El… Read Full Bio ↴Kurt Elling (born November 2, 1967) is an American jazz vocalist.
Elling graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota in 1989. He then enrolled in The University of Chicago's Divinity School and remained a student there until January 1992, when he left school one credit short of graduation.
In the last decade, Elling has released seven albums for the Blue Note label. He has also performed and recorded with many musicians, including David Amram, Bob Belden, Joanne Brackeen, Oscar Brown, Jr., Billy Corgan, Orbert Davis, George Freeman, Buddy Guy, Jon Hendricks, Charlie Hunter and Rex Richardson.
As of late 2005, Elling's current band includes Rob Amster on bass, Laurence Hobgood on piano, and Kobe Watkins on drums. He is regularly featured at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge at 4802 N. Broadway in Chicago.
Elling has won the Down Beat and JazzTimes critics’ polls three years in a row in the Best Male Singer category. He is also Vice Chair of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the 17,000-member service organization that produces the annual Grammy Awards.
Minuano
Kurt Elling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Night leaves gently - her beauty is spent, and she rises.
I step into the lightness - I hear you.
You're calling me out of my sadness.
Your flowering wonders are calling me home.
Darkness lingers - but always surrenders to loving.
Darkest midnight - is swallowed in oceans of laughter.
You're calling me out of my sadness.
Your flowering wonders are calling me home.
Dancing along a dawn that leads to you -
Singing a song that blossoms in a fugue as morning settles on
Dreaming into a sky of brilliant blue -
Noticing clouds are whispering that you will dance with me very soon
Already been as high as Kathmandu -
'Willing to go as far as Timbuktu
Nowhere's too far away - I may catch up with you today -
maybe today will finally be the day
Flying along a dawn that leads to you -
Singing a song that makes itself anew - a music magic wand
Reaching into a sky of brilliant blue -
eagles are calling out to say the you will dance me very soon
Already been as high as Kathmandu -
Willing to go as far a Timbuktu
Nowhere's too far away - I may catch up with you today -
maybe today we'll make our getaway!
Like light from the stars made ten thousand years ago - comes love, like a gift of sight
Growing stronger every moment on the way home.
The lyrics of Kurt Elling's song "Minuano" embody hope, perseverance and the power of love. The song is about a journey, both physical and emotional, towards finding oneself and a loved one. The song begins with the imagery of day slowly absorbing the darkness, and night leaving gently, symbolizing the transition from sadness and despair towards hope and light. The singer of the song hears a call from his loved one that brings him out of his sadness and towards a place of "flowering wonders", where he can be himself and find peace.
As the song progresses, the singer speaks of dancing along a dawn that leads him to his loved one, singing a song that blossoms in a fugue, dreaming into a sky of brilliant blue. These images convey a deep sense of longing and joy, and the promise of a reunion. He speaks of having been as high as Kathmandu, and willing to go as far as Timbuktu to find his loved one, emphasizing the distance between them and the effort required to bridge it. However, the singer remains hopeful and determined, knowing that nowhere is too far away, and that every day might be the day of their reunion.
The song ends with the image of love growing stronger every moment on the way home, like light from the stars made ten thousand years ago, symbolizing the persistence and timelessness of love. The song is a beautiful ode to the power of love, and a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Day comes slowly - absorbing the darknesses softly.
The morning slowly sets in and takes away the darkness around me, gently and peacefully
Night leaves gently - her beauty is spent, and she rises.
The night fades away calmly and its beauty fades away, allowing the day to begin
I step into the lightness - I hear you.
I move towards happiness and positivity, able to hear your call
You're calling me out of my sadness.
You are motivating me to step out of my sadness and be joyful
Your flowering wonders are calling me home.
Your amazing presence is calling me towards my true home
Darkness lingers - but always surrenders to loving.
Sadness may stay for a while, but it disappears in the presence of love
Darkest midnight - is swallowed in oceans of laughter.
Even the darkest moment fades away when laughter and happiness take over
I follow into lightness - I hear you.
I pursue positivity and I'm able to hear your voice guiding me
Dancing along a dawn that leads to you -
I'm moving towards you along with the first light of day
Singing a song that blossoms in a fugue as morning settles on
I am singing a song which grows with the day, just as the light grows
Dreaming into a sky of brilliant blue -
I'm dreamily looking up at the bright blue sky
Noticing clouds are whispering that you will dance with me very soon
I'm aware that even the clouds are giving me a sign that I will soon be with you
Already been as high as Kathmandu -
I have already reached the highest point in Kathmandu
'Willing to go as far as Timbuktu
I'm prepared to go to any further distance, even to Timbuktu
Nowhere's too far away - I may catch up with you today -
No distance is too great, I might meet you today
maybe today will finally be the day
Possibly, today will be the day I finally meet you
Flying along a dawn that leads to you -
I'm moving faster towards you along with the first light of day
Singing a song that makes itself anew - a music magic wand
I am singing a song that magically regenerates and refreshes itself
Reaching into a sky of brilliant blue -
I'm reaching out towards the bright blue sky
eagles are calling out to say the you will dance me very soon
The eagles are giving me a sign that very soon, you and I will dance together
Already been as high as Kathmandu -
I have already reached the highest point in Kathmandu
Willing to go as far a Timbuktu
I'm ready to go to an even further distance, as far as Timbuktu
Nowhere's too far away - I may catch up with you today -
No matter how far, I could meet you today
maybe today we'll make our getaway!
Possibly, today will be the day we finally escape together
Like light from the stars made ten thousand years ago - comes love, like a gift of sight
Love is like the light that comes from the stars that were made many years ago, a precious gift
Growing stronger every moment on the way home.
Love is becoming stronger as I move closer towards home
Contributed by Sadie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@donnarosatella
Day comes slowly - absorbing the darknesses softly.
Night leaves gently - her beauty is spent, and she rises.
I step into the lightness - I hear you.
You're calling me out of my sadness.
Your flowering wonders are calling me home.
Darkness lingers - but always surrenders to loving.
Darkest midnight - is swallowed in oceans of laughter.
I follow into lightness - I hear you.
You're calling me out of my sadness.
Your flowering wonders are calling me home.
Dancing along a dawn that leads to you -
Singing a song that blossoms in a fugue as morning settles on
Dreaming into a sky of brilliant blue -
Noticing clouds are whispering that you will dance with me very soon
Already been as high as Kathmandu -
`Willing to go as far as Timbuktu
Nowhere's too far away - I may catch up with you today -
maybe today will finally be the day
Flying along a dawn that leads to you -
Singing a song that makes itself anew - a music magic wand
Reaching into a sky of brilliant blue -
eagles are calling out to say the you will dance me very soon
Already been as high as Kathmandu -
Willing to go as far a Timbuktu
Nowhere's too far away - I may catch up with you today -
maybe today we'll make our getaway!
Like light from the stars made ten thousand years ago - comes love, like a gift of sight
Growing stronger every moment on the way home.
@johnobrien9035
Kurt Elling is probably one of the finest Jazz singers of today. I had the pleasure seeing him at Jazz Alley in Seattle. It was an extreme pleasure. I hope to listen to Minuano at least once a day for the rest of my life.
@cynthiaobryant6001
Just a beautiful piece of music played exquisitely by these fine musicians and Kurt just superb! I really love this :) 😀
@pedrobarbeira8729
that second B with the harmonized vocals, holy shit. absolute quantic gateway
@fredmurtz2075
One of the greatest voices in human history
@NathanHarman
Amazing elaboration. Reminds me of seeing him in St Louis with my father who has passed. God bless him and the memories we share through beautiful music.
@ChazCabrera
Pianist improvisation is sick!!!!!!!!!
@sevildrib
An outstanding vocal jazz performance of the Metheney / Mays classic. Kurt Elling's vocal and Laurence Hobgood's piano lend the piece an almost Art song feeling at the beginning until bass and drums move into an understated Afro Cuban feel. The soprano solo builds and emotes and Hobgood's piano solo builds into the excitement of the final ensemble. Elling and Hobgood conjured yet another miraculous performance . Five Stars
@stephenlinton1236
for my money, this is Pat and Lyle's best composition. Kurt and the players on this track do justice to a wonderful piece of music.
If you haven't heard the original version by the Pat Metheny Group, go find it and enjoy. EPIC!
@jillsalkin7389
Wow! Kurt tackles challenging pieces!! I assume he wrote these lyrics. Great piece from all!!
@lastmandriving
Beautiful tune, there's something magical about the vocals