Cocktail Notes || EP. 17 “Twelve for Jo", by Branden Nguyen || Marzipan-hattan

This week’s installment features the first original song that kicked off my blues composition project a few years back. “Twelve for Jo'' was a musical idea that I was dabbling with at work one day. During that time, I felt motivated to study other guitarists for new ideas. I started with an analysis of Joe Pass’ guitar playing and seeing if I could incorporate some of his tendencies into my own playing. Although I did not pick up any of his musical habits in the end, the process did affect the way I improvised and approached arrangements. This song was inspired by the lessons I learned in analyzing his virtuosic fingerstyle jazz playing. 

The cocktail I created to pair with this week’s original piece is called a “Marzipan-hattan”. My sister actually was the inspiration for this recipe (the connection to the song being that she also goes by the name Jo). Her favorite drink has recently been a spirit-forward Manhattan. Last Christmas, she was really craving marzipan candy for some reason. I thought it would be a fun idea to combine the two ideas and create a Manhattan with the subtle hint of almond, honey, and rosewater. By adding the almond flavored liqueur, amaretto, along with honey syrup and rosewater, I think I was able to create something that hinted to the holiday treat. Cheers!

[February 18, 2021]