From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2012 #1195 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe:mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Website:http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Wednesday, August 22 2012 Volume 2012 : Number 1195 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- "Harlem In Havana", was: Joni on the radio, long ["Jim L'Hommedieu" Subject: "Harlem In Havana", was: Joni on the radio, long Joni put out a CD on the Hear Music label, dedicated to her influences, called "Joni Mitchell artist's choice". It is out of print but it is easily obtained on eBay and Amazon. The idea of the collection was to pull together some of her influences. As usual, Joni broke the rules and I'm glad she did, also as usual. On the collection, she put her own song "Harlem In Havana" right after "Jeep's Blues", a track from Duke Ellington. In the liner notes about "Harlem In Havana", Joni said >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>The highlight of the summer, when AI was growing up in Saskatoon, Canada, was the week the fair came to town. At the end of the mile-long midway, there were two adult, Vegas-style shows- Club Lido and Harlem in Havana. Parents seemed to be scared by Harlem in Havana. "Don't let me catch you standing there!" Every kid I knew got that instruction. Every hour or so (if you wanted to), you could hear the barker shouting through the roar of crowds and rides, "Step right up folks; it's Harlem in Havana time!" When I heard this, I'd go running- to see the band file out- horns in hand- and seat themselves behind the blue and silver music stands. "They'd begin to play this brassy, stripper groove- so slow and humid. Then came out the girls- black girls- some chewing gum- and they begin to move- slowly- flipping their capes open and closed to the beat- like they had done a million times- a tired, bored tease. I stuck my song in here beside "Jeep's Blues," just for fun- just to check something out. I didn't intend to, but I left it here (in the collection)- between (writer) Johnny Hodges and Louis Jordan- because somehow it fits. In reviewing this song ("Harlem In Havana"), I found two influences that I had unconsciously assimilated- Marvin Gaye and the whisper singers of Burundi.>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> All the best, Jim L'Hommedieu PS, the spell checker in Microsoft Outlook didn't recognize "backbeat". I like the spell checker on my iPhone 3GS better. It learned JMDL and NJC with minimal effort. now playing, "Third World Man" from the same compact disc From: Dave Blackburn I think you're right Bob. Joni's "shuffle" is often a rather complex 12/8 pattern where it's hard to tell where 1 is. I'm thinking of Crazy Cries of Love or Harlem in Havana in particular. She's definitely got some drummer blood in her as those are not your typical coffeehouse strums. Even the programmed Lucky Girl is a weird shuffle, with the xylophone accenting 6 beats in the bar, the ride cymbal playing in 4 and the snare backbeat placed on the last eighth note of the 12/8 groove. Too bad it wasn't played by a band - it might have had some sashay. Bob.Muller@Fluor.com wrote: >> I love the sashay, strut and sway, beat of Number One.> >> >> One of those "shuffle" songs...Sue and other guitarists - was "Be Cool" >> the first song she wrote that had the shuffle rhythm? Nothing earlier >> comes to mind. I feel like she employed it a lot after that. >> >> Bob ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2012 #1195 ****************************** ------- To post messages to the list, sendtojoni@smoe.org. Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------