Jazz | Leah Natale

0 Ring in the New Year!

glitterguidenewyears2014-16

Can you believe 2014 is almost here?

If you don’t have plans yet for ringing in the new year, I’m performing with Ambience at Vino’s New Year’s Party – and it will be a great time! For the party’s details, please visit my calendar page.

What are you looking forward to in 2014? Do you make resolutions? Please share below!

follow me on: facebook | youtube | vimeo

(image via)

I’m very excited to share a new holiday jazz playlist on Spotfiy* for the upcoming week’s celebrations and general merriment! It’s filled with my favorite tunes, including Rosemary Clooney’s Winter Wonderland, Dave Brubeck’s We Three Kings, and B.B. King’s Merry Christmas Baby, Diana Krall’s Jingle Bells, Vince Guaraldi’s Skating and Mel Torme’s The Christmas Song. All perfect while enjoying the wonders and magic of the season.

*Signing up for Spotify is free. The best way to avoid ads and support musicians (Yes! Spotify sends me a check every now and then) is to upgrade to the $5 per month “Unlimited” option. To mute Spotify ads on a Mac download SpotiFree, a simple AppleScript, and for Windows download Blockify. Please use with care and at your own discretion if using a third party program to mute ads.

follow me on: facebook | youtube | vimeo

0 It Sounds So Good

“If it sounds good and feels good then it IS good” – Duke Ellington

I often use this quote when asked how I choose my music selections. But what if my music selection comes from something that is ingrained deeper inside? What if I subconsciously choose tunes that I love because somehow heard them when I was a small child?

When I was younger I was fascinated by television. On any given Saturday morning you could always find me sitting on the floor two feet from the screen mesmerized by the cartoons, and everyday after school my routine consisted of wrapping myself in a blanket, eating a bowl of cereal and tuning on The Little Rascals. This ritual was the ultimate feeling of comfort. So as I was searching the Little Rascals archives on YouTube for future blog post, I discovered that a good portion of my music repertoire actually comes from that show. Songs like Just Friends and Melancholy Baby and I’m Through With Love are just a few that top my list.

So it makes me wonder… perhaps when I hear these old tunes from the 1930s am I subconsciously going back to a time of safety and comfort? Or am I simply drawn to the music because it “sounds good and feels good”? Wonder if the background music played in video games will do the same for future generations? Will we hear lounge versions of Mario Brothers at future dinner parties? What do you think? Is there a song that transports you?

I just created a holiday playlist in Spotify. I think it’s rather perfect as background music for a party, opening gifts Christmas morning, or while watching a crackling fire on a silent night.
follow me on: facebook | youtube | vimeo

0 What Were They Thinking?

When certain classic tunes, some with modified lyrics, are used for commercials, I wonder how the producers got away with it. Here are four in particular that have made me scratch my head and say, “huh?”

Burger King: I am Woman Hear Me Roar, by Helen Reddy