One of my favorite TV shows in the late 80s was NBC’s Sunday Night (later known as Night Music). This was a late-night show that featured musicians that didn’t typically get airtime on the more mainstream programs. They featured many jazz, blues, and World Music artists playing live with the in-house band, which included hosts David Sanborn and Squeeze keyboard player Jools Holland. Here’s a link to the Wikipedia page, which shows an impressive and very eclectic lineup of guests.

For anyone with a good TV signal and a HiFi Stereo TV and/or VCR, this show was a real treat. I recorded most of the shows and transferred the performances I liked to cassette so I could listen whenever I wanted.

One of my favorite performances, embedded above, was Debbie Harry’s rendition of “Calmarie,” written by Brazilian percussionist Naná Vasconcelos. Naná’s recording of this song is very trance-like but Harry’s version takes it further– almost dreamy– which is why I liked it. (You can find Debbie Harry’s studio version on her 1989 album Def Dumb and Blonde.)

It’s cold outside here now, but whenever I hear this song it warms me up.

Calmarie (Nana Vasconselos/Maria Toledo)

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Neste barco nave gando luz som e color azul desta sandade e o mar e tao calmo
solidao
neste barco nave gando luz som e amor azul desta sandade e o mar e tao calmo

solidao