According to Sandy

A few years ago, Ms Streisand was all over PBS with her show “Barbra Streisand: One Night Only At the Village Vanguard”.  She can still touch people with her voice and it was fun to listen and watch her wrap her tiny audience (the NYC club only seats about 150) around her finger – or vocal chords in this case.  Barbra is still amazing.

I wanted to hear her, so I dug out one of the diva’s old records “The Broadway Album” (yes, “album” – like I said “old”, but now on CD) and again was in awe of her renditions of some great songs from past musicals. I have a weakness for Broadway show tunes, especially those songs from Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Gershwin – music from Porgy & Bess, Carousel, West Side Story, The King & I, etc. These songs appeal to me because they always have a story to tell, an emotion to crystallize, a longing to express.

Over the years, these poems set to music have become “standards” – they haven’t gone away, they are being sung someplace, somewhere every day. Whether in person or on CD, Ms Streisand’s versions are beautiful, soaring, romantic, funny, perfect.

Barbra Streisand – a treasure!

“I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day…”

The opening bass line that precedes the above lyric to the “Temptations” song “My Girl”, is instantly recognizable, instantly evoking a time/ place/age gone but still very much alive when the music plays. (I still know all the words.)

I watched the DVD, “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” again. It tells the story of the “Funk Brothers”, those musicians who rhythmically supported the stars of Motown with their piano, drums, horn section and guitars. According to the liner notes, “They played on more #1 records than the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Elvis combined…”

There are interviews, funny and touching, with the guys as they reminisce about their experiences at “Hitsville, USA”.  Unknown by the thousands of us that religiously bought a new 45 whenever possible, they drove the beat behind the Motown hit records from the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder (he was “little” then), the Miracles, etc. The stars were good, but so was the band.

We are also treated to concert footage – artists of today singing the old songs. It’s been a long time, but the music lives – they do a great job, different but still great.

(Nothing like some good music during questionable times. Perks me right up.)

~*~

There will be 3 Mercury Retrogrades this year. The 1st one begins on February 16 and ends on March 9. Mercury is concerned with all types of information, travel, education, tech stuff and small appliances. Labeled “the Communication planet”, the often confusion generating Retrograde (backward sky motion) period doesn’t have to be scary. Regardless of reputation, we can mitigate potential misunderstandings and snafus by paying attention to the details and being prepared. Be careful. “Back up” stuff. Stay grounded and pay attention to what you sign, verify deadlines, etc. Mercury Retrograde chaos is not inevitable!

~ Mercury Retrogrades for 2020: 

*Feb 16 – Mar 9

*June 17 – July 12

*Oct 13 – Nov 3

This can be a great time to do all those “re” actions: re evaluate, rewrite, re assess, re acquaint, re address. We can take time to pause and reflect, rather than jump into new schemes.

* FYI: Mercury just “appears” to go backwards. Planets only move forward, however, due to the earth’s changing speed as it orbits around the Sun, the positions are such that it looks like a reverse motion from earth.

~*~

Chinese Lunar New Year of the Metal Rat

January 25, 2020 – February 11, 2020

Luck & Prosperity

~ * ~

Look forward to a Gemini Full Moon on Wednesday (Pacific) and Thursday (Eastern). While opposite the Sagittarius Sun, it will glow in all its roundness. As always with a “Full” phase, finish and complete any old projects hanging around. Clear out any debris to make room for what’s next. (New Moon in ambitious Capricorn 12/25/19 – great time for new beginnings)

While the Moon is in the Mercury ruled 3^rd sign of the Zodiac, communication is key. Chatting, Twittering, Face Booking, etc. can tend towards the witty and the clever, and with “Full” energy, our interactions can also be purposeful, powerful and precise. I love this quote from Deepak Chopra:

“Language creates reality. Words are magical power. Speak always to create joy”

Let us all do that!

* Gemini Full Moon: PST 12/11 ~ 9:12 PM / EST 12/12 ~ 12:12 AM

***

by Sandy | Nov 3, 2019 | Art, Arts, Entertainment and Music, music, Photograhy

I always loved that famous 1958 black and white photo of 57 Jazz musicians, arranged on the steps of an apartment building in New York City (17 East 126th Street between Fifth and Madison). It was expanded into a documentary in 1995 and can be found on DVD.

Director Jean Bach assembled pictures and stories about how it all came together – photographer Art Kane’s assignment for Esquire Magazine, artists such as Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Marian McPartland, Thelonius Monk, Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, May Lou Williams, the neighborhood kids that wanted to be in the picture too.

~ * ~ A Great Day In Harlem ~ * ~

See below for a list of all the musicians in the photo:

(Originally posted in 2012)

I always get excited when Ms Morrison graces us with a new book. Just released this week, her latest is “Home”, which centers on a man’s two most life battering experiences – while a soldier during the Korean War and growing up in the South in the 50’s. 

Ms Morrison, now 81, has such a fantastical, spiritual approach to her characters and plot, but she’s also got “edge”. She can set a tone, paint a picture, capture identifiable feeling/emotion and describe events so clearly and with such poetry that it makes you laugh or, it makes you cry. There are some passages in her much acclaimed book “Beloved” that are so painful that your throat clutches and closes.  Her “truth”, cloaked in make believe, is sometimes difficult to handle – sort of a ground glass in the oatmeal type of thing. You feel it.

I think she is amazing and a real gift. “Home”, by Toni Morrison

FYI – “Beloved” won the Pulitzer Prize in 1988 and Ms Morrison was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993.) 

The Sun moves into Leo on Monday July 22, 2019. It rules the 5^th sign of the Zodiac and we can tell regardless of our actual Astrology sign. With the influence of the “Sun King”, we are upbeat, magnanimous, a bit more dramatic, colorfully creative and drawn to the spotlight. Leo doesn’t get shyness. As the Sun struts through this regal Fire sign, the potential for having fun and drama ramps up.

Adding to the energy will be aggressive “Warrior” Mars transiting Leo from 7/2 to 8/18/19. Overly confident and perhaps impatient for attention, we may take risks. Remember, there is a difference between risk and reckless. (Check the parachute before attempting the longest free fall airplane drop in the Guinness Book of Records. Verify the distance between drop height & ground. Only preen for the close up once safely on the ground.)

Lifting the sparkle and shine experience of a Leo Sun is a Venus visit, 7/28 to 8/21/19. The planet of love brings even more warmth, beauty and love of “luxe”.

Verbal and written interactions can become livelier and sharper due to Communication planet Mercury’s Leo transit from 8/12/to 8/29/2019. Share the conversation, let someone else get a word in – it’s not all about you.

Enjoy the spotlight!

*Sun into Leo: July 22, 2019 * 10:51PM EDT / 7:51 PM PDT

**Gemstone – Tiger’s Eye *Power colors- Gold, orange (Sun colors) * Body Part – Heart (…of a lion!)

(Next up – Virgo Sun 8/23/19)

~ BTW: The date when the Sun transits into a sign can fluctuate year to year – from the 19th to the 23rd. If born on one of these days, you are considered a cusp baby – close to two signs- but regardless, there is only one Sun sign in an Astrology chart  (however, the individual will often exhibit a combo of characteristics from both signs).

The Harlem Book Fair is celebrating its 21st anniversary on Saturday July 20, 2019. As always, there will be with spoken word events, exhibit booths, music, panel discussions and children’s activities.

It’s a great way to spend a Saturday in the city.

“The vision of the Harlem Book Fair is to partner with local and national leadership organizations under the banner of literacy awareness, affirming HBF as the nation’s largest African American
literary event celebrating family literacy, community empowerment,
and community cooperation. “

Harlem Book Fair

Saturday, July 20, 2019 * 10 AM – 6 PM

West 135th Street  (Betw. Malcolm X Boulevard &

Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard) Harlem, NY

On Sunday, July 7, 2019, Mercury, the planet of communications, education, travel / transportation and small gadgets, went Retrograde in generous, expansive, theatrical Leo. Possibilities of snafus, confusion, dead batteries, mis directed messages and getting on the wrong bus, etc. are possible. However, life will go on. I just think it best to be careful about it!

Ruled by the Sun, Leo energy, sparkle and leadership is a natural, however, with backwards Mercury, waiting a few beats so that thoughts can be reviewed and organized before jumping in front of that microphone may be a good idea. We should pay attention as we speak, write, perform. Contract signings, innovations, new investments should be delayed if possible and certainly not attempted until after close scrutiny.

During its reverse transit, it will reach sensitive Cancer, the 4^th sign of the Zodiac on 7/19. Mercury will go Direct (forward) again on 7/31 and move back into Leo on 8/12/19. During the Cancer visit, personal interactions may be unclear and misdirected. Be mindful of unconscious, snarky communication with family and friends, the 4th sign’s domain.

As I’ve said before in this space, Mercury Retrograde is always a good time to make plans and exercise all those “re” actions: re evaluate, rewrite, re assess, re acquaint, re address. Take time to pause and reflect – can’t hurt.

~ Mercury Retrograde:  7/7/19 * 7:15 PM EDT / 4:15 AM PDT

* FYI: Mercury just “appears” to go backwards. Planets only move forward, however, due to the earth’s changing speed as it orbits around the Sun, the positions are such that it can look like a reverse motion from earth.

(Next Mercury Retrograde will be 10/31/19 in Water sign Scorpio)