I love #JulieLondon who first sang #CryMeARiver in 1955, the year I was born. She was accompanied by #BarneyKessel, monster guitar player. 

So I feel this is a pretty apt little tribute to the sound of the guitar and the voice together, two of the most perfect combos in the world. Like bread and butter, you know?

Pavel Ershov I’m so happy I found you. Really, truly. I hope we can actually play live one day together. Or maybe leave well enough alone? I dunno. It’s all so iffy with this virus.

And Ale Rosenblat and Lautaro Luna Binder thanks for putting it together and putting up with me.

Hope you like it.
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#JazzStandards #guitarandvoice #jazzvocal #coronajazz #internationaljazz #jazzacrosstheworld

Cry Me A River

#FirstSignsOfEnnui is a song I wrote along with #RyoKawasaki back in 1978 in #NewYorkCity. I had just developed a relationship with the #NYTCrossword which was edited by #EugeneTMaleska and the word ‘ennui’ featured a lot. Being somewhat impressionable (at 23), I felt very high-and-mighty using an obscure word in a song. 

We didn’t actually release the song on any album, not sure why, but years later, I found a demo version of it on a #cassette my mom had saved. I had to hunt for a guy who could take the music from the cassette and give me a #digital version.

Ryo remastered it and it was released by #NuNorthernSoul  in 2018, in the form of 100 cassettes that you need to write in for. Very odd because I don’t think anyone has cassette players these days. Anyhow it's up on #Bandcamp. 

This version is different from the original... and it's kind of nice to take a tune and do it completely in a different way.  I never thought we’d be able to pull of trades and what-not online, but we did. Ryo passed last year so he didn't hear this one, but maybe he would have liked it.

My cohorts are 
Pavel Ershov from #Russia on guitar, 
Maciek Szczyciński from Poland on bass, and Ben Amstutz from #Massachusetts on drums.
I hope you like it.
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#NewYorkTimesCrossword #jazzquartet #originaljazz #uptempojazz #songsinmylife #songsIvewritten #coronamusic #lockdownjazz #jazzacrosstheworld #internationaljazz

First Signs Of Ennui

They’re getting younger and younger, the musicians I’m working with these days, as I’m getting older and older. Oddly, I also started my musical career at 16.

Meet @amithavguitar a 16 year-old, monster guitar player from Chennai. I met him through my friend @babimitra who sent me some of his music a few months ago.

Since then Sir Gautam (he insists on calling me ‘Ma’am’ although I have assured him I do not run brothels or anything like that) has done a lot of shredding and can finesse almost any genre you toss at him.

It’s pure joy.

Which is why I chose #JoySpring, a #CliffordBrown instrumental tune. Hope you like it. Thanks also to @ale.rosenblat (sound) and @lautarolunab (video) from #Argentina.

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#jazzduo #guitarandvoicejazz #teenagemutants

Joy Spring

There are times in life when nothing but a little #StevieRayVaughan will do. No #ellafitzgerald, no #sarahvaughan, just Stevie (not #steviewonder). 

#theskyiscrying  is a song I’ve loved for years. I remember driving to #Connecticut from #LongIsland with the top down and blasting my #cassette (yeah, a gazillion years ago) at top volume, feeling like queen of the road.

Accompanying me is the wonderful Keith Peters whom I’ve known from when I first started singing. It's so nice that through the years we have had the chance to play together live. Also on this #video is the new kid on stage, Sir Amithav Gautam.

How he channels #BBKing and Stevie Ray and #JimiHendrix all at the same time one will never know, because he can channel #WesMontgomery and #KennyBurrell with equal facility. All this at 16 and that means he hasn't paid all his dues, ha.

He is a bloody prodigy, that one.

Anyhow, this is just a one-off departure from jazz mostly on account of Amithav who made my throat itch for some blues.

Oh and one more thing. All three of us are basically from #Chennai, which makes this very special for me.

Hope you like it
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#bluesguitar #singingtheblues #Chennaiites #peoplefromchennai #downhomeblues #gottapayyourdues
There are times in life when nothing but a little #StevieRayVaughan will do. No #ellafitzgerald, no #sarahvaughan, just Stevie (not #steviewonder). 

#theskyiscrying  is a song I’ve loved for years. I remember driving to #Connecticut from #LongIsland with the top down and blasting my #cassette (yeah, a gazillion years ago) at top volume, feeling like queen of the road.

Accompanying me is the wonderful Keith Peters whom I’ve known from when I first started singing. It's so nice that through the years we have had the chance to play together live. Also on this #video is the new kid on stage, Sir Amithav Gautam.

How he channels #BBKing and Stevie Ray and #JimiHendrix all at the same time one will never know, because he can channel #WesMontgomery and #KennyBurrell with equal facility. All this at 16 and that means he hasn't paid all his dues, ha.

He is a bloody prodigy, that one.

Anyhow, this is just a one-off departure from jazz mostly on account of Amithav who made my throat itch for some blues.

Oh and one more thing. All three of us are basically from #Chennai, which makes this very special for me.

Hope you like it
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#bluesguitar #singingtheblues #Chennaiites #peoplefromchennai #downhomeblues #gottapayyourdues

The Sky Is Crying

Smooth and silky, #Chill was written by my piano playin’ pal, Michael Molloy when he was just 19 or 20. I had no idea he could play guitar so nicely. So, presenting The Molloy Twins 1 and 2. One is feeling shy today and is hiding under his hat. Two is brave.
Seriously, I absolutely loved singing it. It’s very different from the kind of songs I usually sing. I would love doing a live gig with Mike. 
Ah well.
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#jazztrio #bangaloretolondon #guitarpianoandvoice #originaljazz #transcontinentaljazz #smoothjazz #cooljazz

Chill

#MyOldFlame
Many terrible things happened in 1934. From a rash of dictators rising in Germany, China, Russia, Bolivia and Brazil to the #GreatDepression reaching depths of hopelessness unseen before.
But some nice things happened too. 
#DonaldDuck first appeared on the scene and so did this song #MyOldFlame. 
Moving to the #HereAndNow, accompanying me beautifully as always is Sir G (Amithav Gautam), the mini marvel from #Madras.
It’s a lovely, lazy tune with a lyric that must have been quite raunchy in its time.
Thanks to Ale Rosenblat and Lautaro Luna Binder
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#jazzstandard #jazzduo #guitarandvoice #jazzguitarandvoice #onlinejazzcollabs

My Old Flame

A CASE OF THE BANGALORE BLUES, Music & Lyrics Radha Thomas

I’m all alone, 
All my welcomes worn
I feel so sad ‘cos I’m oh so far from my home
I can’t get up and go
Cos I ain’t got the dough 
I’m stuck here in the sleet and rain and the snow
I dream of purple trees
Gardens filled with bees

I’m down with an awful case of the Bangalore Blues
 
I can smell the rain
Playing dirty tricks on my brain
I wish it was close so I could just hop on a train
But that city’s too far
I can’t get there by car
So all that’s left to do is go find me a bar
But one day soon I’ll fly
I’ll take to the friendly sky

But right now I’m filled with a case of the Bangalore Blues

My friends they all said
That travelling’s bad for your head
Be careful there girl or you could wind up being dead
Back then I didn’t care
I knew I wouldn’t scare
I was so damn sure about all my pizzazz and my flair
I was filled with confidence
And new experience

But I got stuck with a case of the Bangalore 
I fell down with a case of the Bangalore
I was stumped by a case of the Bangalore Blues


A Case of the Bangalore Blues

Song originally written by Don McLean. I'm doing a different version. With Pawel Orlow from Poland.

Wonderful Baby Mix

Today little #NikoRaPersson my grandson, turns one month. I can’t wait another 11 months to make him a birthday song. I just cannot.
This is an adaptation of an old #Brazilian song called #TicoTico.
I’m calling this #NikoNiko. Hope u like it our darling boy, bundle of joy.
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Oh Niko Niko Tik

#NatureBoy Is one of the most popular songs of all time. The haunting melody kind of sticks in one’s brain long after the song is over. I’m singing it for my grandson #NikoRaPersson. 

Listen Niko, your Nana can’t sing songs the way they were written. It’s impossible for me. This one is quite a departure in terms of style, from what I usually do for you… it’s more ‘on’ the beat than on the ‘back beat.’ Maybe one day you’ll care about such things. Judging by your enchantment with music, I’ll bet you do.

Accompanying me on all the other instruments (electronics too) is @pawelorlow from Poland. He has a little girl who loves his music too.

So Niko, this song has been sung by a zillion people, but I’m hoping you’ll like my version the best.and I won’t be upset if your daddy and mommy like it too. @stefanicpersson8 @lipindapa

Nature Boy

I adapted this tune called #Dominique (from the 1963 movie #TheSingingNun) for my grandson #NikoRaPersson who will soon be three months old.

His mommy, my daughter-in-law Linda Ramakrishnan Persson thought it would be a great idea to do an animated video for it. Honestly it wouldn’t have occurred to me. 

My very smart and talented 10 year-old niece Violette Cauvet, offered to make the video. Conceptualise, create and execute it. She is quite something. She goes to school in #Kodaikanal, and has spent many of her homework hours on this. Bisous Vivi. 

Playing keys from #Lviv in the #Ukraine is Yura Romaniv who totally gets it every time. Mostly we play jazz but this is our second Niko tune.

Age and geography are really irrelevant these days when it comes to creating collaborative art. Have to thank technology for that. Working with Yura and Vivi is is a privilege. 

Is animation a #performingart? Are lyrics actually poems? Who makes the rules? We’re just having fun. Vivi n Yura n me.

And Stefan Persson before you go complaining that I didn’t write any songs for you when you were a baby, it’s because I was busy changing diapers.

Hope you like it.

Learning Left From Right And Wrong

‘BaNana Song’ Another tune for my grandson Niko

Mostly I give him sweet, life-affirming, gentle advise. Sometimes I become the mean grandma… like those people who wrote #JackandJill’ and #HumptyDumpty and #GeorgiePorgie. What to do? What to do? Like’s a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Accompanying me is @yura.romaniv and the illustrations were inspired my my niece Violette’s interpretation of Niko. 
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#jazzforkids #jazzvocal #originaljazz #jazzforbabies #jazzlessonstolearn #meangrandma @jazznurseryrhymes

BaNana Song For Niko

A song for a baby ought to be nice
Filled only with sweetness, not so much spice
But #nurseryrhymes they seem oh so cruel
Spite and misfortune is all that they fuel

Struck me as I sang #humptydumpty and #threeblindmice and #jackandjill that music for babies is actually pretty violent. 

I wanted to fix that. 

With the help of my wonderful collaborator from #lviv #ukraine @yuraromaniv3476.

And of course it’s another one for #nikorapersson. The baby with the most jazz songs dedicated to him in the world.

Rock A Boy Niko

1978. All my 4 octaves intact. Singing with Ryo Kawasaki. Home sessions. Unreleased. Rough recordings. But nice.

If I had known it would come to be
That you saw more than me
What you think is real is my nothingness
Formless feelings that flee
I may have never let you come through
My defences and guard
Wish I could curb my impulsiveness
That makes me so free
Guess I was wrong
Sweet tears

I’ve never felt more for anything
Than my own vanity
I’ve been content in my wandering
Inconsistent but true
I’ve never cried for my weaknesses
Just your failure in me
I think I’m real but then who am I
Just a drop in the sea
Maybe I’m right
Sweet tears







Sweet Tears

This is the rough version before we recorded the album 'Mirror of my Mind.' Music by Ryo kawasaki and Lyrics by me.


Trinkets & Things

Blast from the past :) It's 1993. The moon is shining, the stars are bright and we're singing into the night at Attibele, Guestline Days in Bangalore. The concert is called Evergreen, put together by Smita Shah to save the trees of Bangalore. The line up was Radha  Thomas - vocal, the amazing Gerard Machado on Guitar, William D'Souza... fabulous on drums, Evelino Braganza on Bass, Fred Melville on Keys and Ramjee Chandran singing a little and doing his now-famous mouth trumpet on some tunes. It was a beautiful night for some blues. I wish I had pictures of the whole band from back then. But I don't.

1993, Evergeen Concert, Chains of Love

Blast from the past :) It's 1993. We're doing a version of a song that Suresh Shottam and I wrote way back when, "Call"... that's the name of the song. The concert is at Guestline Days in Bangalore called Evergreen, put together by Smita Shah to save the trees of Bangalore. The line up was Radha  Thomas - vocal, the amazing Gerard Machado on Guitar, William D'Souza... fabulous on drums, Evelino Braganza on Bass, Fred Melville on Keys and Ramjee Chandran singing a little and doing his now-famous mouth trumpet on some tunes. It was a beautiful night for some blues. I wish I had pictures of the whole band from back then. But I don't.

1993, Evergreen Concert, Bangalore: "Call"

Written by Radha Thomas with a little help from Ramjee / Aman who know way more chords than her :)
Performed by Radha Thomas and Aman Mahajan

 - - -

A CASE OF THE BANGALORE BLUES
Radha Thomas, July 2012

I’m all alone 
All my welcomes worn 
I feel so sad ‘cos I’m oh so far from my home

I can’t get up and go 
Cos I ain’t got the dough 
I’m stuck here in the sleet and rain and the snow

I dream of purple trees 
Gardens filled with bees

I’m down with an awful case of the Bangalore Blues

I can smell the rain 
Playing dirty tricks on my brain 
I wish it was near so I could just hop on a train

But that city’s too far 
I can’t get there by car 
So all that’s left to do is go find me a bar

But one day soon I’ll fly 
I’ll take to the sky

But right now I’m filled with a case of the Bangalore Blues

My friends they all said 
That travelling’s bad for my head 
Be careful there girl or you could wind up being dead

Back then I didn’t care 
I knew I wouldn’t scare 
I was so damn sure about all my pizzazz and my flair

I was filled with confidence 
And new experience

But I got stuck with a case of the Bangalore 
I fell down with a case of the Bangalore 
I was stumped by a case of the Bangalore Blues

This is a song I wrote a few weeks ago. And Aman and Ramjee helped me refine it.
Here is Aman and me playing it. 

- - -

TUMBLE
Radha Thomas, June 2012

I tumble out of bed 
I reach or you 
I stumble on an 
empty glass or two 
Tonight, 
I’m tangled, 
I toss and I turn 
(I begin to) wonder 
If I will ever, ever learn

I fumble with the lights, 
oh what a fool 
I’m humbled by the way you make the rules 
You say, 
You’ll call me when you’re back in town 
(And you say that I) 
Should smile, 
and wipe away that frown

You mumble that you want to take it slow 
And then I grumble cos you say its time to go 
Oh every time, 
that I find happiness 
Why does it always end up such great big mess?

And every guy I’m sure is right for me 
Why does he find a reason to turn and flee?

And every man whose claimed 
that he would stay 
Forever true to me 
How come he’s gone away?

I crumble into pieces when you leave 
My heart is jumbled, 
I can’t find reprieve 
One day 
Will somebody knock on my door? 
(Walk into my soul) and stay that way for evermore

That last rumble left me breathless, I can say 
And then I bumbled, cos you turned and walked away (3)

Tumble

Connections
Music: Aman Mahajan
Lyrics: Radha Thomas

 
Something in the wind the trees
The falling leaves
Something in the changing seasons makes me wonder

Something in a flash of light
That tears the night
When I hear the silence first
And then the thunder

Dewdrops glow
In the early morn
And I’m singing a lonely song at dawn
All the while that I am lost
I wonder why
My love you have tossed
In this burning and churning sad sea of love

Take me back
Don’t want to be alone
Don’t want to be the one that’s left there crying

Can’t you see, 
That we were meant to be
Always and forever one 
There’s no denying

Something in a blazing fire
Stokes my desire
Something in the burning flame that drags me under

Something in the waves that roar
As they crash the shore
Casting all my thoughts, my hopes and dreams asunder 

Moonlit nights
Bring me no delight
And I’m trying so hard 
To make it right
Why do I 
Always seem to cry
I wonder why
My love you have tossed
In this burning and churning sad sea of love

Take me back
Don’t want to be alone
Don’t want to be the one that’s left there crying

Ending
Can’t you see 
That we were meant to be
Always and forever one 
Ever and forever one
Now and forever one
There’s no denying 




Connections

Meniña Moca

Trinkets and Things is the most famous track from the album 'Mirror of My Mind' is by Japanese guitarist Ryo Kawasaki featuring vocalist and lyricist Radha (Shottam)Thomas. It was was released in 1979 by Sony.

It was recorded at Power Station Studios in New York City.

The line up included: 
Ryo Kawasaki – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Radha Shottam (Radha Thomas) – vocals
Leon Pendarvis – electric piano, arrangement
Anthony Jackson – bass guitar
Harvey Mason – drums
Rubens Bassini – percussion
Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone

LYRICS

See pretty bangles shine
Silver, green and blue
And if you haven't seen them shine in the sun
And if you haven't heard them tinkle, 
Bell-like, ringing
Then you've missed all the fun
Yeah, looking at one
They shine in the sun
Glow in the dark

And when the sun goes down, 
pink and orange hues
And I have rings and things that glow in the dark
Vivid memories that run free helter-skelter
And I sing songs of love
Yeah, love for a land 
that shines in the sun
Glows in the dark 



I’d like to see you smile
Even when you’re sad
Because a life should always
Be very glad

Gotta be so full of sparkle
Blinging ringing

Trinkets And Things (Mirror of my Mind)

Ramjee Chandran and me toodlin' around today. I love this song.

You've Changed

#ItMightAsWellBeSpring is a song written by #RichardRodgers and #OscarHammerstein for a film In 1945. No surprise that it won the #Oscar for #BestOriginalSong. It is a super song to sing and I add my name to the list of singers who’ve gone before me.
The melody that jumps up and down like a puppet on a string was rewritten by Rodgers to suit the Hammerstein’s lyric.

I’ve never performed with a vibes player before and it is such a treat. @morganwalbridge is a student at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, twenty-something, but plays with the feeling of an old soul. So happy to have found her.

@MauroSereno (#mrsunnybass) from #Cavriano in the #Lombardy region of Italy is one of the sweetest, most generous and giving musicians I have ever met online. He has put up with my whimsical key changes and arbit back-and-forth with such indulgence I feel totally ashamed. ‘Singers’ he types wryly.

How wonderful it is to collaborate with musicians from everywhere and produce exactly what I have in my head.
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#jazzstandard #vibesjazz #uprightbassjazz #jazzvocal #jazztrio #jazzacrosstheoceans #jazzinthetimeofcorona #OnlineCollaboration #jazzonline #onlinejazzcollab #womenmusiciansaresocool

It Might As Well Be Spring

#TrinketsAndThings was a song #RyoKawasaki and I wrote back in 1978 and recorded in 1979. It’s a really pretty song and we did a very upbeat and very orchestral version that included many of #NYC top #JazzMusicians of the day. In 1979, When the album #MirrorOfMyMind came out, it was considered a fusion breakthrough or some such thing. 

This 2021 edition is a #strippeddown and laid back version with #TomokoOhnoFarnham on piano and #MauroSereno (@mrsunnybass) on bass. I loved singing this with both of them so much and felt closer to the song than ever before. 

I am so fortunate that I have been singing for almost 45 years now, professionally. I made up my mind to be a singer when I was about 5 or 6 and nothing has changed. But one day I am sure I won’t be able to, so I’m trying to pack it all in as fast as I can.

I hope someone cracks this business of latency over the internet soon. Would love to perform live with Mauro and Tomoko.
Hope you like it.
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#originaljazz #updatedversion #jazzfromNewYork #lockdownjazz #jazzinthetimeofcorona #coronakindacrazy #intercontinentaljazz #NewYork #LombardiItaly #BangaloreIndia #jazzfromourlivingrooms #jazztrio

Trinkets And Things 2021

She has had three distinct careers: As a musician, a writer and as the former Executive VP and editor at Explocity.com. 

In 2020 Thomas’s jazz ensemble is considered one of the topmost jazz bands in India (Rated #1 on Reverbnation Charts) and they have also been appointed by The Indian Council for Cultural Relations as the Indian government’s world-wide ambassador of jazz.

She is by far one of the country’s most beloved vocalists, with a wide career spanning many years.

The album Bangalore Blues is her latest venture with Berkeley-alumnus, piano player Aman Mahajan with whom she has worked for the past 10 years. According to Thomas, “It all started as a Google search. I was looking for a piano player and found Aman just two streets away. A match made in musical heaven.” The pair met in 2011 and have been working steadily ever since, composing and playing music across India and Europe. All songs on the Bangalore Blues have been composed and performed by Thomas and Mahajan, with Thomas having written all lyrics.

BEFORE BANGALORE BLUES

Their first album “I Only Have Eyes For You,” was released in 2013 and this was followed by many live gigs and touring. Their video Watermelon Man from the album is a quirky and unusual take on the song with Thomas singing the song plus all the instrument parts except the piano.

Ron McClure, bassist for the famous American band, Blood, Sweat & Tears: “Provocative! Contempo to the max! You may have a hit on your hands?! Wow! (The album) sounds so good! Really inventive stuff, with a lot of expression.”

Lucky Ali, Indian pop star: “Eyes’ is stylish and cool… That’s what it’s about. It comes across as I listen to the tracks.”

Steve Gorn, New York based crossover jazz flautist: “Radha – ‘Eyes’ is great! Loved your voice and the arrangements.”

NEXT UP

VOCALESE
Thomas is working on releasing another album called ‘Vocalese’ where she has written words to the trumpet solos of some beloved Chet Baker tunes. This is just a sample. https://soundcloud.com/unkensemble/sets/vocalese/s-H3r4H

FROM WHEN TO NOW

Radha Thomas began headlining as a singer while still in her teens in a rock and roll band called Human Bondage, which was India’s most popular band in the 70s. She soon developed a strong taste for jazz, which is her favourite kind of music. She also began combining the tonal complexities of jazz with the rhythmic nuances of Indian classical music.

Thomas (who was Radha Shottam then) represented India at European jazz festivals and made her way to New York, the home of jazz, where she lived and performed for almost 20 years with such musicians as Michael Brecker, John Scofield, John Faddis, Alex Blake, Buddy Williams, Harvey Mason, Anthony Jackson, John Abercrombie, Ryo Kawasaki, Joe Farrell and many others in some of NYC’s most famous jazz clubs including Sweet Basil, The Bottom Line, Alice Tully Hall and more.

The album “Mirror of my Mind” showcased her talents in the USA for the first time in 1979. You can listen to the album here.

Her Indian classical vocal training came first from Kumar Gandharva in New Delhi at the Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya, and subsequently with Ustad Farid Ud Din Dagar of the famed Dagar Brothers in the dying art of Drupad singing.

She has performed at many jazz festivals around the world and in India including in 2015, 2016 at EuropaFest in Romania, the South Asia Performing Arts Festival in New York, and prior to that, Jazz Yatra, Bengaluru Habba, Indigo Fest, Isai Fest and other popular and prominent festivals in India and abroad. In addition to performing at jazz clubs all over India.

She also hosted a weekly jazz show on Radio Indigo in Bangalore.

Popular tracks by Radha Thomas