Laura - Paul Gonsalvez (tenor sax)

Duke Ellington Orchestra
Tenor Saxophone Solo: Paul Gonsalvez (1920-1974)



Otto Preminger wanted to use Duke Ellington's “Sophisticated Lady” as the theme music for his film Laura. When musical director David Raksin objected, Preminger replied, "All right, today is Friday. If you can come up with something we like by Monday, okay. If not, we use 'Sophisticated Lady'!" One of the most famous musical themes in movie history was actually born late Sunday night, a few hours before deadline.

I Wanna Be Around - Waverly Seven

Guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli is a guest of Waverly Seven, a septet of NYC jazz musicians formed in 2006. Featured is Anat Cohen on clarinet.



I Wanna Be Around was composed by Johnny Mercer in 1959, and the best known recording was made by Tony Bennett in 1963. In 1959, Mercer received a partial song lyric from beautician Sadie Vimmerstedt, who lived in Ohio. It was just one line, "I want to be around to pick up the pieces when somebody's breaking your heart." Mercer developed it into the song that is now a jazz standard, and he shared royalties with Ms. Vimmerstedt (about $3,000 a year in the 1960s). True story.

Mr. Bennett and Bono update a classic:

All about Ronnie - Chris Connor

Venerated jazz singer Chris Connor died August 29, 2009, at the age of 81. Her career reached its peak in the 1950s, but she performed until 2004.

Here is her rendition of "All about Ronnie," a jazz classic written in 1953 by Joe Greene. It is a smouldering ballad of romantic obsession. Connor's voice is much in the mold of June Christy, whom she replaced in the Stan Kenton band in 1952.

Stella by Starlight (1944)

Music by Victor Young; lyrics by Ned Washington (the song writing team on My Foolish Heart and I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You)
From the Paramount film “The Uninvited,” starring Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey and Gail Russell.

Keith Jarrett Trio. This track begins with an extended piano solo by Mr. Jarrett; bassist Gary Peacock does not join in until the 3:23 mark. Jack DeJohnette is on drums.



A vocal rendition by Anita O'Day, white gloves and all. (1963, live in Japan)

I'm Just Foolin' Myself - Diane Schuur

Foolin' Myself (1937)
lyrics: Jack Lawrence; music Peter Tinturin

Click on this audio link to hear blind jazz singer Diane Schuur perform a superior rendition of this Billie Holiday classic.
www.last.fm/music/Diane%2520Schuur/_/I%27m%2520Just%2520Foolin%27%2520Myself?ac=I%27m%20just%20foolin%20myself

I tell myself I'm through with love,
And I'll have nothing more to do with love;
I stay away, but every day
I'm just foolin' myself.

I tell my friends that I don't care,
I shrug my shoulders at the whole affair.
But they all know it isn't so,
I'm just foolin' myself.

And every time I pass and see

My face in a looking glass
I tip my hat and say
How do you do you fool
You're throwing your life away.

I'm acting gay, I'm acting proud
And every time I see you in a crowd
I may pretend, but in the end
I'm just foolin' myself.

Speak Low - drummer Shelly Manne

Speak Low
from One Touch of Venus (1943)
Lyrics by Ogden Nash; music by Kurt Weill

Sheely Manne and his Men:
Shelly Manne, drums
Conte Candoli, trumpet
Richie Kamuca, tenor sax
Russ Freeman, piano
Monty Budwig, bass



Trivia:
One Touch of Venus – When Marlene Dietrich backed out of the title role, deeming it too profane and sexual, Mary Martin stepped up to the plate and established herself as a Broadway star.

Another take:
This one takes its time to heat up, but by 3:00 or so the pot starts to boil. Maestro Rybicki’s extended bass solo at the 5:30 mark is outstanding (and more than 2 minutes long).

Matthew Rybicki Quartet
Live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center (NYC).
Matthew Rybicki, bass
Dan Nimmer, piano
Dominick Farinacci, trumpet
Marion Felder, drums

Estaté - João Gilberto (vocals, guitar)

Sing in Portuguese by composer João Gilberto.

Translation:

Ah, summer!
Your warm embrace is like a kiss remembered
Once full of love but now it's just an ember,
Like something in the heart one wants to lose.

Ah, summer!
The sun that woke and warmed us every morning,
That painted splendid sunsets every evening
Is useless now, except to sear my soul.

Another winter comes and
All the petals dying on the rose
A thousand petals lie beneath the snow—
At least perhaps some peace might come again.

Ah, summer!
You gave your fragrant scent to every flower
And filled us with a love of so much power
So I could slowly perish in its pain!

Sing, Sing, Sing - Benny Goodman

"Sing, Sing, Sing (with a Swing)" is a 1936 song written by Louis Prima, strongly identified with the big band and swing eras. Although written by Prima, it is often most associated with Benny Goodman, who recorded it in 1937. In this video, Harry James plays a trumpet solo, Gene Krupa provides the stunning drum work, and clarinetist Benny Goodman leaves us on a high note (literally).

Another version with far superior sound quality (but no video) and three times the length:

I Must Have Left My Heart - Molly Johnson

From the 2002 album titled ANOTHER DAY


Molly Johnson is a Canadian jazz singer and songwriter. The child of a white mother and a black father, Johnson's career started in the mid-1960s when she performed in musicals. She later made history at the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, becoming the first Canadian female vocalist in the festival's 17-year-history to sell out a show on the main stage. She has even regaled royalty during a private command performance aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia before the Prince and late Princess of Wales, as well as having performed for Nelson Mandela and Quincy Jones.

In late 2008, Johnson released her fourth full-length album, a record of standards titled “Lucky.” In March 2009 “Lucky” took home the Juno Award for "Vocal Jazz Album of the Year".

In 2007, Miss Johnson was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

I MUST HAVE LEFT MY HEART
Marc Jordan / Steve MacKinnon (Canadian songwriting team)

Molly Johnson, vocals
Mike Downes, bass
Colleen Allen, alto sax
Andrew Craig, piano
Mark McLean, drums

Tonight was black and blue
This overcoat won't do
It's falling all apart
When I left you I must have left my heart

The walls are tumbling
My feet are stumbling
I'm all alone in the dark
When I left you I must have left my heart

Must I always be lonely?
With my dreams at your doorway
Just one more empty dog day
Afternoon

Shall I run to your door?
And stay forever more
I don't know where to start
When I left you I must have left my heart

Vibes man Cal Tjader

Shoshana - Vibraphonist Cal Tjader


Cal Tjader (1925 -1982) crafted a sleek and distinctive sound in the genre of Latin jazz. His cool jazz vibes atop Afro-Cuban rhythms made for a sonic signature that helped introduce the genre into a mainstream audience.

After high school in the San Francisco area and a stint in the Navy, Cal ended up at San Francisco State College, where he met up with Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond. Tjader graduated in 1950 with a minor in music. With Brubeck, Tjader hit the big time, and he liked it. The years between 1949 and 1951 were spent with Brubeck.

Then, after a short time as leader of his own group, Cal joined George Shearing's Quintet as featured vibraphonist and percussionist. While with Shearing Cal made frequent trips to New York and began listening to the Latin New York bands of Tito Puente and Machito. When Tjader left Shearing, he formed his own group again and began a prolific recording career for Fantasy records.