My Musical America

With so many of the final essays focusing on music and American identity I figured I’d post quintessential American music. Mind you, my Detroit connections show through quite vividly with these. It is because so much of what is American is from Detroit. It’s not all jazz, but it’s all American and speaks to both us and our literature.

Charles Mingus – Tijuana Nights Album
One of the best jazz albums ever recorded. Just listen to it.

Ornette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to Come
I'm just plain loving on this album. It's crazy free jazz stuff, but man is it smokin'.

Louis Armstrong – the Great Chicago Concert 1955
I played the Black and Blue track from this concert in class. If you like Satchmo, this is him at his finest.

Ray Charles and the Count Basie Orchestra – Ray Sings Basie Swings Album
A meeting of so many worlds. Basie brings the jazz, Ray the blues and gospel.

Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On Album
The ultimate soul album. All the music was written by the Funk Brothers. Here is jazz evolving into pop before our ears.

The White Stripes – Ball and Biscuit
You want dirty blues done right? This is it. One of the few Jack White tunes that runs over three minutes, it connects the past with the present. I feel like a Stroh’s at the Lager House in Detroit just writing this.

Bob Seger - Night Moves
Gospel meets rock in this one. What is better than teenage love and cruising the back roads of America’s heartland

Phish – Scents and Subtle Sounds
A song all about the experience of seeing live music at Alpine Valley, WI. The music speaks to us like jazz. The boys are in face jazz musicians at their roots. Listen to this, and feel the humid air of a Midwesterm summer and beautiful dairy fed American women in patchwork dresses

Jerry Garcia – Sugaree
I mean, wow. It’s Jerry being Jerry. You can feel the life blood of the nation in this track.

Willie Nelson – Stardust
Arguably Willie’s best album. Listen, and see what you think.

Listen to these over the Holidays. It’s been a pleasure learning from all of you. Email me if you’d like more musically selections