I have always loved Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, in particular the song ‘Summertime’, so I was thrilled when I found this delightful jazz version in my inbox.
The artist [on flute] is an Indie musician and composer by the name of Hannah Sterry.
Hannah is multi talented, and I know she will achieve great success and recognition, eventually. For now though, she is like all of us Indies – struggling to be heard.
If you enjoy this video clip as much as I did, please visit Hannah’s website and check out some of the tracks she has composed herself. Go Hannah!
And while I’m on the subject of talented Indies, I recently stumbled on a very talent young photographer by the name of Leanne Cole. Leanne is an Aussie like me, and I was gobsmacked by the surreal beauty of the photos she took right here in Victoria [my home state].
When I look out my window I see grey skies threatening rain, and everything looks dull and washed out. But have a look at what can be achieved when you have an artist holding the camera!
Royal Botanical Gardens, Cranbourne, Victoria
Despite having lived in Victoria most of my life, I did not even know there was a Botanical Garden in Cranbourne!
Happy Monday to you all,
Meeks
Meeka's Mind 
May 21st, 2013 at 12:32 pm
We certainly have been dropped into winter now haven’t we? I am feeding the fire and I don’t see it going out in the foreseeable future!
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May 21st, 2013 at 12:44 pm
I must say I love the smell of woodsmoke, at least in wiinter. It’s been freezing lately. Every available surface in my office is covered in pets who think it’s cold too! Btw chicken soup tonight. 🙂
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May 21st, 2013 at 2:44 pm
Chicken soup, yum! I love seeing the smoke drifting out of the chimneys and through the valley, it makes me feel very content.
I made a bacon and egg pie this afternoon to use up some eggs (and because it is my favourite) and tonights stew just went in the oven to slow cook for a few hours 🙂
I love winter for being able to cook again, I can’t stand over the stove in summer, I don’t deal well in the heat, but in winter roasts, stews and all manner of deliciousness is the order of the day!
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May 21st, 2013 at 4:01 pm
Me too! Winter is the time for experimenting with new recipes and flavours. Summer is for salads and as much cold stuff as possible. The egg and bacon pie sounds divine. Is that like a quiche?
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May 21st, 2013 at 4:14 pm
Yes, it is exactly like a quiche but it is also just like something my nan was making back in the days when they were plain old bacon and egg pies. The local bakery sells yummy quiches and it took me ages to train them to know that a bacon and egg pie and a quiche are the same thing! So much yummier when they are from your own eggs though. 😀
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May 21st, 2013 at 8:59 pm
Aaaah. 🙂 I love quiche but with more bacon and a bit less egg. And then there’s toasted bacon and egg sandwiches… You know I think I might be able to give up meat if I had to but I’d have to get a papal dispensation for bacon. Could never give that up.
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May 21st, 2013 at 9:24 pm
Yep, gotta be heavy on the bacon. 🙂 Mmmm, bacon and egg sandwiches for brekky on a weekend are a favourite here.
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May 22nd, 2013 at 8:41 am
I’ve been trying to reduce carbs in my diet but there would be a lot of protein in that, right? -grin- Sunday brunch. 😀
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May 21st, 2013 at 1:11 am
Makes me wish I played the flute. This was a very nice way to begin my Monday!
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May 21st, 2013 at 11:51 am
I’d love to play the flute too. I knew a girl at university who was studying the flute at the Conservatory of Music. She let me have a try one day. Couldn’t even get a squeak out of the damn thing. All the wind instruments are hard, very hard. Have huge respect for anyone who can master one!
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May 20th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
You continually surprise me. I’m not a lover of jazz at all but Hannah’s version of Summertime was uplifting. It reminded me of Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson for some reason. ( I must stop standing on one leg like this).
Leanne’s work is fantastic. Considering he weather she did well at Cranbourne and the skies helped her create very evocative and moody shots. I’d say you’ll be paying Cranbourne a visit soon to enjoy the creations there. Fancy there being such a beautiful and almost unknown place in your State.
xx Hugs xx
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May 20th, 2013 at 6:16 pm
lol – Now there’s a name from the past! Haven’t thought of Jethro Tull in decades. I’m not a jazz afficionado either but I do love the flute, and Hannah is so very talented.
I’m not sure about going to Cranbourne. I fear the reality could never live up to those photos. You would really really have to be at the right place at exactly the right time. I’m sure it’s beautiful at any time but not like /that/. -hugs-
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May 20th, 2013 at 8:01 pm
Thank you! 😀
I love playing Summertime, so I’m glad you enjoyed it too! I seem to get quite a lot of comparisons to Ian Anderson – people haven’t really heard fuzzy-edged rock/jazz flute anywhere else (even though it’s great fun to play)!
Leanne’s really got the feeling of moody skies in those photos too! Loving the flow of those garden designs too! 🙂
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May 20th, 2013 at 11:21 pm
Actually I was amazed you’d even heard of him – Jethro Tull was a million years ago. Then I found that he’s still touring.
I think there’s room for real musicians to get back into the rock scene, or perhaps to kick start a new renaissance!
You and Leanne work in such different mediums, but to an outsider like me, the creativity seems very similar. 🙂
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May 20th, 2013 at 11:56 am
I’m with Candy, I straight away thought of Janis Joplin but I do like Hannah Sterry… her Summertime gives you a lovely buzzy feeling, like a cool caffeinated fizzy drink.
Ah, so you found Leanne. Her photography and what she is building is wonderful… another type of Indie. I also loved the Botanical Gardens and her clouds are wonderful.
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May 20th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
lol – Did I find Leane’s work through you? If so thank you! I guess it’s true that like calls to like. 🙂
And yes, that’s a great description of Hannah’s version.
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May 20th, 2013 at 2:44 pm
I’m not sure… I haven’t included a link to Leanne for a while.
I often see bloggers I follow & vice versa commenting on other posts… makes for nice community 🙂
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May 20th, 2013 at 6:13 pm
It really is starting to feel very homey isn’t it? Makes me think of that 6 degrees of separation saying. We are all recommending people to each other. Love it. 🙂
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May 20th, 2013 at 11:24 am
I saw the recent, fabulous and, somewhat controversial, production of Porgy & Bess on Broadway last year. It was wonderful and “Summertime” has always been a favorite of mine. (I even sang it back when I was a kid taking singing lessons.) But somehow — no matter the singer, I always think about the Janis Joplin recording. Wow… It made me feel cool for likely Gershwin.
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May 20th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
I was one of those rare people who couldn’t get into Janis Joplin so I can’t imagine her singing Summertime. For me it has to be Ella Fitzgerald. 🙂
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