What are the pieces that always lift your mood?
Is there a composition, song, melody, chord progression, orchestral excerpt, etude, polka tune, or any other piece of music that is guaranteed to lift your mood when you hear it or play it? I’m sure we could all use some more joyful music in our lives!
9 replies
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I'll kick this one off... Clifford Brown is the most joyful trumpet player for me, and his playing always makes me smile. It's just so inventive, creative, whimsical... but extremely systematic and studied. It's like he's winking at you when he plays a solo...
I've cited this album on the forums before, but "Clifford Brown and Max Roach" is genius!! Just my two cents ;)
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I love to play and sing old jazz tunes like When You're Smiling, Blue Skies, Pennies from Heaven, etc. I have a quartet that often performs in senior living facilities locally and this type of programming always provides myself and the audience with an uplifting mood boost.
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Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington- It don't mean a thing (if it ain't got that swing)
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Oh, But On the Third Day (Happy Feet Blues) off Wynton's The Majesty of the Blues album.
Juba and a O'Brown Squaw off Wynton's Live at the Village Vanguard album.
The Three Trumpeteers off Nicholas Payton's Payton's Place album
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So many things it's hard to pick. There are a few of Bird's Dial recordings that'll always do it, like Night in Tunisia and Bird of Paradise. A few Dolphy recordings like Round Midnight (that tune always lights me up), Sonny Rollins' Theme from Alfie, and my spiritual home base is A Love Supreme,
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I love the opening theme of Beethoven symphony 6. The pastorale. It is an exquisite melody that makes me smile every time I hear it.