RUSSIAN LULLABY -ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS IRVING BERLIN

" Russian Lullaby "--Ella Fitzgerald sings Irving Berlin.  Irving Berlin was born in Russia but emigrated to America as a young boy. This is a tender song that evokes his earliest memory of the country of his birth and it is sung very tenderly by Ella Fitzgerald.
Since Russian followers of the Great American Songbook make up the largest group of my blog subscribers, I wanted to show my appreciation for their interest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_1nagBrG54

"LET'S FALL IN LOVE"-UPBEAT SINATRA VERSION

"Let's Fall In Love"-  Upbeat Sinatra Version.

Arlen and lyricist Ted Koehler were commissioned by Columbia Pictures to write songs for a movie to be called " Let's Fall In Love."   On the train heading west to Hollywood, the songwriters. The porter on the train was using a set of chimes to call patrons to dinner. Since there was no piano on board, Arlen borrowed the chimes so he could play around with a tune he had been developing.

By the time they had arrived in Los Angeles, the title tune was almost finished. It is a positive affirmation of the desirability of falling in love and Frank Sinatra captures the youthful exuberance often needed by moviegoers living out the depression era.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=061kkZU8gPY

ILL WIND -DRAMATIC COTTON CLUB NUMBER

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

" Ill  Wind"-Dramatic Cotton Club Number.   Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler created calssic songs for Harlem's Cotton Club Revues in the 1930's.
Celebrated black performers like Ethel Waters, Lena Horne, The Nicholas Brothers, Maxine Sullivan plus band leadersl like Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway. Black artists could perform there but were not accepted as patrons. It was an exotic venue quite different from downtown night spots andwas frequented by all number of celebrities, politicians and gangsters who owned the club.
A paramount movie called " The Cotton Club" captured the excitement and danger of the times and LOnette McKee provides a sensual and compelling performance of the ill wind that often blew through and outside the Cotton Club.

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