo, Macy, Grammys, Jazzadelica

From: Steve Catanzaro (stevencatanzaro@sprintmail.com)
Date: Sat Jan 29 2000 - 19:44:20 MET

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    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Steve Catanzaro
    To: acid-jazz@ucsd.edu
    Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 11:34 AM
    Subject: Voodoo, Macy, Grammys, Jazzadelica

    First, I bought Voodoo, and my immediate reaction was "whack!" I've always felt there was a sameness about D'Angelo, track to track, that made his first joint, while definitely ground breaking and ear-opening, a little short of a masterpiece. So, on first listening to Voodoo, and hearing more of the same, I felt I'd been had. "Why should it take 5 years to make a record that sounds like it was recorded in 2 all-nite jam sessions about a week after "Brown Sugar" was released?"

    But, I've been giving it more tries, and I think this might grow into another a favorite, if for nothing other than its power as a late night blunter with a vibe so ultra-sexy it makes some newer Prince sound like Pokemon background music. (Didn't help that I bought it at the same time as a Superfly reissue. Curtis is just too bad to deal with.)

    Second, checked out ex-roomate Macy Gray in Phoenix 2 weeks ago. She is becoming quite the diva. A huge, long line of fans around the venue, 3 gargantuan tour busses, etc. etc. I told the tour manager who I was, he said "Give me 15 minutes." 30 minutes later he came out and said "She's having her hair done. She'll see you in a bit."

    Well, I wasn't about to wait to see her hair which I knew would end up looking about the same as it did first thing every morning. So, I went in to the crowded bar and waited, and waited, and waited, for the show to start.

    That said, you can not knock this girl when it comes to putting together an interesting show. The band rocks HARD, straight out. They interpolate bits of James Brown, Mos Def, Bob Marley and what not into their songs. It's pretty cool. I never liked her voice even back when her and I did some jazz casuals and what not, and I stand by that. BUT, maximum respect for the thang she's put together. It is an entertaining show. (P.S., she also throws out scarves to the people below who fight over them, she has been given GREAT praise in none other than Straight No Chaser, she's sold 2 million records, AND she was nominated for a grammy, which brings me to point 3.)

    The grammys, as everyone knows, are the ultimate whack event of all time. Need irrefutible proof? 2 words. Milli Vannili. Still, it is interesting to read the nominees each year, and I'm fascinated by it, as if by a car wreck.

    Did anyone note that trad jazz singer Diana Krall was nominated for Album of the Year, right alongside TLC, Backstreet Boys, and the Dixie Chicks? She strives to be the female Nat King Cole, which in my opinion, isn't a bad goal for any singer, regardless of gender. What would an award like this mean for "jazz" if anything? (She's certainly more sophisticated than the other nominees.)

    And finally, I think it would be a much bigger honor to have your music played on Jazzadelica than to be nominated for a grammy. Maybe Mark should have his own awards; "The Jazzies" or something like that.



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