2006年VOA标准英语-Jazzman Jason Miles Pays Tribute to Marvin

By Doug Levine
Washington
08 April 2006
 
  
  
It's been 22 years since the untimely death of singer Marvin Gaye, but there's no forgetting the man who sang such classics as "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" and "What's Going On." Jazzman Jason Miles is the latest in a long line of musicians to pay tribute to this legendary¹ performer.

----------------------------------------

The Marvin Gaye story has anything but a happy ending. At age 44, Marvin was enjoying a comeback when his father shot him to death during an argument on April 1, 1984. A year earlier, he won a Grammy Award for his hit song "Sexual Healing," from an album that sold in excess of two million copies. His performances on the Grammy broadcast, at Radio City Music Hall, and on the Motown 25th Anniversary television special sealed his return. Little did anyone know that Marvin Gaye would give his final concert while on tour in August 1983.

Enter Jason Miles, a keyboard player who made his mark on New York's jazz-fusion scene in the 1970s. Since then, he's worked with some of the top names in jazz and R&B, and has recorded several successful solo albums. No stranger to tributes, Miles got the idea to honor Marvin Gaye after hearing the late singer's songs being played in a restaurant. Miles calls him one of the most influential² artists of our time.

Without missing a beat, Miles assembled a stellar group of singers and musicians for "What's Going On: Songs Of Marvin Gaye," including vocal³ veteran Bobby Caldwell.

Also at work on some of Marvin Gaye's most-popular tunes⁴ are trumpeter Herb Alpert on "Let's Get It On," saxophonist Jay Beckenstein on "Too Busy Thinkin' Bout⁵ My Baby," bassist Marcus Miller⁶ on "Heavy Love Affair," and up-and-coming soul singer Mike Mattison on the title track, "What's Going On."

1 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

2 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

3 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

4 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》

5 bout   

n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛

参考例句：

• I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
• That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。

6 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。