VOA标准英语2012--Joey DeFrancesco Marks Milestone Birthday with '40'

Joey DeFrancesco Marks Milestone¹ Birthday with '40'

On his latest album, DeFrancesco sounds better than ever as he swings through an update of the Ray Charles hit, “I Got A Woman.” He turned 40 in April and recorded 40 two months later.
He was anything but a late-bloomer. Under the guidance of his father, Hammond B-3 organist “Papa” John DeFrancesco, Joey began playing piano at age four. Following in “Papa’s” footsteps, he switched to organ, and by age 10, he had become a hometown favorite in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The best was yet to come for young Joey, who was a finalist in the inaugural² Thelonious Monk³ International Piano Competition. He toured and recorded with Miles Davis, and, at 18, landed a solo recording⁴ contract with Columbia Records.
DeFrancesco marks his return to the studio with several cover songs and a string of originals, including three tunes⁵ dedicated⁶ to his family.
Two compositions: “Ashley Blue” and “Donny’s Song,” pay tribute to his children, while “Gloria,” featuring Joey on vocals⁷, honors his wife. Rounding out his trio is guitarist Rick Zunigar and drummer Ramon Banda.
So, at age 40, life is good. What hasn’t changed after all these years is DeFrancesco’s love for performing. He says whenever he takes a solo “there is something that happens spiritually; something that happens that’s beyond comprehension.”

1 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

2 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

3 monk   

n.和尚，僧侣，修道士

参考例句：

• The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。
• Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。

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 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》

6 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

7 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。