Photo: CBS Television
Usage: Wikipedia Public Domain
Keyboardist: Gail Nobles
Story by: Gail Nobles

Hey there, music lovers! Let's talk about the fabulous Dionne Warwick! Now, she may not be a jazz singer in the classic sense, but has she got a jazz spirit flowing through her music! Dionne takes the smooth and cool vibes of jazz and blends them right into her pop and soul tunes.

She has performed at jazz festivals and has teamed up with some incredible jazz musicians and collaborated with artists who bridge pop, soul, and jazz genres.. When she worked with the songwriting legends Burt Bacharach and Hal David, they brought those jazzy harmonies into the world of pop, making it something special for everyone to enjoy.

And here’s a fun fact: back in 2003, she released a live album that features memorable performances from jazz festivals. The album entitled: An Evening With Dionne Warwick: Live In Concert Featuring The Bacharach & David Songbook.You can hear her stunning takes on songs like "Alfie" and "Corcovado," where you can really feel that jazzy influence shining through! Dionne Warwick is yet another star who beautifully connects genres, making music that we all can enjoy! So, keep on listening and feeling those jazz vibes in her fantastic songs!

You're listening to Rhythmic Blue. I'm your host, Gail Nobles. Thank you for listening.

All about jazz.

Keyboardist: Gail Nobles
Photo: Wikipedia Pulic Domain
Story by: Gail Nobles

We’re  about to groove into the sensational sounds of Little Stevie Wonder! This magnificent artist burst onto the scene with his debut album, **"The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie,"** released back in September 1962. His music is stitched together with threads of rhythm, emotion, and a whole lotta soul!

Let’s talk about that remarkable third track on the album—**"Soul Bongo."**  This isn’t your typical Stevie Wonder vocal showcase. Instead, we enter a world where the horns and drums take the spotlight, creating a pulsating rhythm that’s simply irresistible! It’s pure instrumental magic!

When you listen to **"Soul Bongo,"** You realize, he was the kid that was not just about pop and soul; he’s got jazz flowing through his veins! He broke down barriers and showcased his versatility in ways we couldn’t have imagined.

Each note and beat tells its own story. You’d better believe that he’s got the musical chops to handle it all! The interplay of the instruments creates an atmosphere that’s perfect for getting your toes tapping.

So, as we celebrate the genius of **Little Stevie Wonder**, let this track remind us—he's not just a talented singer; he’s a true wonder in every sense of the word.

I’m Gail Nobles. Thank you for listening to Rhythmic Blue.

All about jazz.

Lay It Down

Intro by: Gail Nobles
Story by: Gail Nobles
Photo: Public Domain Wikipedia 

If you haven't had the pleasure of vibin' to Al Green’s single *"Lay It Down,"* then you’re in for a treat! This track is like a warm embrace on a chilly night—so comforting, so genuine!

When he say: “I just met you, just the other day.” Oh, it’s pure poetry! It’s that spark of love when you least expect it, and suddenly, everything starts flowing your way, more and more! Who hasn’t felt that electric thrill of connection? Al is serving us the real deal, letting us know that love is all about being sincere and authentic. He’s telling us, “I don’t want nobody else”—and you can just feel that passion oozing out!

And then we get to the chorus, where he’s got us laying it down, letting it go, and falling in love! It’s like an invitation to just let your heart take the lead—what a groovy sentiment! He’s telling us to put our heads on the floor, as if to say, “Get lost in the music!” And can you blame him? With a rhythm like this, who wouldn't want to kick back, let loose, and dive headfirst into the beautiful abyss of romance?

*“Lay It Down”* is a song, and it’s an experience, a soulful journey that reminds us to embrace our feelings and to be present. It’s Al Green at his finest, pouring his heart out and showing us that love is the ultimate groove. So turn up that dial, go get the record and let it spin, and let’s fall in love with every note, every word, just like Al wants us to do!

I’m Gail Nobles. Thank you for listening to Rhythmic Blue

All about jazz.

Photo: Tamla - Billboard, page 1, 27 April 1974
Usage: Wikipedia Public Domain

When we dive into Marvin Gaye's "Save the Children," it’s clear that while the song has some jazz influences, it is R&B and soul. Let’s discuss the key elements that highlight its classification, with a particular focus on instrumentation and arrangement, and why they elevate it above a mere categorization as jazz.

First, let's talk about the instruments used in the song. "Save the Children" has a rich arrangement of music, which is typical of soul music. The strong use of strings and horns gives it a deep, emotional sound that feels warm and powerful. These sounds bring out strong feelings and connect with listeners deeply. While jazz also uses a lot of instruments, it usually focuses more on improvisation and the skills of individual musicians, highlighting solo talent rather than a shared emotional experience. Gaye’s way of doing things here emphasizes the overall message and how the sounds come together, which is a key part of R&B.

Additionally, the arrangement of "Save the Children" further cements its soul credentials. The song is structured to allow Gaye's voice to shine, with layered harmonies and background vocals that enhance the emotional weight of the lyrics. This emphasis on vocal expressiveness and lyrical storytelling is a defining feature of soul music. The arrangement serves to support Gaye’s heartfelt delivery, allowing his commentary on social issues to connect powerfully with listeners.

Moreover, the thematic content of "Save the Children" aligns closely with the soul genre's traditions of addressing social justice, love, and human experiences. Marvin Gaye's urgent plea for the wellbeing of future generations reflects a genuine concern for societal issues. This message, underscored by his smooth yet impassioned vocal delivery, is a defining trait of soul music, which often seeks to connect with and uplift the community.

Jazz has rich emotions and spontaneous parts, but "Save the Children" really stands out because it sends a strong message with deep feelings. Marvin Gaye's smooth singing and the soulful music connect powerfully with people's struggles and hopes, giving it lasting appeal across different music styles, even though it is clearly based in R&B and soul.

So while "Save the Children" features jazz elements, it is born out of the rich tradition of soul music.

You're listening to Rhythmic Blue. I'm your host: Gail Nobles

All about jazz.

Photo: Ryan Arrowsmith
Usage: Wikimedia CC BY 2.5

According to Rolling Stone, young Aretha Franklin moved from Gospel to jazz in the early 60s. She sang a song entitled Nobody Like You. I love how she sang jazz, and I love how she played the piano. We know that she had a voice for pop, blues, gospel, and soul. And she sounded so great singing jazz. I like the way she pronounced and played around with words and singing. There's probably a name for that, but I don't know what you call it. Aretha Franklin must have had something on the inside to be able to carry out the sound that she had. To be able to sing and use her voice the way that she did.

 I'm Gail Nobles. Thank you for tuning in to Rhythmic Blue, and check out Aretha’s song Nobody Like You.


All about jazz.

Intro: Gail Nobles
Photo: Thilo Parg - Own work
Wikipedia Usage: CC BY-SA 3.0

When I think of jazz, I think of Sade’s song Smooth Operator. It is a single from her debut studio album Diamond Life (1984). It was released as the album’s third single in the United Kingdom.

In the United States, "Smooth Operator" was released in February 1985, serving as the album's second US single. The song became Sade's first top-10 entry in the US, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in May 1985. It spent 13 weeks in the top 40, and also topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for two weeks.
Although "Your Love Is King" remains Sade's highest-peaking single in the UK to date, "Smooth Operator" is the band's breakthrough single on the US charts, and their most successful single internationally.

You’re listening to Rhythmic Blue. I’m your host, Gail Nobles.


All about jazz.

Intro by: Gail Nobles
Photo: Yves Lorson from Kapellen, Belgium - Prince
Usage: CC BY 2.0

Hello, I'm Gail Nobles. Welcome to Rhythmic Blue.

Believe it or not,Prince made a lot of music that sounded like jazz from his 1991 album Diamonds and Pearls. He made a song titled Scrolling. It’s the fifth track on the album.

From his 2015 album HitNRun Phase 2. He made a song titled Look At Me, Look At You.

Prince has a 2009 album titled Lotus Flower. He has a single on that album titled Love Like Jazz.

There are many more songs that Prince had made that sounded like jazz. He must have loved jazz music. Prince was a musical genius.

It is said that Prince left behind an underground bank vault of music. He didn't want to give the recording companies the best stuff, and I don't blame him.

It is said that Prince had his own record label title Paisley Park Records founded in 1985 which was distributed by and funded and part by Warner Brothers Records. It was started in 1985 following the success of the film and Purple Rain. Prince had the right idea.

You're listening to Rhythmic Blue. Today’s topic: Prince and Jazz. Thank you for listening.


All about jazz.

Photo credit: torbakhopper - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gazeronly/7241232318/
Wikipedia: CC BY 2.0

On her 1980 TV special, Donna Summer performed a jazz medley. One of the songs she performed was titled The Man I Love. Music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin
The Man I Love Comes from Donna's 1978 album Lve and More. Together “With I got It Bad” and “That Ain't Good”. Live and More is the first live album recorded by Donna Summer. The Man I Love is on side two, and it's the number 10 song on the album with I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good/Some of These Days (My Man Medley).

Donna performed The Man I Love so well on her 1980 TV special with a red hat and long red dress with a feathered look. It was singers like Donna Summer that made me sort of listen to jazz because I didn't like jazz. I would see it on old black and white films like in the 1940s with all the piano playing and horn playing. But to see someone from my time that I loved like Donna Summer made me hear jazz. She helped me to listen and understand through her singing. Donna Summer was a sound of a different drummer with her voice to my ears introducing jazz.

I'm Gail Nobles. Thank you for listening to Rhythmic Blue.


All about jazz.

Photo: Wikipedia Public Domain
Story by: Gail Nobles

Michael Jackson I Can't Help It 1979, The Jazz Style. It is a song written by Stevie Wonder and produced by Quincy Jones. It is a single or Michael’s Off-The-Wall album released by the Epic label in 1979. I heard Stevie Wonder performance live in studio on YouTube and Michael performed it well on his album Off The Wall.

When I first heard the song in the early 80s, I thought the song was completely different from most of the songs Michael would sing. I Can't Help It was a song that wasn't sounding disco to me, and a song I wasn't expecting. I thought: “Hmm this is different.” And I had to listen to it a few times. I was learning about a different style. Mostly I knew disco. I learned a lot from Michael Jackson just by listening.

Thank you for listening to Rhythmic Blue, a show about jazz. I am your host, Gail Nobles.


All about jazz.

Photo: Hreinn Gudlaugsson - Own work
Usage: Wikipedia CC BY-SA

Music by: Gail Nobles

Joshua Redman is the son of to jazz saxophonist Dewey Redman. He is Jewish. He was exposed to many kinds of music at the Center for World Music in Berkeley, where his mother studied South Indian dance. His mother’s name is Renee Shedroff. He was exposed at an early age to a variety of musics and instruments and began playing clarinet at age nine before switching to what became his primary instrument, the tenor saxophone, one year later. Redman has said he is self-taught on the saxophone and has cited his father Dewey Redman, as well as The Beetles, and Earth, Wind and Fire as musical influences just to name a few.


He was signed by Warner Bros. Records and issued his first self-titled album in the spring of 1993, which subsequently earned Redman his first Grammy nomination. He continued to develop his style throughout the 1990s, beginning with a sideman appearance on Elvin Jones' Youngblood alongside Javon Jackson, and following up with an appearance on his father Dewey's 1992 record Choices.

Joshua Redman has a number of Albums. Joshua Redman, Wish, Freedom in the Groove, Timeless Tales ( For Changing Times) Beyond, and more.

Redman has an album out for 2023 titled Where Are We featuring Gabrielle Cavassa.

All about jazz.