We need something smooth and cool to slide into the week, so
cool it is, Joyce Cooling, that is. Joyce is a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, with an eclectic style and sound
that just gets your body swaying. She’s funky, she’s soulful, and just doggone
nice listening.
Although Joyce
now lives in San Francisco, she was raised in the New York area in a house that,
as she says was “filled with music.” Her musical influences are diverse and
include everyone from Joe Henderson, Wes Montgomery, and Miles Davis, to James
Brown, Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa and Jimi Hendrix, to Ravel, Stravinsky, Bach,
and Brahms, to Hermeto Pascoal, Elis Regina, João Bosco and finally Jobim. Her
teenage years were spent sitting on the steps outside of the Village Vanguard
and other Manhattan jazz clubs. Although she was underage, the bartender
at the Vanguard saw how much she loved the music and let her hang out on the
steps.
Joyce is self-taught and learned to play by ear, which led to the
development of her fingerpicking style and its unique tone. In my opinion,
she’s sounds a little like Larry Carlton. She’s played with some biggies
including jazz giants Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, and Charlie
Byrd. In addition, she’s garnered several prestigious awards including the
Gibson Best Jazz Guitarist of the Year Award and Best New Talent in the Jazziz
Reader’s Poll.
Her style and
music is great for unwinding from a hectic day. Hope it helps you get through
your week.
Playing it cool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee5WZV91Eks
Almost Home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jgJH-MWW-o
South of Market: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUDT0ubcTAY
Cool of the night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NYxvUq2h8U
Expression: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG-6hBncLR8
Third Wish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fulgW3OMvDc
Come and get it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j_6VK69_fA
The Wizard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEyoYbdHKU4
Another time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ByVOzSdjhw
Grass roots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40BDiJ2ShjI
If I had to describe Joyce’s music with one word, it would
be playful. So, I’m pairing her with a playful wine, a barbera, namely a 2008 Pelissero Piani
Barbera ($19.00). This not a wine to over-analyze or spend much time thinking
about. It’s a comfort wine that simply works. Pulling the cork releases a flood
of aromatic flowers and cherries, cherries, and more cherries. It’s packed with
sour black cherries, tart, but not too tart and accompanied by soft tannins.
This wine begs to be quaffed, and if your looking for a food to accompany it,
try pasta tossed with something simple like olive oil and fresh parmesan.
Appropriately, it’s a smooth drinker to match the smooth sounds of Joyce
Cooling.
Cheers!
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