love.

Music free for all.

1) Love & War & the Sea in Between

I stumbled across Josh Garrels in a quest to find some new music to listen to at my 9-5. I went to Garrels's website and to my happy surprise found that he is offering a free download of his current album! I've only listened to it twice, but I like it already. He is a christian musician that creates music that is lyrically deep and creative, but not saccharine. I don't mean to be a hater on popular christian music...but we need more artists like him. At first listen I especially enjoy: Farther Along, Ulysses (a lovely mythological tie-in), and Beyond the Blue. 

For the download go to: http://joshgarrels.com/. 

2) Tiny Desk Concerts by NPR

Here is how it goes: NPR invites musicians to come in to their office and play a few songs, fun ensues. And bonus!, on most you can download the audio for free (or just subscribe to their live concert podcast on iTunes). 

Might I recommend a few for you to check out?

The Tallest Man on Earth (one of my favorite folk artists)

Hilary Hahn (Beautiful violin music)

James Vincent McMorrow 

David Rawlings and Gillian Welch (Especially "Sweet tooth", it may put a smile on your face like it did mine)

just dance.

The most inspiring dancer I know: Collin Malaney

Your song comes on, your hips start to move with no coercion. The question goes through your mind, should I let loose & dance or play it cool? There are a few circumstances were the rug should be left uncut, but this isn't it, you should dance. 

My friend told me a story about an older gentleman who decided the first thing he would do every morning was dance. If that man was anything like the rest of us, he probably had mornings that dancing was the last thing he wanted to do. But if we let days like that steamroll us, we will always live life with a sullen disposition. Instead, why not meet the day with a few good hip shakes and a shimmy or two? 

Dance because there is a song that won't let you sit still, dance because you have a body to move and a life to celebrate, dance when no one is watching and when everyone is watching. Just dance. 

If you need some help greasing your hips and an oldie does it for you check this out, for top-40 click here, or if you like musicals this might be more your flavor. 

You may be alone in your room, busting a move when lo and behold your roommate bursts in. Is this the moment to freeze and in utter embarrassment mutter something about trying to shake a cracker out of your shirt? No! This is not the safety dance, we are not leaving our friends behind. Turn the music up and just remind them: friends don't let friends dance alone. 

Collaborations.

What happens when a few musical geniuses get in a recording studio to make music? A thing of beauty.

The Goat Rodeo Sessions, a collaborative work between Yo-yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile, is a mingling of classical, folk, and bluegrass styles. It is lovely and great reading music - as  most of it is instrumental. Two of the songs do have vocals, which brings me to the reason for today's post.

The whole CD is terrific, but I've been a wee bit manic about one song in particular: Here & Heaven. Beautiful harmonies set to a cello, fiddle, and banjo — need I say more?