Anita O’Day was one of the most original and unique voices of 20th century jazz. Since Anita never sang a song the same way twice, I hope you enjoy this rendition of Honeysuckle Rose, because you aren’t likely to hear it again!.
Frequently, Anita liked to combine a bit of vocalese with bebop, as she did here with Tea For Two. It’s a surprising arrangement, featuring both her trio and the usual self-confidence that was her hallmark.
Combine some blues with pop, add a dash of jazz, stir in a bit of boogie woogie with a smattering of rock and roll — not to mention the occasional touch of Louisiana voodoo — and you have the recipe for Dr. John! His music is a perfect example of the influence and integration of jazz with other musical styles, or the other way around if you like. Serve up Ricki Lee Jones as a delicious side dish to provide the Good Doctor with a gentle counterpoint, and it is impossible to keep your feet still whether you usually prefer Led Zeppelin or Miles Davis!
Sammy Davis Jr. shows his versatility on the old Ed Sullivan Show by playing drums and vibes with the big band. Then two of my favorite Davis vocals, where he equals even Ol’ Blue Eyes’ ability to make a song his own. Though not strictly a jazz musician, Sammy could swing!
“Shiny Stockings”, one of the most enduring songs in jazz, was written by Frank Foster in 1955 while he was with the Count Basie Orchestra. Not being very savvy about such things at the time, Frank gave away the rights and royalties to what has now become a jazz standard.
For years the tune was recorded by artist after artist with the revenues flowing to a company that collected on the publishing rights to songs it had acquired. It wasn’t until the early 2000’s when a close examination of U.S. Copyright Laws finally enabled Foster to collect the royalties that were rightfully his.
Now listen to Dee Dee Bridgewater, J.J. Johnson and Kenny Burrell with the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band in a live performance of that swinging homage to hosiery!
Natalie Cole is one of only a handful of performers whose apple didn’t fall very far from the tree. In the top video she proves it by singing a duet with Nat that was cleverly constructed in 1991, by mixing his 1951 recording with Natalie’s live performance. It’s Unforgettable … and it really is! Like her dad, she was probably best known for her work in ‘pop’ music but, oh, she could swing!
As for Nat ‘King’ Cole, many who only knew him as a singer didn’t realize that he was one helluva piano player. In fact, some might say he was a great piano player who just so happened to know how to sing. In the bottom video, sample both the voice and fingers of ‘The Velvet Rasp’ himself.
On New Years Eve everybody sings this tune but most people don’t know what it means. Actually, it’s an old Scottish folk song and the phrase “Auld Lang Syne” roughly translates to “Times gone by”. While no one seems to know who wrote it, a Scotsman named Robert Burns was the first to put it on paper and so is most frequently credited with its composition. Meanwhile Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and a few friends use it here to help us welcome in 2019 with this compilation of TV and movie scenes … and extend my wishes to you for a very HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
Sinatra said Ella Fitzgerald was the best singer he ever heard and the only one who made him nervous to sing with, because he had to be up to her standards. “The best way to start any musical evening is with this girl. It don’t get better than this,” Frank said about performing with Ella. Beyond that, there isn’t much to say about two of the greatest singers of all time. You just sit back and listen!
But Beautiful features the unlikely pairing of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. It’s from their DVD “Cheek To Cheek – Live” and is, in fact, a beautiful stylistic blending of the old and the new into the traditional!
It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) is a lively performance of the classic Duke Ellington tune, also from the Cheek To Cheek video, featuring Tony Bennett and highlighting Lady Gaga’s surprising jazz virtuosity.
A jam session in jazz is a completely spontaneous moment in time that occurs only once. The music never happened before and will never happen again … not exactly the same way. After the crowd is gone and it’s only the musicians, maybe a few staff, that’s when the blowin’ really begins. It’s strictly from the heart. Here, Cozy Cole, Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, Johnny Guamieri, Barry Galbraith, Milt Hinton and Carol Stevens stretch out after hours.
Legendary New York DJ William B. Williams narrates the festivities. Thanks to Drummerworld.com for the video.
A “Queen” of rap and hip-hop featured on a jazz website? What’s wrong with this picture? Not a thing if she really can sing … and not only has a voice but impeccable phrasing! Whether soft or swinging, Queen Latifah is a pleasant surprise when she turns her attention toward more standard fare. She is another wonderfully talented musician from that magical [Newark] New Jersey corridor of spectacular performers, and a shining example of tunes and talent crossing over between jazz and other musical genres.
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