Tags
Bill Evans, Blossom Dearie, Bob Dorough, Chet Baker, cole porter, Dave Frishberg, Elvin Jones, Freddie Green, Grammy awards, Gus Arnheim, ice cream parlor, jazz, Joao Gilberto, journeys, Manhattan Transfer, Paul Chambers, Paul Motian, Pepper Adams, Phineas Newborn Jr, Ray Brown, Ronnie Scott's, Sunday drive, Teddy Kotick, Tom Jobim, travel
Today’s post can be attributed entirely to an eclectic mind, the Internet (thank you, Al Gore), and an afternoon free to ramble. I have never denied the gypsy in my soul.
My travels started with one idea, but then I remembered something or someone else and the next thing I knew, I was in a different place entirely. Some journeys are like that – the old Sunday drives some of us took with our parents so long ago. No particular destination in mind, just a lazy meander through the countryside with intriguing little roads and avenues along the way. If we were lucky, the drive always somehow ended up at our favorite ice cream parlor.
I hit a couple of dead ends this time when I clicked on recordings that were not worth the listen, but overall, I had a great time exploring. I hope you might, too. As John Steinbeck once wrote – and I paraphrase – everything is connected to everything else. I’ve left today’s tunes in the order in which I collected them. Maybe there’s a method to my madness but I think it was just the pleasure of being reminded of this artist or that tune as I traveled. Either way, I heard some good jazz, and here it is for you.
My musical Sunday drive began in New York City, more specifically with thoughts about “The Boy from New York City” as performed by that talented vocal group, Manhattan Transfer, but wait! That’s not the tune I have here. This was my first detour up a different road. I discovered that in 1981 MT was the first group to win Grammies in two different categories – in pop for “The Boy…” and in jazz for “Until I Met You,” a Freddie Green/Donald Wolf composition. So I trekked on over to “Until I Met You” and fell in love. You might, too. Let me know. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqE3peddhek
While I was in a vocal state of mind, I thought about Blossom Dearie who must have the best name ever. I learned that Blossom was her real name, albeit a middle name that followed her much less jazzy first name, Margarethe. Blossom Dearie is known for her small, intimate voice and jazz performances that are “quietly undemonstrative,” and yet delightful and compelling. She sang a lot of Dave Frishberg’s witty songs including this one co-written with Bob Dorough. Blossom Dearie’s 1966 recording live at Ronnie Scott’s London jazz club which has been going nonstop since 1959. She’s hip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPzt3A4Se_Uv
With jazz clubs in mind, I veered over to Bill Evans and the trio with Paul Motian on drums and Teddy Kotick on bass in this 1956 recording of Bill’s composition that describes the best kind of the jazz club: “No Cover, No Minimum.” Motian and Kotick get their turns in this arrangement, too, and everybody swings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULLgd9TR53Q
Jazz musicians are not like redwood trees. Heard one pianist, you have not by a long shot heard them all. So I don’t hesitate for a moment to follow Bill Evans with Phineas Newborn, Jr. who has a fine following of his own and was at least once identified by a critic as “the best jazz pianist ever.” I know for certain many other jazz pianists paid Newborn this compliment – my first CD by the man was given me by a terrific jazz pianist and he added the compliment, too. It’s no wonder. Newborn’s principal influences were Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson and Bud Powell. Here’s Newborn with Ray Brown on bass and Elvin Jones on drums with a 1969 recording of “Sweet and Lovely” by Gus Arnheim, Harry Tobias and Charles Daniels. We could talk a long time about jazz pianists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtohx3iEYog
I’m not sure how I happened to end up down this next pleasant highway but it led me straight to the sandy shore where I found Brazilian jazz vocalist Joao Gilberto having a great time with Tom Jobim’s bossa nova hit, “Wave.” Gilberto was my introduction to bossa nova back in 1963 when a disc jockey on a jazz station near Seattle gave me one of Gilberto’s first albums. “We probably won’t play this one,” he told me. Never say never. So jump right in. The water’s fine even on a January day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtA9sTK8DRM
All journey’s eventually come to an end and this little Sunday drive is back where it started. A group of fine musicians is waiting for us: Herbie Mann, Pepper Adams, Bill Evans, Kenny Durrell, Paul Chambers and Connie Kay. If that’s not a group to take your breath away, I don’t know what is, but there’s more. The time is 1959. The place is New York City. The album is “Chet” and the man is Chet Baker. The Cole Porter tune is just for you as the sun sets slowly in the west: “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To.” Indeed you would. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHHJ9KJWF4E
That’s it for today, JazzBabies. I wish you safe journeys wherever you are and wherever you go.
Stay in the groove, travel well, and don’t forget the ice cream. Make mine pistachio.
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