Just two words: Sarah Vaughan. That pretty much says it all. Notice the slight nervousness of a young girl who wasn’t quite yet “Sassy” in this 1958 recording of Lover Man.
Eleven years later, Sarah shows greater polish and raises some goosebumps with Polka Dots And Moonbeams. Her trio of Johnny Veith (p), Gus Mancuso (b) and Eddy Pucci (d) offer the perfect complement for The Divine One.
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.
Body and Soul is an old favorite with a new twist. Michel’s arrangement is reverent but with serious chops. Petrucciani is joined by bassist Miroslav Viteous and drummer Steve Gadd, two of the best in jazz.
Cantabile is an Italian word that means “singable” or “songlike”. In instrumental music, it is a particular style of playing designed to imitate the human voice. The trio recorded both tunes in Munich during July of 1997.
You know a musician is truly great when you can literally listen to him play all day long and still want more. Joe Pass was one of those musicians … arguably the finest jazz guitarist of the Twentieth Century and one of the best jazz guitarists of all time! Even his imperfections were so enjoyable that nobody cared. He was a most serious musician who felt deeply about his music but liked to have fun with it at the same time. Here, he performs the Ellington-Strayhorn classic Satin Doll with Bob Magnusson on bass and Joe Porcaro playing drums.
Hear my interview with Joe on our Jazz Scene PODCAST page.
This is the Bob James Quartet, with David McMurray on Flute, at the Java Jazz Festival in 2010. Originally performed in June 1974 by Roberta Flack, “Feel Like Making Love” has become one of Bob’s concert standards, .
The funky Horace Silver tune, The Jody Grind, spotlights Bob James and his trio at the Festival de Nice, France. Try keeping your feet still with Bob on keyboard, James Genus weaving an infectious bass line and Billy Kilson complementing them both on drums.
Herbie Hancock performs “Watermelon Man”, first as originally written in 1962, then in the jazz fusion style he embraced with both hands eleven years later. Hancock’s first version was released as a grooving hard bop record, and featured improvisations by Freddie Hubbard and Dexter Gordon. He radically re-worked the tune, combining elements of funk, for his album Head Hunters in 1973.
“Emily” was composed by Johnny Mandel, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, as the title song for the 1964 film The Americanization of Emily. (The song wasn’t sung in the movie, which is the reason that it couldn’t be nominated for an Academy Award.) It has since been recorded by numerous artists, notably Bill Evans and Tony Bennett. “Emily” became particularly associated with Bill Evans, who recorded it for the first time for his 1967 album Further Conversations with Myself. Here’s a bit of Evans genius with Bill on piano, Eddie Gomez on bass, and Marty Morell playing drums.
Composition of the tune “Walkin'” is often attributed to pianist Richard Carpenter, although it is believed the real credit belongs to either Miles Davis or Gene Ammons. Whoever actually wrote it would be blown away by Hancock, Carter and Cobham’s performance, recorded at Palazzo dei Congressie, Lugano January 26, 1983.
I told you that piano prodigy Joey Alexander would be back. Here he performs Thelonious Monk’s “Evidence” live at the Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center … from his album ‘Joey.Monk.Live!’. What Joey may lack in experience at 15, he more than makes up for with instinct. Got genes?
The Great Guitars are Bucky Pizzarelli, Mundell Lowe, and John Pisano. Here they prove that, for the great ones, groovin’ on a guitar is just like riding a bike … the ability stays with you and never gets old. These are live performances of “Tangerine” (Top) and “In A Mellow Tone” (Bottom) at the KPLU studios in Seattle. There may be snow on the roof but there is still a fire in the fingers!
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