Lotus Blossom-Billy Strayhorna A Song Without lyrics: Billy Strayhorn wrote a number of songs like " "Take the A Train" ' Lush Life" and " Satin Doll" co-written with Duke Ellington. For many years, Strayhorn was Ellington's closest collaborator , arranger, composers and all -round musicaL amanuensis.
Unlike other songs posted on this blog site, " Lotus Blossom" is an instrumental composition without lyrics.
It is played pretty well as written by the excellent jazz pianist Fred Hersh. Even Ellington would play this piece without improvisation respecting the melody as written by Strayhorn.
Although the piece does not have lyrics that would make it a true song ( one that could be sung),I believe it is worthy of inclusion in this blog as an example of a superbly crafted melody in the tradition of superior popular music which is the focus of classicamericanpopularsong.blogspot.com.
Please listen and form your own opinion as a song divorced from the lyrics that usually accompany songs we have been featuring.
LINK: http://youtu.be/N3lzKxt20Zo
I also thought the Strayhorn masterwork was lyric-less, till a cursory web search unearthed song lyrics composed by Carol Sloane/Roger Schore, (and there may indeed be yet another by the late Chicago pianist Gene Esposito...??)
ReplyDeleteAmong a few vocal versions at Youtube, there's this one exquisitely sung by Gabrielle Stravelli >>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kttxh31r9bg
hope this assists your fine blog...
There are lyrics to Lotus Blossom. I don't know who made them but in Maud Hixson's CD Love's Refrain, she sings Strayhorn's Lotus Blossom with a beautiful piano accompaniment played in the background.
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