Ramsey Lewis is an iconic and prolific figure in contemporary jazz. He’s been touring, playing and recording for over fifty years and has released over eighty albums, three of which are Grammy winners. Though Ramsey is an extremely talented and serious jazz musician, many critics brushed off his work. Early on, he had a knack for adapting modern pop songs into authentic, soulful jazz numbers — the critics didn’t like that. Nevertheless, Lewis kept on making what he calls “reach-out-and-touch music.” He wanted to play what inspired him and, more importantly, what might reach the average listener, the person who is tired and just wants to listen to jazz and relax.
Ramsey released Mother Nature’s Son, an album dedicated exclusively to Beatle’s songs from The White Album, in 1968. We’re introduced to the title track by a few seconds of synthesizer clicks, an early hint at the uniqueness of the recordings. The album quickly unfolds into sweeping arrangements, with full strings and expressive piano and percussion. Rocky Raccoon is a true standout with a return to the synthesizer for the melody and an affecting swell through the chorus. The album is unique in that the tracks don’t try to mimic the original sounds. Ramsey takes what the Beatles did and turns it into something a bit different — something a bit more sexy, haunting and romantic.
Enjoy.
Mother Nature’s Son - Ramsey Lewis:
Pair this album with:
Southside. A southside is a simple gin cocktail — somewhere between a gimlet and a mojito. It’s gin, simple syrup, a little bit of lime and some fresh mint. A sexy drink for a romantic evening.
Blackberry Chicken with Curried Sweet Potatoes and Kale. An Ethiopian-inspired savory chicken dish with a bit of an adventurous side. This recipe was developed by Antwon Brinson, a chef based out of Charlottesville. “A recipe for any season.”
Thank you, thank you. Enjoy your weekend.