Minimalism, metaphor, and heartbreak: Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer (Stevie Wonder)

Listen to the songYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrLDXORRDpo&list=RDFrLDXORRDpoSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/37Coai9PTZrf39716Ypi0SApple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/never-dreamed-youd-leave-in-summer/1443793772Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B000VWPMX2?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_SAOWAZX6uO74jq9sKAZbYD40N&trackAsin=B000VWQXJYKey takeawaysDespite Stevie Wonder’s typical full band sound, this ballad is a minimalistic experience, with just a piano, upright bass, and a light orchestra and choirLike most of his music, Stevie Wonder creates unexpected chord progressions that deviate from traditional music rules. However, these chord progressions never distract, only enhance his musicElaine and Trist also discuss album order and how it could be influenced by the limitations of available technology, and how it differs from creating a set for a live setIn the Mailbag segment, Elaine and Trist explore the concept of a “calling” in musicAbout 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.Contact usEmail us at: [email protected] us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themusiciansloupe/ Talk with us on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@themusiciansloupe