RUPSHA SEN
Moaning At Midnight by Howlin’ Wolf: What a song. When he starts to sing I get goosebumps. He has the coolest voice ever. I love the melody of the song.
Chains and Things by BB King: I love the riff. It’s so delicate and yet effective and I love this song as it always puts me in a pensive mood.
Stormy Weather by Etta James: She is the queen of blues. This song is so beautiful and emotive and sung like a dream. I love the way she phrases her lyrics which are very moving.
Champagne and Reefer by Muddy Waters: Another classic. It’s a very powerful song and like most slow blues songs it’s very intense and hits the right note.
Damn Right I’ve Got The Blues by Buddy Guy: Another powerful song. I love the riff and the aggressive way Buddy Guy sings it.
Born Under A Bad Sign by Albert King: Another classic. This has the most beautiful lyrics. Simple yet profound which is typical of blues music — ‘If it wasn’t for bad luck/ I wouldn’t have no luck at all.’ Love it.
effortless singer. This song makes me happy and jumpy as it’s on the faster side.
BODHISATTWA GHOSH
My Favourite Things by John Coltrane: The take on this Hollywood standard opened up a world of improvisation for me, and it always stays on my playlist.
Fat Time by Miles Davis: Probably the coolest bass line by Marcus Miller and the devastating guitar solo by Mike Stern.
Place To Be by Hiromi Uehara: One of the most beautiful and harmonically inspiring solo piano pieces I’ve heard.
I Know You Know by Esperanza Spalding: The sheer charisma and slickness of the tune and the amazing vocal lines blew my mind.
Dream by Mahavishnu Orchestra: This is the first tune by John McLaughlin that I had heard and it just blew my mind. I got hooked to Mahavishnu Orchestra, Shakti and all his other projects after hearing this piece.
Why by Wayne Krantz Trio: This is one of the most expressive tunes by my favourite line-up with Tim Lefebvre and Keith Carlock.
This is Rob Swift by Herbie Hancock: Not only this tune, but the whole album Future to Future just redefines genres and culminates everything that is hip.
Over Shadow Hill Way by Wayne Shorter: I was overwhelmed by the abstraction of the harmony and got so affected by the tune that I ended up covering it with my trio!
All Blues by Miles Davis: This has to be my all-time favourite. The calm yet slick mood of the tune makes it a timeless masterpiece.
ISHEETA
CHAKRVARTY
No More Blues by Antonio Carlos Jobim:
A must-do in my repertoire, I am absolutely in love with the melody. This is a classic bossa nova tune and is said to be one of the first recorded bossa nova tunes composed by Jobim. I love the Andrea Mortis version of this song with the Joan Chamorro band.
I Concentrate On You by Cole Porter:
Another staple on my repertoire, Cole Porter has been one of my favourites. Crazy melody this is. Sung by many, I am especially drawn to the version by Carmen Macrae.
Misty by Erroll Garner:
One of the most beautiful ballads ever written.
Whisper Not by Benny Golson: Love Stan Getz’s version and Anita O’Day’s version of this composition. Beautiful.
Take Five by Paul Desmond: Contrary to popular belief, this is not composed by Dave Brubeck but by saxophonist Paul Desmond. I don’t know any list that would not have this fabulous composition. I was especially excited to hear Al Jarreau’s vocals on this one.
Lush Life by Billy Strayhorn : One of my favourites. A ballad like this is only meant for concert halls. One of the finest vocal renditions I have heard is by, believe it or not, Queen Latifah.
Why Don’t You Do Right by Peggy Lee: Written and performed by Peggy Lee, this is a staple for me. Always. There is a video with Peggy Lee singing with the Benny Goodman orchestra. Benny Goodman’s clarinet solo on this one with its innate simplicity just blows my mind.
Autumn Leaves by Joseph Kosma: One of those that EVERYONE knows. The melody is so haunting that I never tire of singing it.
Stompin’ at the Savoy by Edgar Sampson: Absolutely love how it swings.
Cry Me A River by Arthur Hamilton: This hunting melody was popularised by Julie London and the way she has sung it brings goosebumps.