Giveaways – they’re back. With a vengeance.
I’m teaming up with Sony Music to give away some killer jazz classics, and to hook you up with some American wine.
Many of you know that I’m a music buff, and that I dabble in “Real Life Rock Band” by playing bass guitar for the Steve Liberace Band. Probably wouldn’t come as a surprise then that I enjoy pairing music with mood and food, almost as much as I do pairing wine with mood and food.
Now it’s time for YOU to talk about how you’d pair some awesome jazz with your favorite wines.
Here’s how this thing will go down:
- Peruse the embedded widget below, which contains selections from five killer jazz albums (I’m especially fond of the Brubeck, Miles, and Tito Puente selections myself).
- Think about what you’d consider an awesome wine pairing for one, several, or all of the cuts.
- Leave a comment on this here post, telling us what wine you’d pair with your selected track(s), and why you think it’s a killer pairing.
The widget has some sweet jazz cuts from the following albums: Tiempo Libre: Bach In Havana , Miles Davis: Sketches of Spain , Charles Mingus: Ah Um, Tito Puente: Dance Mania, & Dave Brubeck: Time Out.
If you can’t find something you like to pair with a good glass of vino out of that selection, then I’d say you have no hope of digging jazz. I should use this opportunity to point out that Mingus, as a bass player, kicked all kinds of a__.
Anyway…
On Monday, June 8th 2009, I will select a random winner from the comments, using a top secret procedure that involves my dog (no further details will be given – trust me, you don’t wanna know!). The lucky winner will get hooked up by Sony Music with copies of the 5 recordings featured in the widget, as well as a gift certificate from www.americanwinery.com so you can buy some wine to pair with your new tunes!…
To get things started, here’s my pairing:
Take Five from the Brubeck album with a 2004 Altair Cabernet from Chile. Here’s what I said about the Altair in my on-line mini review tasting note:
“04 Altair (Cachapoal Vally, Chile): Fab Cab blend; black cherry, nutmeg & ok, maybe a touch of pine. It’s so f–king good, you won’t mind.”
The Altair is groovy and accessible, and could be paired with a number of occasions and dishes. It could also be aged, and I think it would show really well for a number of years. It’s finely crafted, and expensive, but a bit laid back at the same time. Which is almost exactly what I’d say about the Brubeck Quartet’s music as well.
Ok – get your groove on already!
Cheers!
(images: hw410s.com, avalonwine.com)
Miles Davis: starts off decadent and smooth and then turns funky, wild, rich, alluring, and seductive with an "I don't care what you think" kind of attitude: 2005 Brogan Cellars My Father's Vineyard Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley)
Whoa – **good** one!
I'm going with Miles too, as he's one of my absolute faves (though I prefer Kind Of Blue). Easiest pairing in the world: R. Lopez de Heredia's Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva, Rioja 1985. Both are complex, unfiltered, timeless, and have no tolerance for pretentious bullshit. They're as soulful as the earth itself, and both Miles and the Heredia say something similar to a Tom Petty quote: "It's alright if you love me, it's alright if you don't. I'm not afraid of you running away, honey, I get the feeling you won't."
I've not had the R. Lopez but that sounds like an amazing pairing!
I've been on a Miles kick myself for the past, well, about 6 years :-). Currently favoring 'Round About Midnight.
Cheers!
Miles of course with a wine that speaks of spain…hmm, I know a wine that makes you think. Something that at the beginning has become something new and intriguing by the end of it. Kind of a like a Bobal from Manchuela, earthy, elegant, with touches of spice…You just never know when the next twist or turn will come. There is my two cents!
A fine 2 cents it is! You're flexing those Spanish wine muscles – I like that!
Okay, I think I finally have one!
Gonna jump off the Miles train and go for Charles Mingus' "Better Git It In Your Soul" who I haven't heard of before. (Not a jazz know-it-all by any means, but I do like me some jazz.) My pairing is with a Mountain River Reserve 2006 Vintage 50/50 Pinotage/Shiraz. Why? First off, I was confused by the word 'pinotage' and then that it dared be blended…much like the dischordant strains in the Mingus piece. I started at "What the what?" and ended with "Pinotizzy in the hizzy!" To the taste there's something askew or askance or any other ask- word…but after a few measures of music and sipfuls of this wine…you get it.
Or git it. I think I gitted it in my soul. :)
Man, that is KILLER! Mingus can be a little hard to approach but once you 'get it' it's like… "Damn, this guy is a genius!"
"Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" is another great Mingus tune… makes me want to grab my upright bass and practice…
Agreed….Mingus is a damned GENIUS…I did an illustration of him as a gift to a bass player friend of mine a few years ago…we both love the man!
With a title like "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat"…I ALREADY love it.
(Upright bass? As opposed to a prostrate bass? I've never played a stringed instrument, can you tell?)
I picked out Dave Brubeck's Take 5, because I can actually picture myself having a sultry dance number in a fringe skirt. ;)
I would pair it with Orin Swift's Zinfandel blend THE PRISONER. Well balanced, dusty, spicy…..bold.
Niiiice!
Now that I think of it, a good idea for a future giveaway contest would be to have people submit pictures of themselves in fringe skirts, including the dudes because that would be hilarious…
I'd pair up Dave Brubeck with a 2002 Duckhorn Merlot. It makes perfect sense to me. But not for the reasons people would think! What's the definition of a good wine? One you like. What's the definition of great music? Sounds that transport. Brubeck reminds me of a very intimate little Italian Restaurant where I rendezvoused with an old love for a very quiet reunion after many, many years. We ordered a bottle of Duckhorn and some out-of-this world Italian food. So it's all about stirring the senses. Delicious food, delicious wine, delicious memories.
A good combo. As long as no one is taking photos of the rendezvous…
I'm going to have to go with Miles Davis too. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to suggest a specific label or vintage. You see, I imagine walking into a tavern in La Mancha set in a 500 year old building with stone walls, decades of tobacco resin staining the posters and photographs of bullfighters, napkins on the floor, and yes, a well lighted place. In the corner sits a tertulia of old men discussing politics, while Atletico tries to run out the time against Getafe. A Tuno from the university passes by on the street and the bartender puts out a cigarette as he walks up to you. "Dime," he says, "que quieres?" "Un tinto," you reply. "Una botella?" he suggests and you agree.
(Continued:) He then takes an empty bottle, places it under the bung tap on a barrell of 'joven tinto' from Valdepenas, and brings you the freshly filled bottle, as he sets a plate of olives and anchovies in front of you. The wine is light and refreshing for a red, something you could easily drink from a skein while watching the Toreros and Toros at La Corrida. Something that you can enjoy at any meal, or in the evening during the paseo, or later at bars with your friends. But tonight, you sit at the old wooden table in the half-a-millenium-old stone tavern, reading to yourself the exploits of Pancho, Rocinante, and of course, el Quixote, as Miles serenades you. La vida es bella.
La vida es bella, indeed.
This would make a great intro to a noir film, by the way…
Something like this actually happened, but I was drinking Rioja in Cantabria instead of Valdepenas in La Mancha…
Hmm, a film noir… not a bad idea.
I'm gonna have to go with Tito on this one… something about it, I don't know… but it's great! I'd pair it with Trio Vintners 2007 'Tres Rose' – it's no secret this if my fav rose, and I just picked some up recently, but I think it's flavors go well with the warmer seasons and Tito's mash-up of mambo/latin/salsa. Put the two together and it's SUMMER no matter what time of the year!
Gotta love Tito…
I've been a Brubeck fan since my concert piano playing highschool days – so it was a natural fit for me to go with "Take Five" here for my wine and music pairing. This a snazzy little number – and the entire "Time Out" album is notorious for its playful time signatures and original melodies. It only makes sense to pair the music with a wine that is equal parts snazzy and playful – Bonny Doon Vineyard's 2005 Syrah le Pousseur. I've been on a real Bonny Doon kick lately – and this Syrah is the perfect fit. The entire "Time Out" album works and keeps you on your toes because of the balance between the crazy time signatures (9/8, 5/4) and the clock-work solid bass that drives through each number. This Syrah is full of surprises but all over clock-work solid Syrah characteristics – hello, bacon fat! The jazz saxophone solo of "Take Five" is almost as silky as this wine's finish.
Sorry I got alittle carried away there. Going back to my job writing for Hallmark now. :)
:-) Good one!
Hey, I love that you loved our 2004 Altaïr. Thanks for the kudos, and you may want to try our Sideral: different personality, a little less complex, but same beautiful balance and elegance. Can´t wait to listen to the music pairing. Cheers,
Melissa Hahn
(Marketing Director)
Thanks, Melissa – really good wine there! I'll be on the lookout for Sideral. I'm still trying to finagle a press trip to Chile… who knows…
I am not sure why no one has yet to choose Tiempo Libre – but their Tu Conga Bach makes me want to get on the dance floor and wiggle. (Not quite like Elaine and her "full body dry heave". . . but I digress) I love the driving beats of the bongo and it reminds me of a powerful Tempranillo blend that I love – Twisted Oak's Spaniard. The wine is like a handsome stranger and excellent dance partner, equal parts power and seduction. Just don't tell my boyfriend.
He-yeah! Spicy!
Hey everyone – we have a winner!
You can of course feel free to continue to comment, but you won't be eligible for the giveaway.
Cheers!