HutchFan

June Christy - Something Cool (Capitol) with Pete Rugolo & His Orchestra I'm listening to the 1960 stereo version; the original mono recordings date from 1953-55.

Thanks for the lead on that 10-inch LP with Bobby Tucker. I've heard B's terrific version of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." It's on an MGM 2-CD compilation that's in my collection. Love that stuff!!!

I'm just starting to explore Prysock's music. But I'm planning to dig more deeply. So thanks for the heads-up. I'll keep that in mind. My knowledge of Billy Eckstine is similarly shallow -- but I'm also looking to explore his discography more as well. I'd love to know any albums that you’ve particularly enjoyed from either of them.

Now spinning: Arthur Prysock - A Rockin' Good Way (Milestone, 1985) Brother Red Prysock adds his tenor stylings to the proceedings. Very nice.

Now: Earlier: Excellent.

I like that. Well said.

That's probably it!

Yes! I've only recently found my way into Sloane's music. I'd heard it before, but it hadn't clicked. Now, it has. Funny how that happens.

Gheorghe, I just go where my nose leads me. Sometimes, I get wrapped up in a certain sound, and I'll circle around it for a while before moving on to something else. Over time, I'll almost certainly come back to it again later. Often, while I'm doing focused listening like that, I'm reading books about the topic, whether it's jazz singers or Latin Jazz or whatever. But there's no real "rhyme or reason" to it -- other than my own curiosity. I've found that sort of focused listening helps me gain a foothold on styles that are less familiar to me. It's a sort of immersion, like learning a new language. But I also sometimes go on benders for the opposite reason: I'll listen to Ellington for two weeks straight precisely because it is so familiar to me; I already understand his idiom. My jazz blog projects are just another form of "circling around" on a given topic -- a way of sharing what I already know but also pushing further outward as well.

Now playing: Carol Sloane - Heart's Desire (Concord, 1992)

Thanks for sharing that, Mark. Excellent article.

Lorez Alexandria - Sings The Songs of Johnny Mercer, Vol. III: "Tangerine" (Trend, 1985) with the Gildo Mahones Quartet and Jackie Cain & Roy Kral - A Stephen Sondheim Collection (Finesse, 1982)

Jack Walrath and Masters of Suspense - Gut Feelings (Muse, 1991)

Still kickin' with Carmen: with arrangements by: - Ralph Burns & Jack Pleis (Torchy, 1955) - Jimmy Mundy & Tadd Dameron (Blue Moon, 1956)

Listening to this again: Larry Willis is excellent here -- both his playing and compositions.

Now spinning: Enrico Rava Quintet - Andanada (Soul Note, 1983) with Pietro Tonolo (ts); Franco D'Andrea (p); Giovanni Tommaso (b); Bruce Ditmas (d)

Two classics!

Now this: Al Grey / Jimmy Forrest – O.D. (Out 'Dere) (Greyforrest Records, 1980) with Peter Leitch (g), Don Patterson (org), and Charlie Rice (d) and The Bruce Forman Quartet with Special Guest Bobby Hutcherson - Full Circle (Concord, 1984) with George Cables (p), Jeff Carney (b), and Eddie Marshall (d) I'm enjoying this LP more now than when I first heard it years ago.

Nice score!

Now on my 'table: The Real Electrifying Eddie Harris (Mutt & Jeff, 1983) with Bill Henderson, Larry Gales, and Carl Burnett I thought so too.

Mark Murphy - Living Room (Muse, 1986)

More from McRae: Carmen McRae - Torchy! / Blue Moon (MCA; originally Decca)

The Ultimate Carmen McRae (Mainstream) Compilation of tracks from McRae's "orchestral" albums for Mainstream -- Alfie, Haven't We Met? and Second to None and Sammy Davis & Count Basie - Our Shining Hour (Verve) arrangements by Quincy Jones