VOA标准英语2010年-Tia Fuller Takes 'Decisive Steps' Towa

Touring the world with R&B superstar Beyonce might be the pinnacle¹ of success for most musicians.  But, for jazz saxophonist Tia Fuller, being a member of Beyonce's backup band has worked wonders for her rising solo career. 

 Tia Fuller was steadily² working her way up the ranks in the jazz world when opportunity came knocking.  In 2007, she was invited to play alto sax on "The Beyonce Experience" concert tour, in support of the singer's second solo album, B'Day.  As Tia recalls, joining the band and performing in more than 90 venues³ across five continents was a dream come true.  Fortunately, she was in the right place at the right time, and, two years later, she again packed her bags and embarked⁴ on Beyonce's next live outing, the "I Am … Tour."

The tours were both exhilarating and grueling, but night-after-night, Tia managed to try out some jazzy new solos.

Tia has never strayed far from her jazz roots.  She grew up near Denver, Colorado, listening to recordings⁶ by John Coltrane, Sarah Vaughan and Charlie Parker.  Graduating with music degrees from Spelman College and the University of Colorado, Tia moved to New York where she performed and recorded with a who's who of jazz greats.

She recently recorded her third solo album, Decisive Steps.  It's comprised mostly of original tunes⁷, but also includes the jazz standards "My Shining Hour" and "I Can't Get Started."  The track "Ebb⁸ and Flow," featuring Tia's friend and mentor⁹ Christian¹⁰ McBride on bass¹¹, taps into her philosophical¹² nature.

"In preparing for recording⁵ and taking those aggressive steps, you have to be one with the spirit, allowing the ebb and flow of the physical and spiritual to become one,"  Tia explains.

 

1 pinnacle   

n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰

参考例句：

• Now he is at the very pinnacle of his career.现在他正值事业中的顶峰时期。
• It represents the pinnacle of intellectual capability.它代表了智能的顶峰。

2 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

3 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

4 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

5 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

6 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

7 tunes   

n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• a potpourri of tunes 乐曲集锦
• When things get a bit too much, she simply tunes out temporarily. 碰到事情太棘手时，她干脆暂时撒手不管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 ebb   

vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态

参考例句：

• The flood and ebb tides alternates with each other.涨潮和落潮交替更迭。
• They swam till the tide began to ebb.他们一直游到开始退潮。

9 mentor   

n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导

参考例句：

• He fed on the great ideas of his mentor.他以他导师的伟大思想为支撑。
• He had mentored scores of younger doctors.他指导过许多更年轻的医生。

10 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

11 bass   

n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴

参考例句：

• He answered my question in a surprisingly deep bass.他用一种低得出奇的声音回答我的问题。
• The bass was to give a concert in the park.那位男低音歌唱家将在公园中举行音乐会。

12 philosophical   

adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的

参考例句：

• The teacher couldn't answer the philosophical problem.老师不能解答这个哲学问题。
• She is very philosophical about her bad luck.她对自己的不幸看得很开。