Pick your favorite version(s) of a standard...

[connoisseur series500]

Here's a fun exercise. Let's all select a standard along with a rough list of some of the jazz greats who recorded it. Let's hear whose version you prefer.

I'll start off with "Tenderly." Aside from Organissimo's wonderful version, here are some artists who recorded it:

Jimmy Smith

Louis Armstrong

Kenny Burrell

Ben Webster

Lester Young

Three Sounds

Dizzy Reece

Oscar Peterson

Bud Powell

Bill Evans

Tal Farlow

Clifford Brown/Max Roach

Hard to ignore Bill Evan's version, but I think my personal favorite is Dizzy Reece's contribution on "Comin On."

Which version do you guys like?

(Also, someone else pick a standard and start a thread on that)

[Jim R]

The first version of "Tenderly" that ever got my attention (and it did, in a big way) was Barney Kessel's recording on Contemporary (Vol. 1 / Easy Like).

Sarah Vaughan has also done some nice versions, showing off that incredible range...

[Free For All]

Pete Barbutti did a great version of Tenderly.......with a broom.

Anyone remember him?

[Jim R]

I remember him from his appearances on the Carson show... but I don't remember the broom. B-)

[White Lightning]

I believe that my all time favorite Tenderly version is sang by:

[EKE BBB]

Art Tatum had this one as a warhorse in his last years. I have eight different versions, some of them played live. Each one is different, every of them are wonderful!

PS: there were quite a few threads like this one months ago. I´ll try to resurrect them... It´s fun!

[B. Goren.]

I prefer Don Byas version over many others.

[LAL]

I prefer Don Byas version over many others.

Agreed. A beautiful rendition by Don Byas on those Vogue sides.

[jlhoots]

Bill Evans version is my favorite.

[brownie]

My favorite is the solo version by my beloved Clifford Brown from the Brown/Roach Quintet concert performance courtesy of Gene Norman.

But I have to admit that 'Tenderly' does belong to the divine Sarah Vaughan

[GA Russell]

I grew up with Al Hirt's version, as I recall from his Honey in the Horn album. So for sentimental reasons, that's my favorite.

[Newk]

George Benson

[Alexander Hawkins]

I'm afraid I'm boring when it comes to this game. If Art Tatum or Bird played it, then they're probably the answer!

[catesta]

I believe that my all time favorite Tenderly version is sang by:

Definitely one of the best vocal versions.

Tenderly is one of my all time favorite standards.

Bill Evans did it great, as did Dizzy Reece.

Some others...

Phineas Newborn Jr. with the long Ray Brown intro.

Duke Ellington on "Indigos" with the sweet clarinet of Jimmy Hamilton.

Oscar Peterson with Ray Brown and Barney Kessel on the 1952 JATP date.

Edited October 8, 2004 by catesta

[RDK]

Like "The Nearness of You," this song just kills me when played on the trombone. My favorite version might be the one Johnny Hodges cut for Granz in the early 50s, with Lawrence Brown on 'bone. I think it's on the first Mosaic box.

[catesta]

Like "The Nearness of You," this song just kills me when played on the trombone. My favorite version might be the one Johnny Hodges cut for Granz in the early 50s, with Lawrence Brown on 'bone. I think it's on the first Mosaic box.

That one has got to be good.

[Chuck Nessa]

Pete Barbutti did a great version of Tenderly.......with a broom.

Anyone remember him?

Yup. I remember Pete as a record salesman in Chicago before his entry into the LA show biz scene. He was the "master of the broom".

A couple of guys on this group remember the distinct "culture" of record salesmen of the '50s - '70s.

[paul secor]

Eric Dolphy's "Tenderly" - unaccompanied on Far Cry

[JSngry]

Eric Dolphy's "Tenderly" - unaccompanied on Far Cry

Same.

[Alec]

The best version of Tenderly is by........

........Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem from "The Muppet Show"

[danasgoodstuff]

Dolphy, but not as much as his versions of "It's Magic" or "They All Laughed"