Richie Cole - Candace Flower

Richie Cole performs Candace Flower during the KUVO Sessions January 2009
Richie Cole-alto saxophone, Jeff Jenkins-piano,Ken Walker-bass,Todd Reid-drums

Category:

Music

Tags:

• richie
• cole
• alto
• saxophone
• solo
• KUVO
• jazz
• improvisation

[jazzexcursion]

this is a Richie Cole original written for this sesssion

[conn6m]

There is a film on you tube of guitarist Emily Remler speaking about music.

She states she can understand musicians without even meeting them - through their music.

This Candace flower person may or may not be an acquaintance of Cole but certainly does not know him. No way is this a flippant song about a love of life. Are you telling me that someone who's friend and partner has been murdered and wife die so young has nothing else to say but how great life has treated him.

[conn6m]

@conn6m 5. The first 16 bars I hear like this.

'You know and I know the world is all wrong.

Flowers to a blind man and lyrics with no song.

A baby cries but no ones there to hold her - to love her

- and when night comes the dreams of despair'.

Hey, this is just my interpretation we all hear differently but words like 'pretty' and 'nice' don't do such a composition and performance justice. this song goes beyond the simple definition of Jazz.

[conn6m]

@conn6m 4.In Charlie Parker's Just friends the intro before his solo is a bridge to modulate to another key, not so in Cole's song the solo key is the same as the song. The only thing I can think of is recitativo before the Aria. ( the Aria being the solo) Other clues are coles phrasing of high and low notes in the final part of his solo high (means heaven) low (means earth) - from Handel.

One other thing is the lyrical nature of this song. You can actually hear words being phrased.

[conn6m]

@conn6m 3. Think about it a second. what is the nature of Opera. They all follow a 3 part rule - 1. We are introduced to the Characters 2. The Characters interact with each other. 3 The result of this interaction is that the characters emerge changed in some way. (and in most case's by tragedy) That is what is happening in Coles 3 part solo. There are other clues. Why does Cole insert an eight bar intoduction before his solo that go'es nowhere.

[conn6m]

@conn6m 2. so Candace in this context means Queen and we know Coles late wife had a flower garden from the album Rises's Rose Garden. Therefore this song means 'Queen of the flowers' or perhaps 'Queen among flowers'. Hmmm ,,,, much more romantic.

I think there is something else about this song that is worth noting (and you will all think Im going a bit mad but it stands out so strong to me)

I think Richie Cole is paraphrasing European Opera.

[conn6m]

1. O well, doesn't look like artdecco is going to respond and let us know what Candace flower means. My theory is Cole is playing with words. It seems that people in America like having there Picture taken with flowers so on the surface it means a 'portrait with flower's'. However, I don't think Richie Cole is as Corny as that. I think there is another meaning. Candace was the name given in ancient Greek literature to the Queens of Kush (now Ethiopia)

[conn6m]

@artdecco Can you elaborate please, The term Candace Flower is alien to me what does it mean. I agree with you but it's more than just Love. Its also Grief. This is Richie Cole's greatest composition and solo to date (in my opinion). It's not just what you hear on the surface (the melodic line) but the effect of what you hear. Tell me what Candace Flower means and that will be the last piece of the Jigsaw for me. I'll tell you all what I think is really happening here.

[artdecco]

@conn6m I believe this song is about True Love....believe me,  because I know Candace Flower.

[velvetpaws999]

@conn6m thanks for that wonderful comment, conn6m. I also agree that Richie has matured wonderfully, and I'm sure he had his fair share of suffering and struggle in his life to shape his personality. I also love this song very much, and how quietly they comment in the end: "pretty, eh? - pretty nice" I second that!