Stevie Wonder began his musical career at just 11 years old, and from the get-go, his love of jazz became a central part of his sound. In , a year into his contract with Motown Records, he released The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie , on which he played bongos, harmonica, drums, and the organ. At age 12, he sounded like a jazz veteran. Wonder illustrates his love for jazz not just in the lyrics but also within the arrangement, melody, rhythm, and harmony. Collier is a songwriter, composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist from the UK who, like Wonder, uses jazz as a tool to surprise and delight his audience.
In the video above, Collier explains just how Wonder pays homage to the jazz pioneers that came before him. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower through understanding.
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Upcoming Shows. Stay Connected. Recent News. All of this acclaim has been hard earned and richly deserved. Stevie Wonder is widely regarded as one of the finest keyboard players in the world. And one of the finest harmonica players. And one of the finest drummers. In so many areas, he is suffocatingly talented. Sadly, as talented as Steve Wonder is, his otherwise wonderful songs are often held back by syrupy lyrics with simple rhymes, and messages that lack subtlety or substance.
The song starts with a sonic blast of horns. The sound is strong and metallic, and is somehow blisteringly cold and invitingly warm at the same time. Upon first hearing the song, the sound of the horns was a sound I had not heard before, and have not heard since. Two trumpets, an alto sax and a tenor sax backed up by Stevie Wonder on drums. Five instruments that make a sound you only have to hear once to never forget. The song is a passionate, heartfelt tribute.
Maybe you love the lyrics. If so, please forgive me. Maybe you love the instrumentation so much, you forgive the lyrics. If so, I understand. Maybe you have heard the song so much, you have learned to ignore the lyrics. If so, well done. The song begins with a saccharine, commercialized summation of music that sounds like it should be featured on a Saturday morning cartoon or Coca-Cola commercial.
I know what Stevie Wonder is trying to say here…but what is he saying? Do you love this song?
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