Thanksgiving Jazz With All The Trimmings!

Tags

blessings, Charlie Byrd, Chuck Redd, Corliss Johnson, Diana Krall, duke ellington, Eddie Dunn, frim fram sauce, Greg Olsen, Jim McKinney, Joya Sherrill, Ken Peplowski, Stan Getz Quartet, Terrell Spence, Thanksgiving

Here we are, JazzBabies, about to head into that great American feast day known as Thanksgiving. Illustrator Norman Rockwell famously captured one version of it, but heaven knows there are as many versions of Thanksgiving as there are families and individuals.  One couple I know is in the middle of a long-distance move and they’ll opt for Chinese this year although they’ll finish with a good, old-fashioned pumpkin pie. Part of my family is in Florida, another part in Arizona, the Seattle part has migrated south to San Diego for the celebration.

But there’s no geographical limit on gratitude. Wherever you are, you’ll find a reason to say “thanks.”

The first tune on today’s menu has been an earworm in my little brain for over a week and the only way to get it out is to put it here. This one was composed by Harold Arlen in 1941. Helen O’Connell and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra did the honors back in 1941. Stan Getz and the Quartet took a turn in 1961, and here they are with “When the Sun Comes Out,” from their album Stan Getz Quartet at Birdland. Stan on tenor sax, Steve Kuhn on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass and Roy Haynes on drums. Let us hope the sun comes out for your Thanksgiving celebration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMfM7k22p0Y

This may not be on your holiday menu, but it sounds delicious when Diana Krall sings about “The Frim Fram Sauce.” The song was made popular by Nat “King” Cole back in 1945 and has continued to have a happy place in the jazz songbook. Nobody seems to know exactly what the goofy song means, but Diana Krall does a great job with in this live performance. I love her playful, relaxed and yet energetic delivery – perfect for a song that calls for “shifafa on the side.” Don’t try to figure it out. Just enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS_6vtAGTE0

One never knows where the jazz will be found, but this time I found it in South Dakota with the Johnson/McKinney Quintet. Retired South Dakota State University faculty members, Corliss Johnson and Jim McKinney have been playing together for more than forty years but only recently began recording commercially. Other members of the Quintet are Greg Olsen, Terrell Spence and Eddie Dunn. Together, these South Dakota cats give us a great and jazzy Thanksgiving sentiment: “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays” from their album of holiday tunes.  It’s not your grandpa’s Perry Como version! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvowiMeryFQ

Charlie Byrd, as you know if you’ve been following JazzCookie, is one of my favorite musicians and the first jazz guitarist who really got my attention. When I landed on this album, I remembered all the reasons I followed Charlie over the years. The tune here is “Moments Like This,” from the album of the same name. One reviewer said, “The results are often breathtaking…” and I can only agree. Byrd is joined by clarinetist Ken Peplowski and drummer/vibe man Chuck Redd. It’s a match made in heaven all around. I wish you some happy moments like this for the holiday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5y4BG22Wuo

Okay, dinner will finally be over, the uncles will be awake after the post-Turkey nap, the guests will be on their way and the kitchen returned to some semblance of order. The rest can wait until tomorrow. It’s time to relax and loosen the stays, maybe even put your arms around somebody you love and take a spin around the living room floor. If there’s nobody close, use your imagination and dance like it’s the senior prom and your sweetheart’s in your arms. The Duke and vocalist Joya Sherrill lead the way on this oldie but 1944 goodie, “I’m Beginning to See the Light.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAsJexo_S5Q

And that’s it for JazzCookie’s Thanksgiving party.  I wish you all a happy holiday wherever you may be.  And if it’s not happy, know that tomorrow can always be a better day if you stay open for a blessing.

Ciao, JazzBabies

JazzCookie

I Pledge Allegiance to the Jazz

Tags

Dave Barbour, Duke Dejan, fairy tales, George Van Eps, Howard Alden, J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Larry Bunker, listen, Peggy Lee, Preservation Hall Hot 4, Red Mitchell, Roy Hargrove, silver lining, Walt Disney

JazzBabies, I’ll be honest.  I was as much at a loss as everybody else in this post-election week.  Doesn’t matter who you voted for, the surprises just kept coming.  And between the surprises, both personal and political, and the end of daylight savings time, I’ll be glad when Monday rolls around and a new week is on the calendar.

But JazzBabies, remember, when life gets tough, the tough – and the tender-hearted – get going to the music. And here we go.

First I want to mention the great evening of jazz with the Ed Kornhauser Trio at an event a week ago.  And yeah – a plug for them – because anybody in the San Diego area or nearby looking for some good jazz would do well to give Ed a call.  These cats did a fine job of entertaining a wandering crowd, set a lot of toes tapping and got a few folks on their feet to trip the light fantastic.  They have a terrific repertoire and a good time was had by all.

Onward now down to jazz N’Awlins style with the Preservation Hall Hot 4 and Duke Dejan.  I’ll cop to it – I chose this one because I needed a little jazz medicine.  And what better medicine than a happy tune rendered so well by a happy band of musicians.  I’m remembering the Hurricanes at Pat O’Briens, but that’s another story for a time no children are present.  For now, JazzBabies, let’s give a listen to “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams” and then dream those troubles, whatever they may be, away.  When in doubt, head to the Big Easy.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv4GCT3yv6o

Peggy Lee and Dave Barbour were one of the best-known musical marriages during the 1940s.  They met while with Benny Goodman and then went off together to sunny California as performers and songwriters.  This next tune is not one they wrote, but it is a jazzy performance together on “Why Don’t You Do Right?” A bit of trivia – the song, from 1936, was originally titled “The Weed Smoker’s Dream” and the lyric was that of a marijuana smoker lamenting lost opportunities.  Lyrics were later redone to reflect his partner’s point of view and the song became a classic “woman’s blues.”  Lee loved the recording made by blues mama, Lil Green and played it most nights while with Goodman.  He finally offered to have an arrangement done for her and the rest is history.   That history includes this recording with the Dave Barbour Quartet from 1950. That’s Barbour on the guitar… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uTcw_A80Bo

With talk of people leaving the country now after the election, I think if I did that I might head to Japan. I was reading an article recently about jazz in Japan and realized that I’d find my jazz home there with no trouble.  Here’s why – respectful audiences.  Quiet audiences.  In fact, in some jazz clubs talking is forbidden during the performance.  Oh, I would love that!  A roomful of people who can quietly sip a cool beverage and just, well, listen.  I wasn’t in Japan in 1982, but Kai Winding and J.J. Johnson were and played this terrific take on “It’s All Right With Me” at a live concert the year before Winding died too soon.  Two guys who know what they’re doing with two trombones can make heavenly music and here it is for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxUj2fKFX7A

I met Howard Alden a few years ago at the DjangoFest Jazz Festival on Whidbey Island up near Seattle.  We had a few things in common and one of them was Susannah McCorkle.  Alden has been on almost every one of her recordings and loved her as much as I do.  Of course, I also enjoyed meeting him because he’s a hella jazz guitarist and has teamed up often with the likes of Bucky Pizzarelli and George Van Eps of 7-string fame. If you think you haven’t heard Alden, you could be wrong.  He played the guitar soundtrack for Sean Penn in Sweet and Lowdown and also taught Penn how to mime the fingerwork.  Here’s Alden with Van Eps on the Ellington/Strayhorn standard, “Satin Doll,” from the 1996 Concord album, Keepin’ Time.  Enjoy, JazzBabies…Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuiNcU_OGAM&list=PL6-CMX4AD9lJDiY9VQCD3NQSH0S3A2jdM

Finally, JazzBabies, I want to send you off in a happy frame of mind so I’m bringing out Roy Hargrove and his Quintet on “Ev’rybody Wants To Be A Cat.”  The tune is from the Disney film, The Aristocats, and is included on the album Disney Jazz, Volume 1.  This is a terrific album, by the way, featuring some of the best like Esperanza Spalding, Dave Brubeck, Regina Carter, Dianne Reeves and more with their interpretations of Disney tunes.  This is not Disney’s first flirtation with jazz. I’m looking right now at a Disney “children’s” recording I have from 1962 that has long been a favorite even though the kids are all grown up: Best Loved Fairy Tales.  But these fairy tales were recorded in the spoken jazz style of the day, told by Rica Moore who’s backed by jazz cats Larry Bunker on bongos and vibraphone and Red Mitchell on bass.  Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Rumpelstilskin never sounded so good.  But for now it’s Mr. Hargrove with Thaddeus Dixon on drums, Jonathan Batiste on piano, Ameen Saleem on acoustic bass and Justin Robinson on alto saxophone on a happy and swingin’ version of “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat.”  Ain’t it the truth?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8RlW6kFAZ4&list=PL8FaIuIaybF4wJs_J0lRbbP7cSRh_HYgi

Have a great week, JazzBabies, and look for the silver lining. It’s out there somewhere.  Just listen.

Ciao,

JazzCookie
 

Should Auld Jazz Acquaintance Be Forgot, Part II

If you didn’t get the link to the music, here it is and it’s lovely:

Peter Sprague and “In My Life”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArwCPRnKuR4

Should Auld Jazz Acquaintance Be Forgot

Tags

Beatles, jazz in the hereafter, Jeff Petersen, loss of a friend, Peter Sprague

JazzBabies, we had a loss this past week in the San Diego jazz family. It wasn’t a musician, but a jazz aficionado – the very one who introduced me to my first taste of this city’s great music and musicians.

My friend and neighbor, Jeff Petersen, passed away on Monday after a lengthy struggle with his health.  In my short time here, we took in jazz at Ki’s up the coast a bit in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, at the Handlery Hotel and – my first time out – at the Westgate Hotel downtown.  That was a glorious night with Peter Sprague, Mack Leighton and Gilbert Castellanos along with a couple of drop-in guests who added to the jazz magic.

I’m pretty certain that whatever is beyond this planet is pleasant but that it’s not all harps.  I’m pretty certain that there will be jazzy angels playing a few hot licks.  For now, and for Jeff, here’s one of his local favorites – Peter Sprague – as close as we might come to a jazz angel.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArwCPRnKuR4

We all miss you, Jeff.

Ciao,

Jazzcookie