Duke Ellington would surely approve of this entry as it features some nifty piano playing and swinging horns.
One abnormal feature of the new normal is the temporal confusion wreaked by the lockdown. People are used to knowing what time is it by reference to their work and/or school schedule. My regular features at First Draft help me know what day it is. As to time does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care?
This is the 33 1/3, not 45 version of Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? It features some pianistic brilliance from Robert Lamm. It’s a reminder of how good most of the early Chicago catalog is.
My friend posted to me on Facebook just last week, “Watching Chicago perform “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” on the concert channel, and it suddenly occurs to me that the first-person narrator in the song deserves to be punched in the face.”
I wanted to rebut him, but I had to admit he’s right.
During a Smithsonian tour in 2000, I hung behind the group, reached over a rope line, and played one note on Duke Ellington’ white Steinway. I HAD TO! That’s what 11 years of piano lessons and music education does …
I would have done the same thing given half a chance.
Which note?
Middle C.
The time?
Twenty Five or Six to Four
There’s something magic about “live.”