VOA标准英语2010年-Brown's 'Sending My Love' Delivers Sen

Grammy-winning guitarist Norman Brown is a big believer in broadening his horizons.  Brown delivers a mix of old and new, including a special dedication¹ to the troops serving in Iraq, on his latest album, Sending My Love.

Norman Brown hasn't lost his touch for making award-winning "smooth" jazz.  In fact, his new album claims several jazz styles, including a Latin melody on the track, "Play Time."

One of Brown's earliest musical influences was rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix.  But, when his father introduced him to the music of guitar virtuoso² Wes Montgomery, Brown became hooked on jazz.  He relocated from Kansas City to Los Angeles to further his guitar studies, and after a short tenure³ in the jazz clubs, he landed a recording⁴ contract with Motown subsidiary MoJazz.  In 2003, he shared a Grammy Award with producer Paul Brown (no relation) for Best Pop Instrumental Album, Just Chillin'.

When he's not in the recording studio, Brown spends most of the year on tour.  One of his favorite venues⁵ is the annual Smooth Jazz Cruise to the Caribbean.  He's currently headlining his "Summer Storm Tour" with saxophonist Jessy J and vocalists Phil Perry and Brenda Russell.  

For his new release, Brown turned the Kenny Loggins' tune⁶ "Celebrate Me Home" into a dedication to his daughter Kesha, a West Point graduate and first lieutenant⁷ fighting in Iraq.  Brown says, "I think about all of the families of these troops and the troops themselves, and 'Celebrate Me Home' hits it on the head.  We all want to see them come home safely."

Brown's arrangement of "Celebrate Me Home" features his other daughter Rochella on vocals⁸, with a choral performance by Sounds of Blackness.
 

1 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

2 virtuoso   

n.精于某种艺术或乐器的专家，行家里手

参考例句：

• He was gaining a reputation as a remarkable virtuoso.作为一位技艺非凡的大师，他声誉日隆。
• His father was a virtuoso horn player who belonged to the court orchestra.他的父亲是宫廷乐队中一个技巧精湛的圆号演奏家。

3 tenure   

n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期

参考例句：

• He remained popular throughout his tenure of the office of mayor.他在担任市长的整个任期内都深得民心。
• Land tenure is a leading political issue in many parts of the world.土地的保有权在世界很多地区是主要的政治问题。

4 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。

5 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

6 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

7 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

8 vocals   

（乐曲中的）歌唱部份，声乐部份( vocal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Also look out for soaring vocals on The Right Man. 另外，也可留意一下《意中人》中的那高亢的唱腔。
• Lazy bass line, lazier drums, lush violins, great piano and incomparable vocals. 懒惰的低音线，较懒惰的鼓，饮小提琴，棒的钢琴和无比的声音。