That’s right. And I’m not ashamed to say it. And why? Because Meilana Gillard’s version of “In A Sentimental Mood” is one of the most enthralling renditions of the song I have ever heard. Technically flawless, inventive, colorful. Her improvisations are dead on and I dare anyone out there to show me a better contemporary version of the song. I used to think no one could ever beat the Coltrane/Ellington combo. That version of the song has to be the quintessential one. Then I heard Sonny Rollins play it and that one just knocked me out. I mean, as much as I love what Coltrane did with the song, I’m almost tempted to say that I love the Rollins version even more. I shudder sometimes listening to that deep tenor with the tasty little vibes comping behind him. Incredibly romantic. Django’s version ain’t bad either. Fact is, it would be very hard to screw up “In A Sentimental Mood” no matter who played it. But you know what? All of the aforementioned versions of the song were played slow and easy, meditative. The song is a ballad. I’d never really heard it played at medium tempo and especially not at a fast tempo. Then I heard Ms. Gillard’s version.

Before I continue, let me give you an idea of why this praise for Ms. Gillard’s song is genuine and not at all profitable to me.

What’s the worst thing about running a little radio station on the web? One doesn’t get paid for persuing their passion. What’s the best thing about it? One doesn’t get paid for persuing their passion. What I mean is Dimensions In Jazz, Forever Cool, Evening Melancholy — we play what we play because we love the music. Not because some boss tells us this is what we have to play, not because society dictates to us what the top 40 tunes are. We play what we want and spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year of our own money simply because we adore the music and the people who make it. Having said that, you should now realize that my praise of Meilana Gillard’s song is not provoked by any perks. It simply comes out of absolute admiration.

Art is subjective, I know. Lester Bangs wrote an entire glowing article on Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks album — he loved it so much (as do I). I gave that album to people and they just shrugged. You can’t point to art and say that this is objectively beautiful. It doesn’t work that way. You could listen to Gillard’s version of “In A Sentimental Mood” and shrug as well, and you would be absolutely right in doing so. You have a right to your opinion. But so do I. And all I can say is that from intro to coda this tune is pure magic to me. The arrangement is brilliant. What Gillard does in her improvisation is an adrenaline rush in itself. And it’s not the big swooping changes that get me. It’s the little things she does. It’s the little flourishes, the hints of her personality within the tune that get me. Bird could do that, Lester Young as well. The little things like when I hear Vince Guaraldi play “O Tannebaum” and I hear that little *ding* right before he digs further into his improvisation. That one note adds so much color to the song. Gillard does that a few times with “Mood” and it’s like she’s giving us a little smirk.

I don’t often go on and on about a certain song, but I’ve listened to this one at least two or three times a day for the past week and I still notice little nuances that I didn’t hear before. And maybe you think that this is a bit much just for one tune. But Kenny G has sold millions of albums and not once has he knocked me out with any of his tunes like Ms. Gillard has with her arrangement and her playing. This is jazz. This is why I play this music and read about this music and lust for this music. Tunes like this one make me feel alive. They make me feel like someone gets it!

So, yes, I’ve become a Gillard groupie. And I’m proud of it!

http://www.myspace.com/meilanagillard