day forty one - genius

Sometimes, I need to get away. To be so far from reality and the pressure that it all disappears, even just for a few moments. In this time, I can recharge, regroup, reassess and recuperate, but really, I just want to be lost.

One way I can do this is through music. Music is at my very core - my first language. It’s always been with me, accompanying my every waking moment.

I can’t escape with all music though. Simple, repetitive, harmonically malnourished, lyrically vapid piffle does little more than infuriate me, worsening the situation.

I’d been aware of a young musician (vocalist, composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist who has an otherworldly understanding of musicianship and theory) by the name of Jacob Collier for some time. He was taken under Quincy Jones’ wing and hangs out with Herbie Hancock, but it wasn’t until a student (happy birthday mate) started to ask some fascinating questions about his music and the theory behind it that I truly got to appreciate the utter genius of the man.

[Should you debate the use of the term genius, I invite you to first follow all the links and watch the videos, then study his other works and videos explaining his understanding of theory, and then (quirky hats or not), see if there’s possibly a way to justify not call him a musical genius.]

For me, his most incredible work to date is his arrangement of “Moon River” music written by Henry Mancini and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It floored me when I heard it for the first time… and every time since. With a good set of headphones, I can literally forget where I am in space and time for the duration of the song. It’s like meditation.

I hate that I feel I need to escape some times. I love that there’s a medium so universal as music that allows me to do it.

Kilt of the day - Campbell of Argyle tartan

Unsurprising Soundtrack of the day - “Moon River“ - Jacob Collier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPLCk-FTVvw

Score of the day - “Moon River” - Jacob Collier Transcribed by June Lee

Edited by June Lee and Jacob Collier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhyyjRcrn84

Link of the day - Jacob Collier: Moon River - Harmonic Analysis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTDHylJZMXU

Live stream of the day - LOGIC SESSION BREAKDOWN: "Moon River" - Jacob Collier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d4-URyWEJQ

(and yes… I do have a musical man-crush).