PIANIST LARA DOWNES PLAYS BILLIE HOLIDAY INSPIRED SONG " BODY & SOUL"

Pianist Lara Downes plays the Billie Holiday inspired song  "Body & Soul."   In 1930, composer Johnny Green wrote an exquisite ballad which was interpolated in a Broadway revue " Three's A Crowd," Coleman Hawkins, a noted tenor sax player recorded the song which popular song archivist Alec Wilder said " Hawkins brought to Green's melody, a rhapsodic exuberance that astonished the ear." Wilder also felt that Body And Soul " Has one of the widest ranges and one of the most complex releases and verses."
  Billie Holiday, the iconic jazz singer who was born 100 year ago, made this as much of a vocal standard as Coleman Hawkins instrumental jazz version
Steinway Artist, Lara Downes, became entranced by Holiday's singing at a very early age and, in addition to her extensive classical training and concertizing, Lara Downes has always retained an intense and comprehensive interest in exploring all manner of American musical traditions.
In this recording, Lara Downes plays with great clarity and sensitivity in such a challenging song , again proving that classical piano training and discipline can adorn popular songs . Lara is aided by a wonderful arrangement by Jed Distler who brings a majestic and respectful approach to Green's  sweeping melody and rich harmonic architecture.
Great music can happen if one begins with a memorable song , an arrangement that honors and extends the essence of the song and  an instrumentalist who adds their unique expressiveness and interpretive power to the performance.
For this performance, we can thank Johnny Green, arranger Jed Distler and Lara Downes for bringing her love of Billie Holiday ( and all that Billie stood for) in her pianistic tribute.

NOTE: This blog does not normally profile instrumental versions of popular songs. Lyrics are so important in conveying the story dimension  However, it was easy to make an exception in this case given the Holiday and Johnny Green song connection ( and the fact that I know and love Lara and her talent. ) Since most people may be familiar with the words of the main strain of the song, they are invited to sing along with Lara.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLvRPOcxk5U

PENSATIVA -GREAT BOSSA NOVA INSTRUMENTAL

Pensativa-Great Bossa Nova Instrumental:   Although this Great American Songbook blog usually deals with songs that have lyrics to tell a story, I must make an exception in the case for Pensativa by Claire Fischer, as played by Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass. There are several reasons: Fischer was a graduate composition student at Michigan State University during my own studies there. I have also been transfixed by the insinuating rhythm of the Bossa Nova Style and, finally, the arrangement is by Rick Wilkins, someone with whom I went to high school in Hamilton, Ontario and who I still see from time to time in Toronto.
Now to the music itself. First there is an elegant fluglehorn solo by Guido Basso, a master of melodic playing with a rich, burnished tone. This is followed by a guitar sole by Ed Bickert who has been identified by both Jim Hall and Paul Desmond as a major jazz soloist. Finally, Rick Wilkins, arranger and tenor player provides a flowing and imaginative solo  with the orchestra.
What always excites me is near the end when Rick creates an orchestral section that features a striking interplay between two orchestral sections playing in different  registers that complement each other while answering and also challenging the other group. It is one of the most innovative piece of sectional writing I have heard played by a large jazz ensemble.

Please listen closely for all the little bits of magic throughout and see if you also find this is remarkable arranging and playing by a wonderful jazz ensemble.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSJ6zhHD8c0

" MY ROMANCE" RODGERS & HART CLASSIC WONDERFULLY SUNG BY BROADWAY DIVA, BERNADETTE PETERS

"  My Romance"  Rodgerts & Hart Classic wonderfully sung by Broadway' diva, Bernadette Peters.

Alec Wilder, the passionate archivist of Classic American Popular song described this as a
" True theatre song with a dramatic climax supported by equally dramatic lyrics: " my most fantastic dreams come true."

There are three musical elements responsible for the sheer artistry of this performance:  First, the matchless marriage of melody and lyrics, the second, Bernadette Peters interpretive " living" in the piece as something only a singing actress can deliver and lastly, the superb piano accompaniment by Marvin Laird. He has been Peter's musical conductor for some time and their version speaks to a great mutual understanding and sharing of a musical moment.
This song is a most appropriate prelude to Valentine's Day. ( Coincidentally, " My Funny Valentine" was also written by Rodgers & Hart.)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdyJGWVZ8Fc

NELSON RIDDLE'S WONDERFUL ARRANGEMENT OF " I REMEMBER YOU" FOR 18 YEAR OLD SUE RANEY

Nelson Riddle's wonderful arrangement of " I Remember You" for 18 year old Sue Raney.

I Remember You was written in 1941 by Victor Schertzinger with lyrics by Johnny Mercer.  It was included in the movie " The Fleets In" and was sung by Dorothy Lamour.

Sue Raney was only 18 when she was fortunate in having the consummate arranger Nelson Riddle do all the arrangements for her debut album.  Despite her tender years, the maturity of her voice and presentation is still exemplary in conveying both the meaning and emotion conveyed by the song.
Today's young pop divas could learn a much-needed lesson in restraint and sensitive lyric interpretation without belting everything at the top of their lungs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCj2V87sr8c

TONY BENNETT SINGS A POIGNANT SONG OF LOSS " WHERE DO YOU START ?"

Tony Bennett sings a poignant song of loss " Where Do You Start ?"

Johnny Mandel. the composer of " The Shadow of Your Smile" and " Emily" collaborated with Allan and Marilyn Bergman to create a wonderful and poignant song called " Where Do You Start ?"

It deals with the aftermath of a romantic relationship and decisions about deciding whose books are yours and mine, the fact that their lives have been tangled in a vine that intertwine and ultimately that " There will always be a part of me that stays in love with you."  They have agreed to part but somehow will always be connected.
Bennett sings with such sincerity and conviction the song surely must have made a connection with his own personal life.
The musical arrangement is also by composer Mandel, a master of wonderful melodies and entrancing harmony.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBEY0UcU7WE&list=RDDBEY0UcU7WE#t=9

"iLL wIND"--- GREAT HAROLD ARLEN TORCH SONG FROM THE 1934 COTTON CLUB REVUE

" Ill Wind "--Great Harold Arlen torch song from the 1934 Cotton Club Revue.

Harold Arlen and lyricist Ted Koehler wrote quite few numbers for various Cotton Club shows. Perhaps the most famous was Stormy Weather although there were also a number of nearly salacious numbers for the sophisticated and thrill-seeking night clubbers.
Society types gladly travelled to Harlem to partake of an exciting and often dangerous environment where blacks could enterain but were not welcome as patrons. Famous entertainers like Ethel Waters, Lene Horne and the Nicholas Brothers and bandleaders like Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway also starred.

In the 197'0's, Paramount Pictures recreated that turbulent Prohibition era with a movie called The Cotton Club. It portrayed the gangster control of both nightclubs and black entertainers as well as the sophisticated production numbers in all Cotton Club shows.
In the film, Lonette McKee plumbs the emotional torment in the song while other film footage portrays the violence so common of those times. It was, however, a most exciting era captured in the film,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaShvVW1w5U

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TORME/SHEARING RODGERD & HAMMERSTEIN--IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING- PURE MAGIC !

Torme/Shearing Rodgers 7 Hammerstein--It Might As Well Be Spring-Pure Magic !

This live concert brought together two sets of musical talents.  Singer Mel Torme, his pianistic soul mate George Shearing as well as the consummate melodist Richard Rodgers and   Oscar Hammerstein.at his poetical best.
Shearing starts with a classical British folk motif. Then Torme enters reverently with his perfect pitch, intonation and sensitivity. The music and word are one throughout the performance. Any other comments would be superfluous.
Please enjoy.

http://youtu.be/cwBuI07cy6g