Remembering Max

In December 2022, the author of this blog, Max Weissengruber passed away.

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He greatly enjoyed writing the many posts for this blog (as well as his other blog) and sharing his love and knowledge of music with people from around the world.

When attending live music, his analytical mind would kick in and spur him to create insightful observations like these: Jazz in the Kitchen - Notes by Max Weissengruber

Even all the way back in 1957, Max was passionate about jazz, as you can see in this letter to the editor in Downbeat magazine.

Below you will find a playlist of recordings of Max at the piano. They include standards and his own compositions.

When a Love Affair is Over: The most heart-wrenching emotion in life may come at the end of a once-in-a-lifetime, love affair. Not from a mere passing fling but due to the real thing. Edward Redding wrote a song called End of a Love Affair. Two male singers offer a totally different version of the same song, each with arangements by two of the greatest arrangers for vocalists. For Frank Sinatra, Nelson Riddle wrote a somewhat pensive and restrained version in which Sinatra sounds quite rueful. He laments " So I go at a maddening pace, And pretend that it's taking her place, But what else can you do , At the end of a love affair ?"

Tony Bennett, on the other hand, has been backed by a rousing, live concert arranged and conducted by the great Robert Farnon. I venture one reason might be the constant joyful persona of Bennett who always seems to look on the sunny side of life. Depression, something that Sinatra has  admitted is a periodic condition while Bennett remains the cock-eyed optimist.

Listen to both versions and decide which version appeals to you and why. This is a musical Rorshach Test.

* Frank Sinatra: End of a Love Affair   Album " Close toYou"

* Tony Bennett:  End of a love Affair: Live with Robert Farnon

 

 

A Quiet Thing

Written by Kander & Ebb for a Liza Minnelli musical. This version features Eilleen Farrell, a classically trained opera singer. She could sing convincingly in a popular song mode (unlike most strained attempts by opera singers who over articulate in stentorian fashion. The arrangement is by Robert Farnon, who like Percy Faith was trained at Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music under the guidance of Alberto Guerro.  

https://youtu.be/Av9RnsiwQAQ

My Romance

 One of Richrd Riodgers many songs of Romance-My Funny Valentine,With a Song in my h eart, Glad to be unhappy etc,   

Here's the video 

 

Rhapsody For Rachmaninoff  click here 

 

https://youtu.be/DvCgiEZ7WDw 

" Invitation"  This is a lush and haunting theme from a 1952 film with Invitation as the film's title.Lyrics by Paul Francis Websterwho specialized in adding lyrics to film music after the fact. Best Example The Shadow of Your Smile, music by Johnny Mandel
It has the same mysterious song elements as Laura and Stella by Starlight. All three songs pursue a highly charged adoration of the female star of each film.
This is a performance by Rosemary Clooney with an arrangement by Nelson Riddle. They had a passionate romance which also led to some of her best recordings.

 https://youtu.be/z3IkB48eFjc

" Laura" This David Raksin/Johnny Mercer song is an evergreen classic that has been recorded over 300 times. This special version features Kenny Colman, a little-known Canadian singer who was praised by Frank Sinatra as a superior singer of classic ballads. One can never get enough of Laura, a song that many famous songwriters, like Cole Porter, wished that they had written.

https://youtu.be/_7jJjyuAFms