Latin rhythms, song structure, and a superstition - An Olive Tree (Basia)

Listen to the songYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAgbvUL8Ap4 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/3CiONr7T1221WXvNDCS4jh?si=1dea603406ec4a40 Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/be/song/an-olive-tree/457233483 Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B00138H6BO?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_MWTDQIz8Ts7CyqmMuiQGflwhR&trackAsin=B00138EFVS Other linksTED Radio Hour interview with David Byrne - https://www.npr.org/transcripts/894686165 Key takeawaysTrist and Elaine discuss Basia’s jazz-pop sound, her use of Latin-inspired rhythms, and the influence of language in her song “An Olive Tree.”The song’s unconventional structure, featuring distinct movements and varied rhythms, challenges traditional expectations of musical composition and highlights the flexibility of musicIn the Mailbag segment, Elaine and Trist explore how physical spaces, such as churches, jazz clubs, and concert halls, shape the type of music created and performed, citing examples like Gregorian chants and jazz ensemblesAbout usTrist 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.