That Ain’t Right – Fats Waller & Ada Brown

by | Sep 27, 2019 | Lighter Side, Vocal

In a scene from the 1943 film “Stormy Weather” Fats Waller and Ada Brown perform with legendary dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, drummer Zutty Singleton, bassist Slam Stewart, Trumpeter Benny Carter and singer Lena Horne, just to mention a few.  The film is considered one of the best Hollywood musicals with an African-American cast. It was viewed as a primary showcase of some of the top Black performers of the time, during an era when actors and singers of color rarely appeared in lead roles in mainstream movie productions,

June Christy and Friends

by | Sep 19, 2019 | Big Band, Vocal

How High The Moon is the top video in more than one way.  Besides the fabulous June Christy doing the vocal, two other legendary singers don’t utter a solitary note!  Instead, Mel Torme is on drums and Nat ‘King’ Cole plays piano, which of course was his original musical calling.  Lower left is June in her prime with That Old Feeling and on the lower right she is featured with the Stan Kenton Orchestra Just A-Sittin’ And A-Rockin’.  Christy, of course, was the replacement chanteuse for the incredible Anita O’Day after she left the Kenton band … one of the few singers who could have filled O’Day’s stylish ‘pumps’ fronting that powerful, creative Orchestra.

Movin’ Wess

by | Sep 13, 2019 | Big Band, Quartet/Quintet

While most often listed as a saxophonist, I prefer the sound of Frank Wess on the flute. Though the tune is nameless, Flauta Jazz uses the same chords as Ellington/Strayhorn Take The ‘A’ Train.  Sound Familiar?

The Very Thought Of You is a jazz and pop standard, first recorded and published in 1934 with music and lyrics by Ray Noble. Frank Wess applies his own magic touch along with big band backing.

Shelly Is The Manne!

by | Sep 6, 2019 | Quartet/Quintet

The first song is from Shelly Manne’s Check Mate album, based upon the T.V. show (1960-1962) of the same name …  it’s called The Isolated Pawn.

Shelly Manne and his Men are comprised of Russ Freeman on piano, Richie Kamuca on tenor, Conte Candoli playing trumpet, Monte Budwig at the bass and, of course, Shelly Manne himself on drums.  Shelly has been called “the most musical drummer who ever lived” and virtually any of his solos will bear that out.

The second tune is Speak Low, from the 1943 Broadway play One Touch of Venus and features the same ensemble.  Both performances were recorded live in 1962 for Jazz Scene U.S.A. at Shelly’s Manne Hole in Los Angeles, CA.

Cool Water – Stan Kenton & Tex Ritter

by | Sep 1, 2019 | Audio, Big Band, Vocal

Cool Water is a supplement to this week’s initial Stan Kenton post.  It is from the album Ritter made with Kenton’s Orchestra that convinced him it was time to move from Hollywood to Nashville. At the conclusion of the recording session, however, Tex received a standing ovation from the entire orchestra..  Overall this wasn’t the world’s worst idea but the public never bought it, and the album was removed from print.  As a result, today it is a rarity.

Cool Water

by Stan Kenton & Tex Ritter | Stan Kenton! Tex Ritter!