What if you’ve never seen Chinatown? What if Sam Spade and the Maltese Falcon are as foreign to you as a trap beat would be to Casablanca’s Sam? What if your only exposure to a saxophone is Lisa Simpson, hell - what if you’ve never heard Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street, or Bruce’s Jungleland or even Billy Joel’s Just The Way You Are, and hell, what if you have no idea who Charlie Parker or John Coltrane are, let alone know their sound?
Relax people - it’s all good. You know why? ‘cos the answer is “So What!?” I know - this is going to upset some people but, if you need to defend against the tide of history, go google King Canute. The thing is - times change, tastes change, relationships between the sexes change and thank god for that. But here’s the thing - the saxophone ain’t going anywhere, and you know why?
Because the Saxophone is fucking cool!
Clearly having to wait until metallurgy reached a certain point before it could exist, it’s a little younger than the piano or the violin but damn if it hasn’t had an impressive run in its last 175 years. I’m no music historian but there aren’t many instruments that can define a mood or a “feel’ in the way a saxophone can. Look - I’m a piano player, I can do all kinds of fancy things with my fingers but if I want to pierce your heart, I’m getting Mike Casey or Kamasi Washington to perform the act.
It’s as if the Saxophone speaks human.
Cold Blooded Blues pulls from history and drags it right into the present - I’m still Bogart, I’m still Nicholson, but I’m not smoking and I ain’t wearing a Fedora - I’m nodding my head to cool beats while sipping Hennessy XO and the saxophone is still telling my story - only this time - it feels even better.
If you’re looking for the perfect mood music, definitely take this one out for a spin.
You can learn more about Mike Casey here:
About the Curator: Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the dark forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top. They would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
Although I've always played, I haven't always been a musician. Most of my twenties were spent working with people, buying and selling and learning how the world works. It was in my thirties that I came to America and focused on music and began to develop music2work2.
Latest Posts
Lonely Dream – Drunken Kong Remix – The Archer, Drunken Kong
24 November 2021
But as I’ve moved from ideation to manifestation, the energy of the playlist needed to change – solo piano is good for thinking – but 8 minutes of 130 bpm edm is great for getting things down
Out Of Reach – Cristoph, Yotto, Sansa
8 November 2021
So if you’ve been listening to the playlist recently you know what’s coming. Last week’s track was all about setting the intent for change – away from the more relaxing ideation space of solo instrumentation to this week’s electronic track from Cristoph, Yotto and Sansa.
Mr. Clay – Johnny Klimek, Tom Tykwer
31 October 2021
I’ve known for a while that the feel of the list was going to change – while piano instrumentals are perfect for reflection and ideation – at some point you need some energetic input to get your fingers moving.
Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the Dark Forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top, they would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
As a psychology graduate I studied how sound affects human performance.
As a musician I compose instrumental music that stimulates your brain but doesn't mess with your language centers, leaving you free to be creative and brilliant without distraction.
As a curator I research how music can improve your life and create flow - I can tell you what music to listen to when studying for a test and why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
As a creator / contributor at musicto I’m part of a global creator community that collaborates through music. You can learn more about our community here.