*This is part one of a series on what I’m listening to. You can read part two here.

I’m an auditory learner, which means I retain information and am inspired most easily through hearing. I listen to my iPod a lot and almost always have it with me. I’ve been listening to audiobooks, podcasts, and music and I wanted to share with you some things that I have found particularly inspiring.

I’m going to break this down into two posts: podcasts and music. Today I’m going to write about music, specifically two albums that are capturing my imagination. Both Alison Kraus’ Windy City and Yo-Yo Ma’s Obrigado Brazil are transportive delights.

Windy City is strongly reminiscent of my hometown of Nashville in the 1950s when Chet Atkins and Floyd Kramer were kings. The 80s and 90s were the decades of my youth and these older songs such as “Gentle on My Mind” are a breath of fresh air and Buddy Cannon’s authentic production and Kraus’ pure angelic voice makes this collection an excellent homage to the past while introducing these songs afresh to a new generation of listeners.

Heading even further South Yo-Yo Ma dives into an exploration and appreciation of South American music on Obrigado Brazil (Portuguese for “Thank You, Brazil”). Talk about another place. I don’t even have the vocabulary to explain why I feel this album is so magical. All I can tell you is that these are A-List Brazilian players with Ma’s world-class lyrical cello. I’ve played it for several friends, all of whom respond with some sort of variation of  “Wow. What is this?”

Over to you:
What are you listening to that’s inspiring you?