Monday morning and it’s snowing hard outside. My morning will be filled with shovelling and plowing and not painting, which throws off my rhythm a bit. But that’s a small price to pay for the beauty of the snow outside, coating the tree limbs and glowing white and clean. It’s gorgeous out my window.
I thought I’d play a bit of music today and found a lovely piece from Esperanza Spalding. I have to admit that she was not on my radar before the last few weeks, when she emerged into the larger public’s consciousness with her Grammy win as Best New Artist, beating out teen heartthrob Justin Bieber. I guess an upright bass playing jazz chanteuse (who was teaching at Berklee at age 20!) probably seems an unlikely choice over the teenie bopper who inspires Bieber Fever. But finally hearing and seeing her play, as well as hearing of her life story, has convinced me. Just good stuff, whether you like jazz or not.
Give a listen:
Redtree Times 
It is good stuff. And there’s always a backstory.
Music Exec Slams Grammy Awards in NYTimes Ad
Me, I’m just going to listen one more time to Ms. Spaulding.
It’s a shame that this ridiculous “controversy” over the Grammy awards overshadows the fact that she is a rare talent. I can’t believe how crazy people get over these awards in defending their choices, especially in something so subjective as music.
Have you considered doing a snowy landscape?
I have done a few over the years, usually night scenes in shades of blue. I have been mulling over snow in my recent series. We’ll see if anything emerges…