Tragedy, cover songs, and a surprising tagline: I Can’t Make You Love Me (George Michael)

Tempo, sparseness, and a vocal-sax duet : Blue Velvet (The Branford Marsalis Quartet, featuring Kurt Elling)

This week, we dive into "Blue Velvet" by Kurt Elling and Branford Marsalis, a haunting, ethereal soundscape between voice and tenor saxophone. Trist and Elaine discuss the subtle recording effects, delicate musicianship, and the emotional transformation of this classic ballad. The conversation compares this rendition to iconic versions by Bobby Vinton and Tony Bennett, highlighting how tempo, orchestration, and vocal delivery can completely reshape a song’s meaning and mood. In the Mailbag, we discuss the impact music can have beyond commercial success. A moving account from the Aarhus Vocal Music Festival and personal anecdotes from both Elaine and Trist underscore how even lesser-known albums and performances can inspire, comfort, and change lives. PLUS a big announcement at the end! Listen to the song * YouTube - https://youtu.be/gAXW5Xq496g?is=aV82pFMhJLgNGPrW [https://youtu.be/gAXW5Xq496g?is=aV82pFMhJLgNGPrW] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/4duESN1aJkwMO35NUV8VkR?si=a818b20c175b4674 [https://open.spotify.com/track/4duESN1aJkwMO35NUV8VkR?si=a818b20c175b4674] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/blue-velvet/1102783941 [https://music.apple.com/us/song/blue-velvet/1102783941] * Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B01E9DSGZ4?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_FxdC1U4ljX50EWNQnU6AmJfV8&trackAsin=B01E9DSVBS [https://music.amazon.com/albums/B01E9DSGZ4?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_FxdC1U4ljX50EWNQnU6AmJfV8&trackAsin=B01E9DSVBS] Other links * Upward Spiral [https://marsalismusic.com/releases/upward-spiral-0] - Marsalis Music * Blue Velvet, Bobby Vinton version [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezf9tuYrtlw&pp=ygUYYmx1ZSB2ZWx2ZXQgYm9iYnkgdmludG9u] * Blue Velvet, Tony Bennett version [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q3K_YXssp0] * Blue Velvet, Tony Bennett and k.d. lang version [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3i2F7eKoKQ&pp=ygUYYmx1ZSB2ZWx2ZXQgdG9ueSBiZW5uZXR0] * Playlist of the songs we’ve reviewed * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo] * Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ [https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ] About us Trist Curless is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, educator, and sound engineer. As a performer, Trist has toured worldwide as a co-founder of the pop-jazz vocal group m-pact and a 10 year member of the Grammy-award winning The Manhattan Transfer. In addition to these two vocal powerhouse groups, he’s also performed with Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, New York Voices, Vox Audio, Naturally 7, and The Swingle Singers. His latest venture, The LHR Project, is a new vocal group collective celebrating legendary jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. As an audio engineer, Trist has toured nationally with several vocal groups and bands in a large variety of venues, working for Grammy award winners Pentatonix and Take 6, as well as prominent a cappella vocal groups Straight No Chaser, VoicePlay, and Accent. Elaine Chao, M.Ed is a San Francisco Bay Area-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, vocal percussionist, and songwriter whose career spans a cappella, contemporary worship, and classical music. She has leveraged her training in classical and choral music over the course of her contemporary performance, including in orchestras for musical theatre and in sacred spaces. In addition to music, she also is a martial artist and published author. She currently leads a product management team at a major software company dedicated to creative expression. All statements in this podcast are her own and do not reflect the opinions of her employer.

Bootlegs, minimalism, and a songwriting legacy: A Place in Heaven (Prince)

Prince’s “A Place in Heaven” stands out as a hidden gem in his vast catalog. This episode dives deep into its unique musical structure, production history, and the artist’s experimental genius. We unpack the song’s waltz-like 3/4 time signature, unexpected chord changes, and minimalist instrumentation, discussing how Prince’s prolific creativity led to a vault of unreleased tracks. We also analyze the song’s lyrical themes, exploring motifs of longing, innocence, and social commentary rooted in the 1980s, and discuss how Prince’s vocal delivery and compositional choices reflect both vulnerability and innovation. In the mailbag section, we discuss the importance of kindness, collaboration, and relationship-building in the music industry, drawing from audience messages and personal experience. Listen to the song * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG6MSmPbX2Y [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG6MSmPbX2Y] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/4aJNQt6O0cYHFJU7aDAhRi?si=09e55632804a4f4f [https://open.spotify.com/track/4aJNQt6O0cYHFJU7aDAhRi?si=09e55632804a4f4f] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/a-place-in-heaven-prince-vocal-2020-remaster/1544308811 [https://music.apple.com/us/song/a-place-in-heaven-prince-vocal-2020-remaster/1544308811] * Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B08Q8SDHRJ?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_pOy6j4aLaKcic7q220Hewt8V4&trackAsin=B08QB1MNPY [https://music.amazon.com/albums/B08Q8SDHRJ?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_pOy6j4aLaKcic7q220Hewt8V4&trackAsin=B08QB1MNPY] Other links * Wikipedia article on Wendy & Lisa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_%26_Lisa [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_%26_Lisa] * Lisa version of “A Place in Heaven”: https://youtu.be/vz9DMBoCTVc [https://youtu.be/vz9DMBoCTVc] * Playlist of the songs we’ve reviewed * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo] * Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ [https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ] About us Trist Curless is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, educator, and sound engineer. As a performer, Trist has toured worldwide as a co-founder of the pop-jazz vocal group m-pact and a 10 year member of the Grammy-award winning The Manhattan Transfer. In addition to these two vocal powerhouse groups, he’s also performed with Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, New York Voices, Vox Audio, Naturally 7, and The Swingle Singers. His latest venture, The LHR Project, is a new vocal group collective celebrating legendary jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. As an audio engineer, Trist has toured nationally with several vocal groups and bands in a large variety of venues, working for Grammy award winners Pentatonix and Take 6, as well as prominent a cappella vocal groups Straight No Chaser, VoicePlay, and Accent. Elaine Chao, M.Ed is a San Francisco Bay Area-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, vocal percussionist, and songwriter whose career spans a cappella, contemporary worship, and classical music. She has leveraged her training in classical and choral music over the course of her contemporary performance, including in orchestras for musical theatre and in sacred spaces. In addition to music, she also is a martial artist and published author. She currently leads a product management team at a major software company dedicated to creative expression. All statements in this podcast are her own and do not reflect the opinions of her employer.

Vocal effects, a toxic relationship, and emotional stasis: Worst Thing I Could Do (ARORA)

A cappella electronica? This episode covers “Worst Thing I Could Do,” from contemporary a cappella group ARORA’s groundbreaking album, Bioluminescence. The group leverages advanced vocal effects and processing, creating ethereal, electronic textures that blur the line between human voice and synthesizer. In this week’s conversation, Trist and Elaine rave over the chord changes, dynamic arrangements, and clever use of half-choruses and rhythmic effects. They also analyze the song's poignant lyrics, which depict a toxic, unresolved relationship, and discuss how the unresolved musical ending mirrors the emotional stasis described in the words. In the Mailbag segment, Elaine and Trist discuss a real-world example from Threads illustrating the dramatic shift in songwriter earnings from the CD era to the streaming era, highlighting the challenges and reduced royalties faced by modern songwriters. Listen to the song * YouTube - https://youtu.be/2GAbXRIu6v8 [https://youtu.be/2GAbXRIu6v8] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/1gxzmqDNAILcvi0iOp5BOl?si=e78fa631505b4805 [https://open.spotify.com/track/1gxzmqDNAILcvi0iOp5BOl?si=e78fa631505b4805] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/worst-thing-i-could-do/681276513 [https://music.apple.com/us/song/worst-thing-i-could-do/681276513] * Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B00E8WEALQ?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_1cRxsNHQ8PyoK0o8vZFxFlOAk&trackAsin=B00E8WEJTO [https://music.amazon.com/albums/B00E8WEALQ?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_1cRxsNHQ8PyoK0o8vZFxFlOAk&trackAsin=B00E8WEJTO] Other links * Playlist of the songs we’ve reviewed * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo] * Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ [https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ] About us Trist Curless is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, educator, and sound engineer. As a performer, Trist has toured worldwide as a co-founder of the pop-jazz vocal group m-pact and a 10 year member of the Grammy-award winning The Manhattan Transfer. In addition to these two vocal powerhouse groups, he’s also performed with Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, New York Voices, Vox Audio, Naturally 7, and The Swingle Singers. His latest venture, The LHR Project, is a new vocal group collective celebrating legendary jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. As an audio engineer, Trist has toured nationally with several vocal groups and bands in a large variety of venues, working for Grammy award winners Pentatonix and Take 6, as well as prominent a cappella vocal groups Straight No Chaser, VoicePlay, and Accent. Elaine Chao, M.Ed is a San Francisco Bay Area-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, vocal percussionist, and songwriter whose career spans a cappella, contemporary worship, and classical music. She has leveraged her training in classical and choral music over the course of her contemporary performance, including in orchestras for musical theatre and in sacred spaces. In addition to music, she also is a martial artist and published author. She currently leads a product management team at a major software company dedicated to creative expression. All statements in this podcast are her own and do not reflect the opinions of her employer.

A breakup, musical stops, and a dismissive complimentary close: Best (Theo Katzman)

Listen to the song * YouTube - https://youtu.be/h1ATm0c6AxA [https://youtu.be/h1ATm0c6AxA] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/1n11viwoaXFWfC9uZ1NFqb?si=d490e74dbe7f4994 [https://open.spotify.com/track/1n11viwoaXFWfC9uZ1NFqb?si=d490e74dbe7f4994] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/best/1493029104 [https://music.apple.com/us/song/best/1493029104] * Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0837KZQLD?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_E9l5274gs9HHbWiawDsognJWu&trackAsin=B0837LFF1R [https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0837KZQLD?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_E9l5274gs9HHbWiawDsognJWu&trackAsin=B0837LFF1R] Other links * How to End a Letter: 10 Formal Letter Closings [https://www.grammarly.com/blog/writing-tips/how-to-end-a-letter/] (Grammarly) * Playlist of the songs we’ve reviewed * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo] * Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ [https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ] Key takeaways * Trist and Elaine review Theo Katzman’s clever 2020 song “Best,” which focuses on the emotional impact of a letter's complimentary close * Elaine and Trist discuss the usage of breaks as accents and vocal delay for a choral effect, delving into how production techniques can make vocals sound bigger and more expressive. * In the Mailbag segment, Trist and Elaine cover how musicians often balance several part-time gigs, and how professional groups maintain a pool of substitute performers to ensure coverage when conflicts arise About us Trist Curless is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, educator, and sound engineer. As a performer, Trist has toured worldwide as a co-founder of the pop-jazz vocal group m-pact and a 10 year member of the Grammy-award winning The Manhattan Transfer. In addition to these two vocal powerhouse groups, he’s also performed with Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, New York Voices, Vox Audio, Naturally 7, and The Swingle Singers. His latest venture, The LHR Project, is a new vocal group collective celebrating legendary jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. As an audio engineer, Trist has toured nationally with several vocal groups and bands in a large variety of venues, working for Grammy award winners Pentatonix and Take 6, as well as prominent a cappella vocal groups Straight No Chaser, VoicePlay, and Accent. Elaine Chao, M.Ed is a San Francisco Bay Area-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, vocal percussionist, and songwriter whose career spans a cappella, contemporary worship, and classical music. She has leveraged her training in classical and choral music over the course of her contemporary performance, including in orchestras for musical theatre and in sacred spaces. In addition to music, she also is a martial artist and published author. She currently leads a product management team at a major software company dedicated to creative expression. All statements in this podcast are her own and do not reflect the opinions of her employer.

Big Band, Baseball, and AM Radio: On the Sunny Side of the Street (Tommy Dorsey & his orchestra, featuring the Sentamentalists)

This week, we review a classic big band arrangement of “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” highlighting the delayed entrance of the vocal group and other elements that make it a classic 1940s big band tune. This song has a vintage sound, and we jump into both the recording and playback technology that influenced that era of music. In the Mailbag segment, we discuss the relationship between an artist and social media, reinforcing that it’s now a core component of one’s marketing. Listen to the song * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_8gXFgBkNY [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_8gXFgBkNY] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/5qGUC3y9NXTpA6n5k3W5Fm?si=b4c10179b4454fe7 [https://open.spotify.com/track/5qGUC3y9NXTpA6n5k3W5Fm?si=b4c10179b4454fe7] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/on-the-sunny-side-of-the-street-from-is-everybody-happy/304824058 [https://music.apple.com/us/song/on-the-sunny-side-of-the-street-from-is-everybody-happy/304824058] * Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0G2BQ5JBV?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_KBQ1NdkP5cnECpS0K5QV7w1gT&trackAsin=B0G2BKFNQH [https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0G2BQ5JBV?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_KBQ1NdkP5cnECpS0K5QV7w1gT&trackAsin=B0G2BKFNQH] Other links * The Manhattan Transfer’s version of “On the Sunny Side of the Street” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2e_xX6kfGo] * Playlist of the songs we’ve reviewed * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5bn23baJ4xQ1t0TMqukELY5W95HwuMoT] * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gCOF5M0zYS1fBvXgT5ccI?si=7F3yVdEDRRWa_gAArK3AYg] * Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo] * Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ [https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/3b47be4937b7490982f4a872db32ec8dsune?ref=dm_sh_AEFZY8KhvSsz1TGoRmasg6zHZ] About us Trist Curless is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, educator, and sound engineer. As a performer, Trist has toured worldwide as a co-founder of the pop-jazz vocal group m-pact and a 10 year member of the Grammy-award winning The Manhattan Transfer. In addition to these two vocal powerhouse groups, he’s also performed with Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, New York Voices, Vox Audio, Naturally 7, and The Swingle Singers. His latest venture, The LHR Project, is a new vocal group collective celebrating legendary jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. As an audio engineer, Trist has toured nationally with several vocal groups and bands in a large variety of venues, working for Grammy award winners Pentatonix and Take 6, as well as prominent a cappella vocal groups Straight No Chaser, VoicePlay, and Accent. Elaine Chao, M.Ed is a San Francisco Bay Area-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, vocal percussionist, and songwriter whose career spans a cappella, contemporary worship, and classical music. She has leveraged her training in classical and choral music over the course of her contemporary performance, including in orchestras for musical theatre and in sacred spaces. In addition to music, she also is a martial artist and published author. She currently leads a product management team at a major software company dedicated to creative expression. All statements in this podcast are her own and do not reflect the opinions of her employer.