It feels like 1959 again. The ground has broken, the stars aligned….

I am not a Jazz musician. I haven’t spent the years studying and improvising. I haven’t paid my dues, so to speak. But I listen to Jazz. I savor it. I actively participate with it in my mind. It keeps me going. So when one of my favorite Jazz musicians comes out with a new record, I get excited. Really excited. And here, it’s fully merited. 

(Full disclaimer, I know Charu Suri. I have performed with her in New York City. Having said that it was her music that drew me to her. This was before “Ragas and Waltzes.”) 

I used to let trucking miles roll forever to albums like this. It almost gave the sensation of floating. Waltzes do that to me. There’s an anti-gravity bounce to a good waltz this is usually visualized by two people dancing in my head. It’s strange a music with no words can make the synapses in my brain go to that, but that’s what happens. Waltzes; two people floaty dancing. It’s inherently intimate in that respect. Always two people, not crowds. Always dancing gracefully, not locked in publicly safe embraces, rocking back and fourth to a very heavy 4/4 time. 

When “Vienna Waltz” comes on, I’m instantly taken to ice skating rinks and cotton candy. To me, this tune is what you’d put on for the soundtrack to quiet, nostalgic fun. Charu wastes no time introducing us to many styles with the subtleties and bravado of her playing. Here, we have a cocktail of classical, blues, and jazz. It comes out on a jazz record, and that’s how it should be. It sets a great tone in so much as it features the great band, which we’ll get to. And, also like all songs on the record, the playing is quietly confident. Haven’t seen Charu play like this before. She’s saying “gather ‘round” instead of “listen.” It’s a welcoming and enticing jazz, not complicated and daunting.

“Verona Waltz” is going to be the next “Ice Cream Truck Standard.” This song is a black and white or sepia pastime of sundries and sunny days. I can hear it playing on a great visit with family and friends. I can also, seriously, hear it in Ice Cream Trucks, commercials, movies, etc. If you happen to be looking for music for a good day scene, look no further. We got catchy, we got short, and we got repeatable.

Let’s come back to “Waltz for my Father.” It’s my blog and I can do what I want. 

I should talk a little bit about arrangements here. Charu’s playing and composition is expert, so she had to get expert players. It’s very hard, as a musician, to play quietly and confidently. On any instrument, we have a tendency to increase in volume, the faster we play. That’s what I mean by quietly and confidently. Charu’s band here makes playing quietly sound effortless and natural. Nothing takes the listener out of a much desired musical trance. This music not only helps me escape, it helps me settle down. I don’t know if it gets more important than that in today’s world. It’s truly a missionary piece, saying, “be calm.” It takes amazing playing to jam on that message quietly. Amazing experience. Amazing teamwork. Featured on this record are some “lightning in a bottle” moments. But they aren’t flashy and in your face, they’re cleverly woven in relaxing tunes by professional musicians. 

There’s two quiet Ragas; “Floating (Raga Kalyani),” and “Nature (Raga Hemant).” Anyone new to Charu’s music is probably slightly delighted and a lot puzzled by Raga Jazz, here’s what I know; these two songs are accessible in melody and tone. They have catchy phrases and beautiful arrangement. They convey intended mood, I’m assuming from the titles in that they nourish appreciating the surroundings and maybe a walk. They are suitable for quiet alone time or quiet dinners. Charu is a teacher, in my opinion. Here, she’s teaching us a little bit about herself. Almost like the first day of class. These songs are quite lovely, and very calm introductions. 

“Farewell Waltz” caps off the listening experience with a violin melody that will have you whistling all day if you are like me. It’s like dessert that never goes away. Ultimately, this tune serves a wonder of a purpose in that it makes me start the whole album experience over again. I think great song placement does that. 

“Waltz for my Father” is my favorite track. I didn’t talk to my dad for about 20 years. We are best friends now. I have adopted this song to show him as a token of my affection. My father loves Randy Newman and New Orleans, he loves travel, he loves diverse cultures and languages and food, he loves excitement. This song makes me think about him. It’s the most selfless act I can think of, turning your grief into a message to appreciate time with people. But Charu does that as gracefully as ever, with just a title and a melody, here. It’s brilliant in its empathy, and movements. And it’s uncanny in its nostalgia. All-time favorite track from Charu on an all-time favorite Jazz record from anyone, right here. It’s more than special, it’s a once in a lifetime moment. 

Besides showing us how to do it, as great teachers like Charu do, they are also adept at showing us how to enjoy it. Everything from the art, to the beautiful mixing, to the arrangements, to the names of the songs all seem to convey a message; “be still.” I’m grateful for messages like this from great teachers. It improves life and conversations. What more could you ask of music?