All things new...

  The new year is here. Resolutions are part and parcel of the deal. And every year I promise myself that I will listen to more and more great music and that's the one (and ONLY!) resolution I actually manage to stick to. I wish I was as dedicated to the other causes in my life! ;)

  Without taking the cliched "flashback" route, I have to admit 2007 was sparkling in all aspects musical. Established artists breaking moulds or brand new artists taking the world by storm, 2007 saw it all. This year I'm looking forward to more of the same and more. I want to listen to great original music, not regurgitated notes that try to form some semblance of music. I want younger voices to be heard and the older ones to challenge themselves and offer something new to their loyal audiences. Whether or not, these demands will be met is a whole other story.

  Every year I set myself a rather strange target. Not to lose those extra pounds or save that extra money. Nopes, not for me those "normal" goals. I aim for greater things. All musical naturally! I want to listen to at least 5 artists I haven't heard before or genres of music I haven't been exposed to earlier. I hit that target in 2007 (and how!) and I can't complain about the money spent in that pursuit. Whether it was a blues-reggae band that played in Greek town in the middle of summer or whether it was The Hives who opened for Maroon 5 or closer to home, artists like Kidd Skilly whom I haven't heard too much of before, 2007 was fantastic in every way.

  2008 promises all this and more. I started off my year with listening to this wonderfully talented jazz artist called Jill Scott. The video below is a classic and was made famous more recently by Fantasia Barrino on American Idol. I loved this version of it for the simple vocal prowess displayed by Ms Scott and the ever reliable George Benson. LISTEN UP! for a good helping of some soul-enriching jazz!