Tonight's Book: Musicophilia by Dr. Oliver Sacks
"Sacks is an unparalleled chronicler of modern medicine, and fans of his work will find much to enjoy when he turns his prodigious talent for observation to music and its relationship to the brain. The subtitle aptly frames the book as a series of medical case studies-some in-depth, some abruptly short. The tales themselves range from the relatively mundane (a song that gets stuck on a continuing loop in one's mind) through the uncommon (Tourette's or Parkinson's patients whose symptoms are calmed by particular kinds of music) to the outright startling (a man struck by lightning subsequently developed a newfound passion and talent for the concert piano). In this latest collection, Sacks introduces new and fascinating characters, while also touching on the role of music in some of his classic cases (the man who mistook his wife for a hat makes a brief appearance). Though at times the narrative meanders, drawing connections through juxtaposition while leaving broader theories to be inferred by the reader, the result is greater than the sum of its parts. This book leaves one a little more attuned to the remarkable complexity of human beings, and a bit more conscious of the role of music in our lives."
Tonight's Playlist
Note: I - click to buy from the iTunes store (Canada) (You must have iTunes installed on your computer in order to buy tracks from the iTunes store); A - click to buy from Amazon.ca (Canada) (All subject to availability)Theme - Oliver Nelson Big Band - "Stolen Moments" (excerpt) I A
Jean-Luc Ponty - "How Would You Like To Have A Head Like That" I A
Ella Fitzgerald - "Oh, Lady Be Good!" I A
The Dave Brubeck Quartet - "Eleven Four" I A
Nina Simone - "Love Me Or Leave Me" I A
Manu Katché - "Snapshot" I A
Mose Allison - "Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear From Me" I A
Oscar Peterson - "You Stepped Out Of A Dream" I A
Donald Byrd and Phil Woods - "Lover Man" A
Artie Shaw and his Orchestra - "Fred's Delight" I
Art Pepper + Eleven - "Opus De Funk" I A
Dave McKenna - "On The Street Where You Live" A
Holly Cole - "Charade" I A
Herbie Hancock - "One Finger Snap" I A
Duke Ellington and Coleman Hawkins - "You Dirty Dog" I A
Quincy Jones and his Orchestra - "Straight, No Chaser" I A
Jim Hall and George Shearing - "Street Of Dreams" A
Ray Charles - "Undecided" I
Keith Jarrett Trio - "Five Brothers" I A
Benny Green - "Nice Pants"
Laila Biali - "Woodstock" I A
Jimmy Smith - "Organ Grinder's Swing" I A
New York Stories - "5-4"
Manhattan Transfer - "Route 66" I A
Duke Ellington and His Orchestra - "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo" I A
Chick Corea Acoustik Band - "Circles" I A
Gene Ammons - "Blue Ammons" I A
Doug Riley's B3 Quartet - "Juggin' Around"
Emilie-Claire Barlow - "Pennies From Heaven" I A
Miles Davis Quintet - "E.S.P." I A
Lee Konitz and Alan Broadbent - "How Deep Is The Ocean? I A
Theme - Oliver Nelson Big Band - "Stolen Moments" (excerpt) I A
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