Johnny Mathis ~ How Do You Keep the Music Playing

This is another absolutely stunning and beautiful marriage of the gifts of Johnny Mathis, Michel Legrand and Marilyn and Alan Bergman. From the 1993 CD, with same title as this song, and again showcasing the talents of these 4 incomparable artists. While there are currently several other great uploads of this song, particularly two live in concert ("Chances Are" PBS special and "Live By Request" special), I'm sharing this for it's distinction - not - in 'addition to' . Most performers, and I believe Johnny has said this in interviews, experience a completely different dynamic when performing 'live' vs. recording in the studio. While still in the 'zone', and performing to his fullest in front of an audience, you can hear and hopefully appreciate, the experience of Johnny being 'one' with the music in this studio performance. While concert orchestrations are lovely, and compliment the performer- here- Johnny's voice and solo piano work of (either Michel Legrand or Michael Lang according to the liner notes- but in this case I will hope it's Michel Legrand)- play off and with each other, as two instruments. As the composer, arranger and conductor of the music for the CD it seems fitting that Michel Legrand is the soloist here- magnificent playing. If you listen into Johnny's interview with Noel Edmonds (gerrymoran1 channel- song: "Johnny Mathis- If It's Magic") you'll hear his great (and I find fascinating) description of how he orchestrates his voice with choices of different instruments in the orchestra, and, how he (as he says) "utilize singing softly, almost in a whisper and other times make a joyful noise as loud and as far as I can sing." You'll hear the 'whisper' and the 'loud - joy' in this song in a completely different way than you'd experience it in a live performance. The 'die-hard' romantic soul in me is touched by the simplicity and depth of this beautiful interpretation. As I copied from the liner notes in the last upload "After The Rain", the Bergmans express the "pure pleasure to hear our songs so lovingly sung... a gift we will always cherish." Listen. You'll hear the love, and for lack of a better word- the only one that comes to mind right now - 'oozing' in and out of this song. I wish I could put all of the songs from this CD up- but many of them are posted, several live, including one of mine "The Way She Makes Me Feel" . But I just had to share this one- it's such perfection. Enjoy! And - if you don't have it - this CD is well worth owning- and appreciating time and time again. When you listen "in" to it - you'll hear different nuances every time.