hot boys. cool music.

How does that title grab ya? I'll be talking about a couple of fine ladies, too. I also thought of calling this post "24-Hour Music Odyssey." Because as I was driving into work the other morning, I was listening to KUSC, as I often do--classical music soothes the road-raging beast. Unlike Uprising Radio, which I love and also listen to in the mornings, but predictably, gets me all riled up and I start laying on the horn.

Moving on.

 

They announced on KUSC that Daniel Harding, the handsome man in the above photo, was just named Conductor Emeritus of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra for life. He's only 37 years old. And he's cute. And an amazing conductor. I was very excited about this.

I saw Harding conduct the L.A. Philharmonic this past fall in the Korngold Violin Concerto, featuring another cute, amazing musician--Renaud Capuçon, shown above, and --what else? Mahler's Fifth Symphony. It was an incredible concert. I know it's cheesy, but I love the Korngold Violin Concerto. It sounds like schmaltzy film music--because its themes were culled from Korngold's film scores.  But to a violinist, it's so breathtaking difficult and virtuosic. Like the Barber and the Tchaikovsky (maybe the Sibelius, too), it's only for the most technically adept players. And it's just exciting, over the top and a blast. Also--Korngold lived in Toluca Lake. Just like me.


Of course, the definitive interpretation of the Korngold is by Jascha Heifetz, for whom the piece was composed. But recently, I've been loving the the recording by the young Canadian violinist, James Ehnes. Capuçon's performance was fun, because he really drew out and took his time with the romantic themes, while amping up the tempo during the phrases of technical wizardry. I felt like the playing with tempos gave the concerto an avant-garde spin to one of this very crowd-pleasing piece of music.


But the Mahler was definitely the showcase of the evening. The Phil was on fire, and granted, they usually are. I heard someone complain that because most of the musicians have been in the orchestra for so long, their performances can come across as tired and routine. But I never feel that way.  They're one of the most passionate symphonies playing today. But it's interesting to see which conductors really get them going, and Harding most certainly did. As did my absolute favorite hottie-conductor, Esa-Pekka Salonen, when he was in town for the Lutoslawski centennial.

Daniel Harding first came to my attention when he conducted Janine Jansen in her recording of the Tchaikovsky and Beethoven Violin Concertos. I love this recording and many others by her, and I was fortunate enough to see her play the Tchaikovsky at the Phil (with another non-hottie, non-Harding conductor). It was amaze-balls. I had tears.

Tears, I tell you.

So then, I was listening to my Beatles Pandora station, and this old song by the band Traffic came on. It really took me back--I loved this band when I was a kid.

Anyone who knows me knows that I cannot stomach the Grateful Dead. The music is dull and the whole phenomenon surrounding them--these bands of acid-dropping sheep that follow them around--utterly ridiculous.

But Traffic performed that kind of music, only in a much more compelling way. Kind of an improvisation of psychedelic rock, jazz and folk--without all the druggie nonsense and the stupid bootleg cassettes. Although I'm sure they consumed their rightful share of substances. It was the sixties, after all.

And, because I'm a complete dork, I have to admit that I just love Steve Winwood's voice, even after all these years. Look how cute he is. Not a care in the world.

Then this song came on that really caught my attention. Have Love, Will Travel. I checked it out, and it was by a band I've never heard of: The Sonics. The song was very 70's garage band/punk-ish, and it kind of reminded me of The Stooges. I was really surprised to discover it was recorded in 1964. Actually, the band it reminded me the most of was the Black Keys. And here they are singing HLWT. How do you like that?

I'd also like to note that The Sonics were out of Tacoma, WA, much like my favorite singer: good ol' Neko Case. But she lives in Vermont now.

When's your next album coming out, lady?

It looks like the Sonics has a short-lived career in the 60's and ended up performing a lot of covers, like Mustang Sally and Louie, Louie. Sad. But it's interesting how the Pacific Northwest has such a rich history of rock music. Seattle-Tacoma is the Manchester-Liverpool of the States.

 

My 24-Hour Music Odyssey wrapped up with a little something I heard on KUSC the next morning: Michelangelo 70 by Astor Piazzolla, an Argentinian tango composer and bandoneón player. I had never heard of Piazzolla and I didn't know what a bandoneón was. But tango music played by a string chamber group (with bandoneón) is absolutely electric. This recording can be found here.