Kurt Elling, SuperBlue and Endless Lawns
Photo credit: Dave Stapleton Kurt Elling.
Voice extraordinaire. Born 1967 in Chicago (3 years my senior), raised in Rockford, Illinois. He discovered the wonders of jazz while attending Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. He developed his vocal chops back in Chicago while attending the University of Chicago Divinity School. Then he signed to Blue Note Records in the mid-90’s. Long story short, this man has been releasing records showcasing his vocal jazz since the 90’s.
The kicker? I had never heard or seen his name uttered through all these years. Not, that is, until watching the GRAMMY pre-awards broadcast on February 4th, when the award for Best Alternative Jazz Album was given out. It was Meshell Ndegeocello who won the award (for The Omnichord Real Book, which I still need to listen to); but among the nominees was 7-string guitarist Charlie Hunter, who I’ve listened to and followed on and off for years – so it caught my eye. The nomination was for SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree, by SuperBlue, featuring Charlie Hunter and Kurt Elling. “Hmm, interesting,” I thought, and dialed it up on Apple Music on my way to pick up some dinner. Super interesting sounds, and a really unique singer. Who was this guy? A song about the #9? A beauty of a tune called “Little Fairy Carpenter,” the funky explosion that is “Bounce It.”
I was impressed and wanted to explore more about this group. To YouTube I went, and the very first thing I stumbled upon was a SuperBlue performance at Bimhuis, a jazz concert hall in Amsterdam. It was live streamed in November 2023, and I’m telling you, if you haven’t experienced the instrument-like voice of Kurt Elling, you can do no better than starting with this SuperBlue performance with Kurt, Charlie, Julius Rodriguez on keys, and Marcus Finnie on drums.
Now I need to tell you why I start the below show at 49:00. By all means, zip back to the beginning and watch it all. But first, immerse yourself in the splendor that is “Endless Lawns” – a beautiful, soul-filling journey where Kurt shows off every facet of his remarkable vocal control and range. I can’t get enough!! I listen to it almost daily, and it’s such a part of me at this point that it’s hard to believe I first heard it just a matter of weeks ago in early February.
The music itself was written as the instrumental “Lawns” by the late jazz composer and artist Carla Bley in 1987 (an artist who I also was shamefully not familiar with). Kurt took the song and composed some seriously deep, cosmic lyrics that evoke the wonders of the cosmos and its connection to us and to love. It first appeared on his 2018 album The Questions, with trumpet player Marquis Hill adding some soothing solos. Then it was redone for the 2020 SuperBlue album. Personally, I listen to The Questions version more often, but both are fantastic.
It goes without saying that I cannot wait to see Kurt live somewhere, some time. I will make it happen.
Dig into this “Endless Lawns” performance, all the way through now, start to finish. Do not miss the ending, which will make your mouth drop.
Thank you Kurt, and my bad for missing out on you all these years.
Recap: Springsteen in Phoenix (March 19)
It’s been 19 days since the tour opener of the 2024 incarnation of Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. The show took place here in Phoenix, his first show here since March 2016 (!) when Bruce and the Band performed The River start to finish, followed by a greatest hits set.
It’s been 19 days, and it’s that old familiar feeling of slowly coming down from the experience of spending a few hours with Bruce. Stats-wise, it was my 10th E Street show, and 18th seeing Bruce (other shows include the ’92 band, solo tours, and the Seeger Sessions Band).
It’s been 19 days, and I’m still set list tracking as they travel from town to town, busting out the deep cuts (“Jole Blon,” “Tougher Than The Rest,” “Viva Las Vegas”).
Yes, friends, somehow eight years passed between getting to see Bruce, and I can confirm that the magic and buzz you feel for weeks on end after a show still endures. And this time, I brought my youngest daughter – a senior in high school with mere weeks left in her school year. Crazy to think that the last time I saw Bruce she was only 9 years old. Now, she knows that special feeling too.
I will offer one gripe about the ticket prices. The last several times, I bought pit tickets for under $200. This time around, with Ticketmaster’s brilliant “dynamic pricing,” those same pit tickets were going for $750! I’m still not a rich man, so I held out until a couple days before to see what I could stumble in to. In the end, I opted for behind the stage in the corner of stage right. Not optimal, but it was a cool vantage point, and what the hell, you’re in the building seeing Bruce Springsteen.
Top to bottom, the set list did not disappoint, but if I were to give some personal highlights:
- “Thunder Road”- among my top 3 Bruce tunes. The opening harmonica, the opening verse, the deep history steeped in this song; the bare bones versions I’ve loved (MTV Plugged, Live 85-95). Everything about it. Tears welled in my eyes.
- “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)” – From his latest album of lesser-known soul covers. This was the surprise of the night for me. The great background vocals with the singers stepping to the front with Bruce. This had me revisiting the album in the days after the show, and definitely gave me a new appreciation for this Ben E. King tune in particular.
- “Last Man Standing” and “I’ll See You In My Dreams” – both acoustic, with the latter closing the show. They’re from his 2020 Letter To You album, and they pay tribute to his late bandmate George Theiss of Bruce’s first band, the Castiles. Bruce does such a great job of setting the background in an emotional, poignant way. And for me, I’m just as happy watching Bruce alone with his guitar and voice – after all, those Devils & Dust and Ghost of Tom Joad shows are among my favorites. More goosebumps.
- “No Surrender” and “Darlington County” from Born in the USA, which always hit right with me.
- “Darkness on the Edge of Town” and “Backstreets” – the classic ballads, goosebumps every time.
- Last and not least, looking over at my daughter and seeing a big smile plastered across her face, singing along to a bunch of the classics. A memory for a lifetime. Magic in the night.
All I can hope for as a fan is that this wasn’t my last time seeing Bruce the Band. I pray for more.
And now, 19 days later, I scan tonight’s show at the Forum in L.A… and… look at that, another tour debut! He just opened with “Open All Night” (last played in 2014). Lucky dogs. Off to Twitter for some breaking videos.
- “Thunder Road”- among my top 3 Bruce tunes. The opening harmonica, the opening verse, the deep history steeped in this song; the bare bones versions I’ve loved (MTV Plugged, Live 85-95). Everything about it. Tears welled in my eyes.