The therapy might be in the lyrics, the music, or the inspiration from the player’s journey.

I play recordings by Ben Webster, Nina Simone, Tony Kofi, Ruth Brown, Duke Ellington, and Charlie Parker.

From France, you’ll hear trumpeter and singer Jerome Etcheberry and his delightful rendition of Sometimes I’m Happy (Sometimes I’m Blue). And from England, a new discovery–Fiona Ross–as she tackles that therapeutic dilemma of wondering if I’m “good enough”.

There are also a couple tunes from some great jazz singers from Victoria, B.C. Lorraine Nygaard has put her sentiments into concrete action through delivering tokens of love during the height of COVID. And Edie Daponte does a beautiful rendition of Abbey Lincoln’s “Throw It Away”.

And that’s just part 1. Next week I’ll post Part 2.