VOA标准英语2010年-Violin Jazz Pays Tribute to Eddie Sout

Violinist Eddie South may not be a household name, but among his peers, he was a giant of the jazz world.  The former classical music prodigy¹ whose distinctive² style was the inspiration for a new tribute album by Violin Jazz.

The music of Eddie South, as interpreted by San Francisco-based quartet Violin Jazz, ranged from classical masterpieces to Hungarian folk songs.  But he was best-known for his elegant solos of jazz and swing standards.

Eddie South was born in the city of Louisiana, Missouri in 1904.  His budding prospects³ as a classical violinist led to formal training at the Chicago Musical College, as well as conservatories⁴ in Hungary, Paris and New York.  But, in the 1920s, with limited opportunities for black musicians hoping to enter the classical music world, Eddie South turned to playing jazz.

He began his career with some of Chicago's top jazz and vaudeville⁵ orchestras, working under bandleaders Charles Elgar, Jimmy Wade⁶ and Erskine Tate.  Eddie was billed as "The Dark Angel of the Violin," a name originated by bandleader Paul Whiteman during a radio show.  Tours to Europe sparked his interest in traditional Hungarian folk tunes⁸ and gypsy melodies, which he skillfully incorporated into his own jazz style. 

One of Eddie's most famous pieces was "Eddie's Blues," a tune⁷ he first recorded in 1937 with renowned⁹ guitarist Django Reinhardt.

Eddie became the leader of his own groups, including Eddie South and his Alabamians, named after the Alabam Club in Chicago.  But, over the years, as he supplemented his nightclub work with appearances on radio and television, commercial success continued to elude¹⁰ him.  He died at age 57 in Chicago in 1962.

Paying tribute to Eddie on "The Music Of Eddie South" are Violin Jazz members Jeremy Cohen on violin, pianist Larry Dunlap, bassist Jim Kerwin and guitarist Dix Bruce.  They're joined by drummer Harold Jones on the track "Mad Monk¹¹."
 

1 prodigy   

n.惊人的事物，奇迹，神童，天才，预兆

参考例句：

• She was a child prodigy on the violin.她是神童小提琴手。
• He was always a Negro prodigy who played barbarously and wonderfully.他始终是一个黑人的奇才，这种奇才弹奏起来粗野而惊人。

2 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

3 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

4 conservatories   

n.（培植植物的）温室，暖房( conservatory的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Conservatories have grown in popularity over the past 10 years. 过去10年，温室越来越受到欢迎。 来自互联网
• FEBRI ELEMENT offers Offers to Railing systems, Aluminium elements and Conservatories. 是一家现代化、得信赖的产品供应商，该供应商从事栏杆，护栏系统，梯式支座装置、式支座装置，钢梯的制造和销售。 来自互联网

5 vaudeville   

n.歌舞杂耍表演

参考例句：

• The standard length of a vaudeville act was 12 minutes.一个杂耍节目的标准长度是12分钟。
• The mayor talk like a vaudeville comedian in his public address.在公共演讲中，这位市长讲起话来像个歌舞杂耍演员。

6 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

7 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。

8 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》

9 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

10 elude   

v.躲避，困惑

参考例句：

• If you chase it,it will elude you.如果你追逐着它， 它会躲避你。
• I had dared and baffled his fury.I must elude his sorrow.我曾经面对过他的愤怒，并且把它挫败了；现在我必须躲避他的悲哀。

11 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。