Frank Lamphere sings Meditation on his CD America The Beautiful, Swinging released in 2021
"One of the most popular bossa styled songs of the 1960s. A song of longing. Meditation by Jobim and lyrist Norman Gimbel, was recorded by many vocalists and instrumentalists alike including: Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Vic Damone, Claudine Longet, Astrud Gilberto, Henry Mancini, etc. It was also a song that was frequently performed by singers and groups in lounges around the world, for decades.
I had always liked the song Meditation, however it wasn't until after performing it with my quartet at an outdoor concert in downtown Chicago in about the Summer of 2015 that it took on new meaning. While on break, a gentleman, probably in his mid-60s, approached me and told me how he was not familiar with the song, that he had greatly enjoyed my rendition of it and that it had brought to mind his late wife. I realized at that moment just how powerful those lyrics combined with that melody actually were.
For my recording of Meditation, guitarist Andy Brown along with bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer George Fludas accompany me in the first chorus, before pianist Larry Harris enters with some hauntingly beautiful notes on the high end of the piano. Trombonist Russ Phillips plays on the intro and outro and contributes a solo. The song was recorded in the key of B" - Frank Lamphere
In my loneliness When you're gone and I'm all by myself And I need your caress I just think of you And the thought of you holding me near Makes my loneliness soon disappear Though you're far away I have only to close my eyes And you are back to stay I just close my eyes And the sadness that missing you brings Soon is gone and this heart of mine sings Yes I love you so And that for me is all I need to know I will wait for you Til the sun falls from out of the sky For what else can I do I will wait for you meditating How sweet life will be When you come back to me
Pianist Larry Harris and guitarist Andy Brown at the America Swinging recording session (Photo by Bill Klewitz)
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