Something About Her Eyes
New Orleans, often called the Big Easy and the birthplace of Jazz, is a city full of celebrants of art & life. The inhabitants are vigorous, vibrant and sensual. Jazz is their heritage and it rejuvenates them by removing melancholy moods and monotonous days. However, nothing shields New Orleanians from the perils of nature and the uncertain drama Katrina is about to unfold with its mighty winds, rain and tornados.
Something about her Eyes illustrates in music (1) the sense of calm enjoyed by the residents of New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina approached the city (High Ground); (2) the alarming fright, ghostly and sinister feeling that overcame them moments before Katrina struck New Orleans (Grieving); and (3) the stark isolation the natives felt after enduring and witnessing the devastation caused by the immense violent force of nature named Katrina (Help is on its Way and Must I Repeat Myself).
Nevertheless, proud and strong people will not stay beaten to the ground long, they RISE anew and stronger. The resilience of the indomitable spirit of the citizens of New Orleans is captured in Papa Bass’s smooth jazz rhythms of Big and Easy and Something About Her Eyes. The bold and heroic determination of the city’s people to rebuild New Orleans exemplifies their moral courage, valiant and unrelenting struggle to return to their former peaceful existence (Southern Tears, Sa La Ve, When I Get Back to New Orleans and Last Train Home). Join this “smooth jazz” trip back in time as you listen to and reflect upon the trials and tribulations of human endurance and aspiration. The New Orleanians are survivors! PaPa Bass wanted his tribute to them to be orchestrated and performed well because the people of the city deserve a masterpiece that tells the story of survivorship and triumph. You have done your job PaPa Bass!
Tracks of Something About Her Eyes
1. High Ground 8:00
Lightness, happiness, gaiety as well as an all-encompassing calypso beat; reminiscent of the city’s primordial beginnings, no one has a disturbing care in the world only the feeling of being free to do, to be and to have all the goodness of this great earth. These rhythmic sounds of New Orleans are heard throughout High Ground.
2. Sa La Ve 6:21
There is a sense of longing, reminiscing supremely of what use to be and can be again, yearning for the carefree days that were just here, but back to work beckons. The toil is made easy however by the steady soothing beat within Sa La Ve that makes you just want to lightly bounce around the room, field, street or hallway as you proceed with a daily routine. The full rounded tune blown by the horns causes the body to move from side to side in a sassy sway without thinking. Listening to a pleasurable composition like Sa La Ve is a wonderful way to work or move through an otherwise monotonous day. Ah-h-h…. Life is good!
3. Big and Easy 6:06
Big and Easy possesses a grandioso sound similar to the raucous music that often fills the poignant French Quarter. The song invokes color within the mind’s eye and has enough perkiness that you can visualize the people of New Orleans working, playing, shouting, dancing, gathering the family, friends and even strangers for a good “come one, come all” BIG TIME PARTY. Everyone in the city is carefree, unaware of the danger that is over the horizon.
4. Help Is On The Way 11.50
The pain of New Orleans is real in this piece. You can see the despondent emotional disarray of the people, feel their pain through the music and almost hear Mayor Nagin asking the President “Where is the Help?” The piano’s staccato response is similar to President Bush’s answer to Mayor Nagin’s question in that he told the Mayor and residents of New Orleans that “help is on the way.” The mournful sad melody repeats Mayor Nagin’s question that is no longer a request, yet the refrain from President Bush is still the same. Listen to “Help is on the Way” and feel the downtrodden spirit of the city’s inhabitants. PaPa Bass has captured the spirit of New Orleans’s lost souls quite well in this musical composition. Masterfully performed.
5. Must I Repeat Myself 6:44
Mayor Nagin’s song “Must I Repeat Myself.” Papa Bass employs a dynamic rhythmic style of playing the bass in “Must I Repeat Myself” that invites you to sing along with Mayor Nagin “Must I Repeat Myself.” Yes, the Mayor of New Orleans is still asking for aid from our government led by President Bush. Maybe if we all sing along with the strings of Papa’s bass guitar, the President will hear us and send the necessary aid without further delay.
6. Grieving 8:16
The syncopation of the drums and piano evokes a haunting call and answer that creates an eerie and unsettling sense of what people felt as they witnessed incomprehensible devastation. You can almost hear the people of New Orleans saying, “Look at the Devastation! What am I going to do? Won’t somebody please HELP?” In “Grieving you can see and feel the emotions of a people confronting devastation without an answer as to why it happened to them. “Grieving” is a song without words but yet you sing the words “Won’t you HELP ME” with and for the survivors of the disaster left by Katrina—as your body sways in time with the musical sounds. Additionally, there are some parts of “Grieving” that causes the imagination to actually see the strong, enormous massive hurricane wobbling and spiraling over New Orleans, literally destroying the city. Horrifying!
7. Something About Her Eyes 8:51
This piece was composed with the determination of a people in mind resonating the words “we will rebuild” with fists held high. New Orleans residents repeat during the aftermath of Katrina: Katrina you have humbled us with your might but we are not defeated. Katrina you were humongous and caused much destruction but we are a resilient people. The future lies before us and we will return to the vicinity of our homes, businesses and schools to begin anew.”
8. Southern Tears 8:08
“Southern Tears” is silky, smooth. Mardi Gras music regenerates the citizens of New Orleans and gives them hope for the future. This piece makes a person want to step to the beat and get the feet moving for there is much work to do; yet, “Southern Tears” calms the soul making it easier to get the work done. This is truly a song that should be playing within everyone’s place of employment.
9. When I Get Back To Orleans 8:05
“When I Get Back to Orleans” is slow but busy. It has a steady rhythm with the sound of triangles, sticks, drums and horns coming in right on time. This is the song to place in your CD when you want to simply think and plan for the future. Each resident of New Orleans has gone through such a period of contemplation and planning. For those residents still in this phase, I suggest that they purchase “Something About Those Eyes” and listen to “When I Get Back to New Orleans” to aid in the thinking and rebuilding process.
10. Last Train Home
Jubilation! “Last Train Home” is joyful and makes you want to dance ecstatically, shout for joy and feel peaceful due to a job well done at the same time. Papa Bass ended this CD with the perfect song of celebration.