In times of upheaval, I lean on touchstones–works of art that have shaped me and the continue to be sources of inspiration, influence, and solace. It might be rereading a favorite novel, a cherished poem, a movie, or (especially often) a favorite album with a good pair of headphones.
The entire New York Voices catalog – spanning more than three decades – is full of wonderful singing, playing, and writing. They are among the gold standards of group singing.
But for me, the touchstone album is What’s Inside, their third studio album, released in 1993. The album was their last for GRP, and coincided a turn away from synthesizers, drum machines, and the more pop-tinged repertoire that characterized all of their first three albums. I can sing along with the entire album, which is great throughout. They tackle pop repertoire – their version of James Taylor’s “Traffic Jam” was one of the first pieces I learned at the Phil Mattson camp in 1994, and their version of “Ain’t No Sunshine” is how I met the Bill Withers song. They have originals, including the haunting “Silence of Time” and “Open Invitation” and jazz standards including the stellar “All Blues” and my personal favorite, “Oh, Lady Be Good.”
For me, “Oh, Lady Be Good” is one of those works of art that lodge so deeply in your brain and soul that they influence everything you create afterwards. The thrilling sax-soli singing. The swinging feel. And of course, the virtuosic Ella Fitzgerald scat solo, given words referencing Ella’s beloved nursery rhymes. It perfectly captures the joy of Ella’s singing that I wrote about on Saturday.
The album doesn’t get a lot of love on Allmusic.com, which says that the album “does not reach the heights of most of the New York Voices’ recordings and is therefore quite dispensable.” This proves that music can say different things to different ears – for me this album is quite indispensable in my development as a listener and as a writer.
Sadly, the album is not available on Spotify – you need to own it or listen to bootlegs on YouTube like the one above.
Touchstones is an ongoing series of posts I’ll be writing during the COVID-19 season, reflecting on the works of art that support me in times of upheaval. I encourage you to make a list of your own “touchstones” and if you like, share them with me to publish here.