A PROMISE!
At last, a ray of hope for our musical future!
I was not at all impressed with the recent Grammy Award show on TV. It was gaudy, rambling, confused and had too many people with nothing to say who kept saying it - and more - anyway.
Dustin Hoffman and Simon and Garfunkel did the opening well, but I felt as if S and G did not know each other. Did they ever look at each other? I don't think so, but they remain one of my favorites from the past decade or so. They deserved their Lifetime Achievement Award, too.
The one bright spot of that first portion of the show for me was then newcomer Norah Jones was on. For the first time I could look at someone who was not yelling, screaming, or gyrating bodily portions in my face. She sat quietly at the piano and played decent handfuls of something we used to know called melody. The combo with her was not in gym class training either and did a proper bg for her keyboard work. Then, when it was completed it had an ending - it did not simply quit or fade away which is so common in today's dis-arranged “music”. I knew I liked that girl and her natural actions and I was pleased to read that Tony Bennett has alike admiration for her and her abilities. He made the best remark of the entire show for me when he said something about Norah Jones . “She sings the American Song book,” he said, and seems to see Norah Jones as a possible “turn-around” personality who will bring about many long-desired changes in our music.
Tony Bennett walked by a camera earlier in the show and I wondered why he happened to be there. He represents a bygone era which is no longer respected in present day Grammy-land. Bennett, long a favorite of mine, more or less moved to England years ago when rock overcame the American scene. He has remained popular there as a sort of heftier Perry Como type and widely respected and admired by many viewers. He is in one of best positions in the world to realizes that changes are direly needed if our music is to survive. After learning of his reaction concerning Norah Jones, I have a distinct feeling he was there primarily to support that young lady in this important step in her new career. If Bennett believes in her as someone who can bring about some positive changes in our music - I say go with him all the way.
While I was disappointed by the Grammy Awards show seeing pictures of Norah Jones holding five such awards did me good and I shall go out of my way, as of now, to listen to her records as I get the chance. I freely admit I have ignored phonograph records in recent years. Maybe now they will be worth hearing once again.
A.L.M. February 26, 2003 [c506wds]
