Hello to you on this almost-spring Friday,

I found this pairing very enjoyable and inspiring -- I hope it gives you a little of the same effect.

If you're interested in seeing the short videos I've been making to get folks joining us in the newsletter, you can find them on my Insta & Facebook pages. I'm finding more ways to bring people into our fold, and show more signs of life for future record labels and such.:)

Juice

There are wines that aren't just representations of a place or a grape -- they are rather a living communication of the past, of place, and people.

The winemakers at Viña Zorzal in Navarra, Spain, are brothers who carry on the tradition of their father and the winery’s founder, Antonio Sanz. The Quatro del Quatro 2021 bottling is a tribute to him. The wine is so vibrant that I can't imagine a more powerful way to honor a legacy, more than any statue or plaque.

The balance, freshness and character of the ‘21 vintage would make even a casual drinker stop and inquire about what is in the glass. Made of 100% graciano, a grape not often seen in single varietal form, this was an incredible introduction for me – a first scintillating one-on-one get together with a new friend heretofore only ever seen in a crowd.

The fruit is dark -- black plum, fig and charred cherry. There's warm leather on the nose, delicate minerality, and tannins that are so well integrated it seems strange to mention them as elements apart. The wine’s vivacity contrasts with depth of flavor in a way that make it truly charismatic, I can only imagine Antonio was the same.

You can find the bottle here.

Jazz

"Round Midnight" is one of the most performed jazz standards for players and singers alike, often emphasizing the song as mood. However, when Carmen McRae performs it, it becomes a piece of essential communication. Rather than fall into a nocturnal reverie, we sit up and lean in – there is something important we need to hear.

Carmen McRae is, well, just everything -- a singer of incredible depth, lyrical acumen, a master of rhythm, timbre and tone. Her utter command has always captivated me, and when pressed to name a favorite singer (awful question) she is mine.

In her "Carmen Sings Monk" (Novus, 1990) album, she pays tribute to the legend that is Thelonious Monk in a way only she can. It’s Monk’s tune (co-credited to Cootie Williams) and Bernie Hanighen’s lyrics are featured in most sung renditions. Here, Carmen adds more of her own lyrics which illuminate shadowed corners of the song. Her dusky-hued approach touches the bottom of her range and feeling, while never losing the gleaming edge that is always in her voice; her incisive wit complementing a depth of feeling.

This song has balance, nuance, and is a fitting tribute to its creator as well as a window into her inimitable genius. Funny how the most reverential homage can bring out the best in the one who makes it.

​

'Round Midnight - Remastered... Carmen McRae PREVIEW   ​

I hope you enjoy, let me know!

Truly,

Kristen

​