For those who have visited my web site, www.martin-eagle.com, and listened to my music, you may have come across a composition called "Ava Gardner" from the "A Welcoming Beauty" CD. When I was very young I saw her in "One Touch Of Venus." She was in her early 20s and the paradigm of a beauty which, even then, was touched with sadness and vulnerability. It didn't hurt that this movie also introuced "Speak Low," one of my favorite tunes.

During the recording of this CD, I had a very hard time getting into my solo on that song. After struggling for a while, I realized that my difficulty arose from having something specific to say, literally, rather than metaphorically. So, I wrote out my brief Ode to Ava and, during the first chorus of my solo, that's what I played. If you read the following while listening, you'll hear what I mean.

Ava Gardner was the most lovely woman in the world.
Ava Gardner was the most lonely woman in the world.
Look in her eyes, there used to be laughter there.
But, there's no laughter anymore, for Ava Gardner.
Now there are tears, nothing but tears
for Ava Gardner,
lovely Ava Gardner.
- posted by Martin Eagle @ 12:15 PM