My Brilliant Idea | Steph Lewis's Blog

I’ve been listening to Yo-Yo Ma’s new album Obrigado Brazil. I love it. Especially track 2 and 9. Absolutely beautiful stuff. I liked Yo-Yo before, but now that I’ve been attempting to play the cello for three weeks, I really really think he’s amazing.
Anyhoo, Josh and I had a discussion a few weeks ago about who we thought was the absolute best living singer. This included many facets meaning that they are capable of sounding beautiful in a variety of genres, are creative, have done something profound with their vocals, and are innovative creators. The only musician we agreed on (and also agreed was the absolute best) was Bobby McFerrin. He kicks my butt.
So the other day, I was sitting in my car listing to Yo-Yo’s new album, admiring it and cherishing it, when I got this brilliant idea. What would happen if Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin made an album together??? That would be so absolutely cool! It would be genius!
Then I realized that they already have made an album. Oh, and I also happen to own that album. And I have the entire thing memorized.
So much for my brilliant idea. It’s still brilliant. Just a little late. Oh well.

3 thoughts on “My Brilliant Idea”

have you listened to Vanessa-Mae? She plays violin (actually the electric violin) and does some great stuff with classical and contemporary pieces. My orchestra director got me hooked on her album – The Violin Player – in high school. I highly recommend it. Her version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is also pretty good.
By the way, I am very impressed that you are taking cello lessons. I was torn between cello and viola in elementary school and ended up going with the viola because it was easier to bring on the bus.

I like that the bus is what determined (in part) what instrument you play. That’s hilarious.
Thanks for the Vanessa-Mae tip. I looked her up and checked out some of her music. She’s pretty cool. I’m not really into things like a remake of the Pink Panther song, but I really dig what she did with concertos and the modern stuff. I’ll get her album next month. (I have a monthly music budget that I usually spend by the 3rd of each month, then suffer for the rest).

Steph,
I have been thinking of purchasing Ma’s latest album and I think I’ll look into it more closely now that you’ve recommended it. Have you ever heard of Edgar Meyer? He’s a composer and (I believe) plays a range of instrument(which makes sense if he’s a composer). Anyway, he has done a lot with Ma and Bela Fleck and it is beautiful. I think I’ve played some of it for you before, but now that you have a different perspective on Cello playing it may interest you. I just finished a show that I choreographed a solo for in which I used a song composed by Meyer called ‘Sliding Down’ off his UNCOMMON RITUAL album; no Yo Yo, but some beautiful cello (it may even be Meyer)! Anyway, the other albums are titles like APPALACHIAN SPRING or APPALACHIAN JOURNEY. There are others, but if yu have time check it out. Also, Yo Yo’s baroque album is also excellent. He’s going to be here, I think, in January. Tickets are, no doubt, sold out. Anyway, I miss you guys. Bye.

Abby on August 12, 2003 at 5:47 pm said:

have you listened to Vanessa-Mae? She plays violin (actually the electric violin) and does some great stuff with classical and contemporary pieces. My orchestra director got me hooked on her album – The Violin Player – in high school. I highly recommend it. Her version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is also pretty good.
By the way, I am very impressed that you are taking cello lessons. I was torn between cello and viola in elementary school and ended up going with the viola because it was easier to bring on the bus.
Stephanie Lewis on August 16, 2003 at 7:15 pm said:

I like that the bus is what determined (in part) what instrument you play. That’s hilarious.
Thanks for the Vanessa-Mae tip. I looked her up and checked out some of her music. She’s pretty cool. I’m not really into things like a remake of the Pink Panther song, but I really dig what she did with concertos and the modern stuff. I’ll get her album next month. (I have a monthly music budget that I usually spend by the 3rd of each month, then suffer for the rest).
eddie on August 20, 2003 at 9:07 am said:

Steph,
I have been thinking of purchasing Ma’s latest album and I think I’ll look into it more closely now that you’ve recommended it. Have you ever heard of Edgar Meyer? He’s a composer and (I believe) plays a range of instrument(which makes sense if he’s a composer). Anyway, he has done a lot with Ma and Bela Fleck and it is beautiful. I think I’ve played some of it for you before, but now that you have a different perspective on Cello playing it may interest you. I just finished a show that I choreographed a solo for in which I used a song composed by Meyer called ‘Sliding Down’ off his UNCOMMON RITUAL album; no Yo Yo, but some beautiful cello (it may even be Meyer)! Anyway, the other albums are titles like APPALACHIAN SPRING or APPALACHIAN JOURNEY. There are others, but if yu have time check it out. Also, Yo Yo’s baroque album is also excellent. He’s going to be here, I think, in January. Tickets are, no doubt, sold out. Anyway, I miss you guys. Bye.