Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996)

Ella Fitzgerald is “The First Lady of Song,” best known for her vocal talents, including an impressively wide vocal range partnered with a uniquely sweet voice and a whimsical flair to her singing. She is also very much recognized for her scat singing and her ability to mimic musical instruments. Her journey from her humble beginnings to her rise to stardom is truly a tale of success, heart, passion, love, and perseverance.

Ella Fitzgerald, photographed in 1940.

Ella Fitzgerald set the gold standard in the art of jazz singing.

Everybody wants to know about my style and how it came about. It’s no big secret. It’s the way I feel. Ella Fitzgerald

I used to be very self-conscious. I used to wish I was pretty. My cousin Georgia always taught me that if you smile, people will like you. Sometimes people will say something you don’t like, and you get angry a bit, but you just smile. You let it go by, even if you really would like to choke ’em. By smiling, I think I’ve made more friends than if I was the other way. Ella Fitzgerald

The only thing better than singing is more singing. Ella Fitzgerald

Music is the universal language … it brings people closer together. Ella Fitzgerald

I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt … she personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted me booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night.

She told him – and it was true, due to Marilyn’s superstar status – that the press would go wild. The owner said yes, and Marilyn was there, front table, every night.

The press went overboard. After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again. She was an unusual woman – a little ahead of her times. And she didn’t know it.

When once Marilyn Monroe  was asked about her favorite singers,

Marilyn Monroe  answered, “Well, my very favorite person, and I love her as a person as well as a singer, I think she’s the greatest, and that’s Ella Fitzgerald. 

Love all

Compiled by : ram H singhal for Flow of Silence Saturday Music Blog

Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart ( 1899 – 1957 ) an American actor who became a preeminent motion picture “tough guy” and was a top box-office attraction during the 1940s and ’50s. 

Humphrey Bogart defined an era of cinema.

The only thing you owe the public is a good performance. Humphrey Bogart

Acting is experience with something sweet behind it. Humphrey Bogart

An actor needs something to stabilize his personality, something to nail down what he really is, not what he is currently pretending to be. Humphrey Bogart

Unless you really understand the water, and understand the reason for being on it, and understand the love of sailing and the feeling of quietness and solitude, you don’t really belong on a boat anyway. I think Hemingway said one time that the sea is the last free place on earth. Humphrey Bogart

Movie of the Week 22 :  Sabrina

Sabrina : 1954 was a successful year for Humphrey Bogart as he acted in one of the highest-rated movies of the year Sabrina alongside Audrey Hepburn.

Movie of the Week 22 :  The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre : Greed and insecurity is a driving force for humans and that was proven in the 1948 film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, starring Humphrey Bogart as Dobbs, Tim Holt as Curtin, and Walter Huston as Howard. The three men go on the adventure of a lifetime to the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico to find gold.

Even though the three men discover treasure, they also stumble upon bandits hidden in the Mexican wilderness as well as their own greed and insecurities. The bonds of friendship are tested in this classic adventure film.

Movie of the Week 22 : Casablanca

Casablanca : One of Bogart’s most well-known films is the 1942 film Casablanca  where he starred as nightclub owner Rick Blaine. The stunning Ingrid Bergman starred as Rick’s former love , who has returned to Casablanca with her new husband Victor Laszlo, played by Paul Henreid.

Normally One movie is what is my target but all these above movies are master pieces , see them again if you have before otherwise see them on Sunday .

Love All.

(c) ram H singhal

Music is Bliss rain

It has been moderate raining in Jaipur continuously since last night , so was listening Raga Malhar this morning , for a music lover it is not rain …… absolutely Bliss Rain.

In India, the ancient tradition that links nature and mankind is reflected in music that goes back 5,000 years. Certain melodies and rhythms, known as ragas, were to be played at certain times of the day, or during different seasons.

In February, 1977, as the first sound healer to go public, I was invited to meet one of India’s living treasures and master musicians, Dr. Sunil K. Bose, who was lecturing and performing a concert. He invited me onstage, and magic happened.

The focus of the concert was a guided meditation by producer Harriet Shaw to invoke rain during the 1977 drought.

Astoundingly, with no rain in the forecast, it rained shortly thereafter!

Steven Halpern

The Rain Raga Intention Experiment 1977

Music reflects cosmic laws and it is attuned to energies of the universe in which we live.

The Indian Classical Music Raga-Time relationship can be explained on the basis of the rotation of the Earth around the Sun.

The position of the Sun with respect to the Earth varies with time, leading to differential warming of the Earth’s atmosphere at different timings of the day.

Consequently, the atmosphere is set to distinct frequencies, which is in accordance with the heat-energy received by Earth.

When melodic frequencies or notes of a raga match atmospheric frequencies, the result is pleasing, mesmerising and magical.

Music, itself has originated from the naturally occurring primordial sound, ‘OM’.

Raga Megh /Ustd Rashid Khan/ Garaje Ghata

An ancient Indian tradition inspired musicians to sing Malhar Raga to invoke the Rain God. It is a Prayer to all the five basic elements of the universe –earth, sky, wind, fire and water — because rain formation involves all these elements.

Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty || Raag Miyan ki Malhar ||

The prayer is for protection, conservation and preservation of nature.

Love all.

(c) ram H singhal

Timeless Background Music

OM

is the

Timeless Background Music

of

Time Movie ” Cosmic Dance “.

Love All.

(c) ram H singhal

Movie Week 19 : Clint Eastwood

Movie of the Week : MILLION DOLLAR BABY (2004)

Clint Eastwood, in full Clinton Eastwood, Jr., (born May 31, 1930, San Francisco , California ) is an American motion-picture actor who emerged as one of the most popular Hollywood stars in the 1960s and went on to become a Prolific and respected director-producer.

One of the greatest figures in film history turns 91 on May 31.

Praise to the Man With No Name who could be a Dirty Harry for a Few Dollars More but was never Unforgiven by his fans, because he was never shy of being In the Line of Fire, even if he was a Million Dollar Baby driving a Gran Torino with few best Quotes.

“There’s a rebel lying deep in my soul. Anytime anybody tells me the trend is such and such, I go the opposite direction. I hate the idea of trends. I hate imitation; I have a reverence for individuality.”
― Clint Eastwood, 

Clint Eastwood – 13 Oscars

“Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to
self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt,
that’s real power.”
― Clint Eastwood

“They say all marriages are made in heaven, but so are thunder and lightning.”
― Clint Eastwood

MILLION DOLLAR BABY (2004)

Director: Clint Eastwood. Writer: Paul Haggis. Starring Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Jay Baruchel.

“Million Dollar Baby” was perhaps the most acclaimed movie of 2004. It received seven Oscar nominations and won the awards for Best Picture, Best Director for Eastwood, Best Actress for Hilary Swank, and Best Supporting Actor for Morgan Freeman.

Eastwood was also nominated as Best Actor but he lost that award to Jamie Foxx in “Ray.” The film tells the story of a young woman who aspires to be a professional boxer. She forms a deep bond with her trainer (Eastwood) that takes them through both triumph and tragedy.

Love All.

(c) ram H singhal

I’m Jack Nicholson

Film in the movie hall is illusion and reality at the same time. ( c) ram H singhal

MY second film Artist for Week 18 of Year 2021 is Legendary Jack Nichlson and the film is

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

With my sunglasses on, I’m Jack Nicholson. Without them, I’m fat and 60. Jack Nicholson

I’m an actor who they said was wrinkled and balding and everything else when I was in my early 30’s. Most of the people who wrote that who thought they were younger than me are now bald and wrinkled. Jack Nicholson

I learned a long time ago in Hollywood that the only person I should vote for is myself. Jack Nicholson

Jack Nicholson, an American actor, producer, director and screenwriter, is a three-time Academy Award winner and twelve-time nominee and one of the two actors – the other being Michael Caine who have received an Oscar nomination in every decade from the 1960s through the early 2000s.

Nicholson was born on April 22, 1937, in Neptune, New Jersey.

Nicholson scored his first Oscar and created one of his most iconic characters as McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Nicholson plays a man who pleads insanity to avoid getting sent to prison and finds himself in a mental institution where he becomes the leader of the odd group of patients there.

The movie is a funny, sad and powerful film featuring a great cast led by Nicholson. The is the perfect rebel for this story, an immature and selfish man who nonetheless becomes something of a protector to these outcasts.

A great movie to watch with superb natural acting by All.

Love all.

Padma Bhushan Rajan Mishra

‘Irreparable loss to the art and music world. ’: Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi condoles classical singer Rajan Mishra’s death

Indian Classical singer Rajan Mishra, a Padma Bhushan awardee, died of complications caused by COVID-19 at a hospital on Sunday. He was 70.

Belonging to the Benaras gharana, Mr. Mishra, along with brother Sajan Mishra, made a mark for himself as a vocalist in the khyal style of Indian classical singing.

Remember this Great artist who along with brother Sajan Mishra Performed in Courtyard of my home Heritage House in Jodhpur Rajasthan on Sunday, 30 April 2006 evening before a private audience of family and friends .

It was a mesmerizing evening , have the recording of this in my collection . He always performed so good , remember him listening since 1982 but one which left a timeless impression when both brother performed in Ahmedabad music festival in 2005 till early morning . Met and listened Duo Brothers on many occasions in different parts of India .

Truly India has lost a great music Artist as well a Guru who was open to share his genius to next generation ,

May God give peace to Departed Soul and strength to family and all music lovers across World to bear his Earthly absence .

Love all

( ram H singhal )

Raga Todi

Music can change the world.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ragmala painting of (Ragini) Gujari  Todi (Kulu, Pahadi – circa A.D. 1750)

Gujari Todi is a very common Morning Raga . 

Arohana

Avarohana

Raga Gujari Todi (Complete) – Begum Parveen Sultana

Real music leads to total inner calm and Enlightenment …… how true!! Spell bounding…….

Raag Gujri Todi Pt. Hariprassad Chaurasia

Simple Serenity …….

Love All.

(c) ram H singhal

Classical is a Temple

“If Music is a Place — then Jazz is the City, Folk is the Wilderness, Rock is the Road, Classical is a Temple.”– Vera Nazarin

Vera Nazarian is a two-time Nebula Award Finalist, a Dragon Award 2018 Finalist author, award-winning artist, publisher of Norilana Books, musician, philosopher, and creator of wonder.

Raga Jaunpuri is associated with Jaunpur where the raga is said to have evolved – at least that is what folklore says.

Jaunpur was an independent Sultanat in the 15th century which had a reputation of being a city dedicated to learning (ilm ka shahar). It was considered second only to Varanasi as a hub of music and musicians.

Raga Jaunpuri is a late morning raga.

My choice for Raga Jaunpuri is Sanjeev Abhayankar and Venkatesh Kumar.

Love all

(c) ram H singhal

Bathe in the truth

O friend!  hope for Divine whilst you live, know whilst you live,

  understand whilst you live: for in life deliverance abides.

If your bonds be not broken whilst living, what hope of deliverance in death?

It is but an empty dream, that the soul shall have union with Divine because it has passed from the body:

If Divine is found now, Divine is found then,

If not, we do but go to dwell in the City of Death.

If you have union now, you shall have it hereafter.

Bathe in the truth, know the true Guru, have faith in the true Name!

Kabîr says: “It is the Spirit of the quest which helps; I am the slave of this Spirit of the quest.

~By:  Kabir From: Songs Of Kabir Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

Kabir Das (IAST: Kabīr) was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint, whose writings influenced Hinduism’s Bhakti movement and his verses are found in Sikhism’s scripture Guru Granth Sahib. 

Love All.

Compiled by : ran H singhal