Nina Simone - Pastel Blues
At this crucial time in our lives, when everything is so desperate, when every day is a matter of survival, I don't think you can help but be involved. - Nina Simone
I saw this written on the sidewalk around the corner from my house when kids were encouraged to "chalk the walk" the week after George Floyd was murdered. The sidewalk was covered in quotes. This one stuck with me. It is just so true, understated, and straightforward. A logical call to arms if you will. We've had some customers reach out to us at Tandem about some of our recent social media posts saying things like, "I wish you wouldn't get involved in such divisive issues," "Right now people need coffee and a place to 'escape to'" or that we are "adding" to the problem instead of "alleviating" it. I say, no thanks. I'm going with the logic of Nina Simone. We can't help but get involved. We as a company need to do better. I need to do better. We don't want to make any hollow promises. Posting about these issues keeps the pressure on us to walk the talk.
Anyway, this album is amazing. Did you know Nina Simone played the piano? I didn't! Not until about 15 years ago when my 70 year old neighbor Ulysses on Martha's Vineyard started burning me CDs in exchange for mowing his lawn. That summer he got me into Fats Waller, Nat King Cole (another insane piano player), and Nina Simone. He would close his eyes and airplay the piano with his fingers when he talked about her. Those CDs are still some of my most cherished in what is left of my dusty collection. Enjoy!
- Will Pratt, 7/1/20
Nano Challa - Agaro, Ethiopia
It’s the time of year we have all come to know and love – fresh Ethiopia coffees are here. We couldn’t be more thrilled to release our first natural of the season, especially since it is one of the best we have ever tasted. Banko Gotiti hails from southern Ethiopia’s famed Yirgacheffe region, and its layered complexity and elegance left us nearly speechless when we tasted this coffee in Addis Ababa this past January. Yeah, it’s a natural, but you might not know it. This coffee is just so dang clean. Fragrant floral qualities, tropical fruit, and deep, rich sweetness means this coffee is just about as good as they come.