duaneiac

Swing does not come naturally to Yo-Yo Ma, or at least it didn't back in 1989 when this album was recorded (perhaps he has grown more comfortable with the feel of swing since then). Sensing this perhaps, it seems like Mr. Grappelli dialed back his swing emphasis on several of the tracks and dialed up the more florid style of his playing. Even with the backing of a small group including Roger Kellaway and Daniel Humair, this did not make for a recipe for musical success. It's a pretty forgettable session.

This is a really fun set of music. Duke Ellington's appearance at Birdland in Nov. of 1952 was to honor his Silver Anniversary as a big band leader, commemorating his Dec. 1927 debut at the Cotton Club. This disc contains radio broadcasts (one each from NBC and CBS) from two nights of that engagement. The night of the NBC broadcast there were a number of celebrities in the house and Leonard Feather, Steve Allen and Al "Jazzbo" Collins are all heard from paying tribute to Duke. The band itself was one of Ellington's strongest; only the absence of Johnny Hodges keeps me from calling this the strongest Ellington band. All the other greats are here: Anderson, Nance, Terry, Tizol, Woodman, Gonsalves, Procope, Carney, Bellson -- and Betty Roche, how did she not become a big star? The the radio announcer said the band would play "How High The Moon", but as the liner notes point out, it is in fact "Ornithlogy" which was based on "Moon"'s chord changes. This is the most bebopish I've ever heard an Ellington band sound. If you are an Ellington fanatic -- and if you're not, you should be -- this disc will be a delight.

Previously: Currently:

I don't know about that. According to a comment posted for this video on YouTube, this was filmed on Feb. 23, 1970. Harry Carney's dad had just died which is why Russell Procope is there on baritone sax. Johnny Hodges would pass away less than 3 months after this, so this may be some of the last video footage of him around.

Eight songs recorded May1, 1962, each featuring Paul Gonsalves as the only soloist. With Ellington, one has to wonder whether that was meant as a showcase or as punishment for some previous unwanted behavior.

There is so much great music from that period. I really like the collaboration albums from this period -- with Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, the Frank Sinatra one a little less so (although it's worth it to hear Johnny Hodges on "Indian Summer"), John Coltrane and Coleman Hawkins. Not included on that list are any of the fine Storyville CDs which have been released in recent years: The Piano Player, An Intimate Piano Session, New York, New York, Togo Brava Suite and The Jaywalker. Each of those is worth a listen. Some other worthwhile titles missing from that list -- Duke Ellington & His Orchestra Featuring Paul Gonsalves (1962), Hot Summer Dance (1960), The Intimacy of The Blues (1967-70), Harlem (1964) and All Star Road Band (1964 -- the list above includes Vol. 2, but not the first disc for some reason). I would give Soul Call a higher rating than they do. Live at The Whitney is essential. I also really like My People (Storyville has issued a CD of what they say is "The Complete Show") and the Sacred Concerts, but I do have to be in the mood to listen to them.

A 15% off sale at DeepDiscount.com induced me to order these today:

Since I have a strong disliking for the sound of the electric piano, it kind of surprises me that I do not have an equal antipathy for the sound of the electric sax. I have no rhyme or reason or defense for that, i just accept it for what it is.

This CD contains Nancy Wilson's first two albums made for Capitol Records (both were arranged & conducted by Billy May) plus some singles. Her voice was very fresh and vibrant then, without all the Jimmy Scott vocal mannerisms she would later adopt. The material is mostly pop standards such as "The More I See You", "Almost Like Being In Love", "Teach Me Tonight" and her hit, "Guess Who I Saw Today". The liner notes claim she "was for some time the label's biggest earning star after The Beatles" , a statement I think is rather dubious given that Capitol Records was also the home of the Beach Boys.

Listened to something a bit different: I suppose for many pop music listeners, the girl group sound of the 1960's is exemplified by The Supremes. But before The Supremes existed -- and probably an artistic influence upon them -- there was the Shirelles. Many people might be familiar with the songs of the Shirelles because they had several major hits which have endured over the decades, but I wonder how many people nowadays could name the group singing those songs -- songs such as "I Met Him On A Sunday (Ronde-Ronde)", "Baby, It's You", "Dedicated To The One I Love", "Mama Said", "Foolish Little Girl", "Soldier Boy", "Tonight's The Night", "Everybody Loves a Lover", "Don't Say Goodnight and Mean Goodbye" and the marvelous "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" (which to me is such a remarkable song, dealing as it does with an adult theme -- in an oblique enough manner that it could still get played on the radio in 1960 -- in such simple, heartfelt words and sung by the group with a mixture of vulnerability and strength).. This is an excellent compilation of their work and presents some fine R&B/pop music. The liner notes for this 1999 Varese Sarabande disc stated that "A movie currently is being developed by Bette Midler on the life of Florence Greenberg and her Scepter Records story." Obviously, that never came to fruition. I wonder if there is a dramatic enough story to be told there. It would seem like the tale of a female entrepreneur succeeding the in the cut-throat, male dominated music biz of the 1960's would have some interest -- and the soundtrack album with the music of the Shirelles, Dionne Warwick, The Isley Brothers, B.J. Thomas and others would be good.

May he Rest In Peace. A very fortunate man to have the talent and discipline to successfully make a career out of two very different artistic endeavors. I read his Evan Horne book titled Bird Lives! and liked it. I've meant to read some more of his books, but never got around to it. I think the only time I saw him perform as a drummer was at the concert captured on this CD:

Stevie Wonder's first two albums for Motown, recorded when he was 11 - 12 years old. They did nothing commercially when they were first released, but they hold up pretty well all these years later.

Disc 1 of 2. Sergio Mendes will celebrate his 77th birthday tomorrow!

Willis Jackson on The Ed Sullivan Show!