Interpreting The Standards

Maze Runner · May 25, 2012

The Great American Songbook, who did it best, vocalists and instrumentalists? Links and discussion would be appreciated.

What a lineup- Miles on trumpet, Bill Evans on piano, John Coltrane on tenor sax, Cannonball Adderley on sax contralto- over 50 years old this recording is, but timeless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrVnm66joQk

Tony Bennett, imo one of the best. Good taste he has more than he needs. Has always had a jazz leaning- this cut off an album appropriately titled- "Jazz".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT6akWVby-A

Maze Runner · May 25, 2012

Eva Cassidy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce-5OWBNGNw

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_cassidy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXU219b3Zdw&feature=related

Ken · May 25, 2012

... Duke Ellington was pretty awesome. Part of why he was so important was that he set the stage for other musicians like Mingus. Duke wasn't revolutionary, perhaps, but he and other musicians like him set the standards for improvisation. Couldn't have the later without the former. So they should be given as much if not more credit. Same goes for Satchmo and a lot of the other earlies. Bless the lot for giving us such great tunes.

Maze Runner · May 26, 2012

When you listen to the Ellington Band, against the other big bands of the time, Duke's jazzy sound was cutting edge. He drew the best musicians to be had at the time, he featured them and actually composed tunes to play to their strenghts. Mostly known as a band leader, his compositions of tunes like, Solitude, Sophistaced Lady, Do nothin' Till you hear from me, have been underappreciated. He signed with Sinatra's label, Reprise, early on, and though that didn't last, he and Frank collaborated on a classic LP.

Most people probably don't realize it now, but when rock 'n roll took hold a lot of the icons from this era lost their record deals. Believe it or not, Tony Bennett amongst them. Duke was a good friend of Tony's, and when his label was pressuring Tony to go more commercial, he asked Duke's advice. Duke's simple reply was, "Why change an apple?"

Ken · May 27, 2012

... it's amazing that Bennett was doing his thing all the way back then and is still alive and kicking -- and making hits! I think he recently collaborated with one of our young pop stars. He paints too. Pretty well. I checked out his site a few months back.

That's a great way to conduct a band, composing songs to draw out the teams' strengths. I like rock & roll and am glad it made it's entrance. It's regrettable though that jazz took a back seat as a result and never got back in the limelight.

Another one for the songbook would be Gershwin. Rhapsody in Blue is fairly spectacular. Dido for Porgy & Bess, American in Paris ...

Maze Runner · May 27, 2012

I probably know the least about the visual arts than all others, but I like what I've seen of Tony's paintings, a lot. His advice to his kids, "Do two things." Sinatra painted as well, but you know what they say-- if you have nothing good to say then say nothing at all.......

How 'bout a few more lady interpreters for consideration?

Billie Holiday- maybe the supreme interpreter of lyric.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hkakz0jmew&feature=related

Ella Fitzgerald, possibly the best God given vocal instrument.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j6avX7ebkM

Anita O'day- started as a drummer, might have been with the Goodman Band- Also, because of a botched tonsillitis operation had a problem sustaining notes in her vibrato- but still had impeccable time and taste.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agp2on83hrA

Sarah Vaughn- maybe the only one, imo, to rival Ella as far as instrument, she played with phrasing and improvisation on melody line more than Ella did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bmF8Ezv9tw

And I'll throw a surprising one in here- Barbra Streisand, another who has an astonishing instrument, her choices of songs and arrangements are often, for me, on the corny side- but when she's sung jazz, to my ear she's pulled it off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-sd7YrfLxs

Ken · May 27, 2012

... watched the Anita one. Very cool !

(LOL about the lady in the audience reading a novel during the performance: Camille. Most were really into it though and understandably so.)

Have been a fan of hers for about a year. One of my favorites of hers is, "Sometimes I'm Happy." A 1947 studio recording:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btGwuIh3MGc

Maze Runner · May 27, 2012

Anita was something else- too hip for any room she happened to be in at the time. And excuse me for saying so, but sexxy as hell, wasn't she? Lived a long life, despite living hard. Just read in this wiki article that her stage name was picked 'cause it means 'dough' or money, in pig latin. Funny, isn't that?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anita_O'Day

Sammy Davis is another guy who was blessed with ridiculous talent but like Streisand, I think, was a little too B'Dway for my taste. But he did occasionally do some great songs with some of the best musicians and arrangements. He did an LP called, "The Wham of Sam," which is the best I've come across.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT7WUHtQ6eQ&feature=related

And if you haven't seen this, you gotta check it out. Sammy was a great impersonator of other singers- Nat Cole, Tony Bennett, Satchmo, Dean Martin and even Jerry Lewis sing "One For My Baby".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFYiRTPsrqg

Maze Runner · May 27, 2012

You gotta hear this guy play the guitar. Listen to what he does with the Fain/Kahal standard, "I'll Be Seeing You". Jeff "Tain" Watts on drums- Essiet Essiet on bass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFLpjyCDf4c

Kenny Rankin, late great singer songwriter who also did some jazz standards. Here's his great interpretation of "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fus3hruuAeg

I think I'm in love with this lady. Sorry Elvis- no not that Elvis- here's the lovely, talented wife of Elvis Costello, Diana Krall on a live date in Paris. "Cry Me a River." I think when they coined the word "taste" they had Diana in mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4hPii_RVHE

Ken · May 27, 2012

... a bit on the mellow side, but still pretty cool guitar work.

When it comes to women, I'm a realist. Finest looking ones are found in everyday life. Celebrities and the like have nothing on our ordinary janes, whatsoever, not that there still aren't lookers among the lot. With jazz singers like oday, the beauty of their soul comes across. It's a more substantial beauty in my estimation than mere physical appearance, not that I'm not still susceptible to the later. What's a fella to do? Buy roses and hope for the best, I suppose.

Ever listen to Roland Kirk. Crazed way of playing, but very cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0WVSUW0sZU

Maze Runner · May 27, 2012

Ken said:
... a bit on the mellow side, but still pretty cool guitar work.

When it comes to women, I'm a realist. Finest looking ones are found in everyday life. Celebrities and the like have nothing on our ordinary janes, whatsoever, not that there still aren't lookers among the lot. With jazz singers like oday, the beauty of their soul comes across. It's a more substantial beauty in my estimation than mere physical appearance, not that I'm not still susceptible to the later. What's a fella to do? Buy roses and hope for the best, I suppose.

Ever listen to Roland Kirk. Crazed way of playing, but very cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0WVSUW0sZU

What, no harmonica? What a slacker. That's one way to cut the payroll. That was wild!

Yeah, not that Anita was gorgeous, I agree, it's much deeper than that. Let's face it, it's either there for you or it's not. Sometimes the gorgeous ones happen to have it too. I agree with what you say about women we see in everyday life. I live in L.A. for God's sake. Truly ridiculous.

Nancy Wilson has one of those voices- distinct.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQWnmAy5vL4

Ken · May 28, 2012

... lol about the harmonica.

When you said Nancy Wilson I had a vision of a video by on of the Wilson Philip sisters and had prepared for a not so pleasant experience. Nice surprise to find that the one in question was a jazz singer and a good one too. Enjoyable performance

She sings in French and I don't understand a word, but I still dig Edif Piaf:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfmguyDRBwU

Almost makes me feel like trying to learn French again.
(Took 7 years worth in school. Can hardly say a thing.)

Maze Runner · May 28, 2012

Ken said:
... lol about the harmonica.

When you said Nancy Wilson I had a vision of a video by on of the Wilson Philip sisters and had prepared for a not so pleasant experience. Nice surprise to find that the one in question was a jazz singer and a good one too. Enjoyable performance

She sings in French and I don't understand a word, but I still dig Edif Piaf:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfmguyDRBwU

Almost makes me feel like trying to learn French again.
(Took 7 years worth in school. Can hardly say a thing.)

I loved that, thanks Ken- nice way to wake up. Edith had one of those distinct voices, too.

Here's another one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_AprTQeZQ

Ken · May 29, 2012

... Satchmo. Neat

Now that I know the words to the tune I'll have to listen to Edith's French version of La Vie En Rose. Will be able to appreciate it more.

Maze Runner · May 29, 2012

Tony Bennett did an album called "Perfectly Frank", where he recorded songs mostly known for Sinatra's interpretation. As he did most often, Tony recorded this LP with a small group, whereas Frank was mostly a big band singer.

Tony, the great Ralph Sharon on piano, on "I'll Be Seeing You".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqqWSNu-UKo

Sinatra did an album called "I remember Tommy", a tribute to the band leader Tommy Dorsey, whom Frank worked for in the early days. He first recorded this tune as a ballad in the '40s, but for the early '60s tribute album it swings hard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P12PjCZ3fBo

Also off "Perfectly Frank", Tony's "Time After Time".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAAgXRGHrqU

My favorite interpretation of this song is by John Coltrane. Red Garland on the piano, Paul Chambers on bass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyQVqRcT_XA

Ken · May 31, 2012

... fine way to start off the day with a tune by trane

One by Mingus, "The Clown." Tells a tale:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Szy-MHXDQQ

Maze Runner · May 31, 2012

Ken said:
... fine way to start off the day with a tune by trane

One by Mingus, "The Clown." Tells a tale:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Szy-MHXDQQ

That's great, Ken. Here's the lyric...

http://www.chartlyrics.com/B-G48-irQ0e2o0pO6ZXnHw/The+Clown.aspx

Shadow_Ferret · May 31, 2012

I'm not sure I understand the initial question.

Ken · Jun 1, 2012

... thanks for the lyrics. That's neat reading them as text. Much easier to get a complete picture. Do you know what "the buke" is? I've always thought he was saying Debuke: the name of some town. Seem to recall there being one called that or something similar.

They were laughing alright, not like the buke but they were laughing,

Neat too how the agent William Morris was around back then. Still in business, handling authors too.

Maze Runner · Jun 1, 2012

Shadow_Ferret said:
I'm not sure I understand the initial question.

We started off talking about interpreters, but this thread is open to interpretation.

Maze Runner · Jun 1, 2012

Ken said:
... thanks for the lyrics. That's neat reading them as text. Much easier to get a complete picture. Do you know what "the buke" is? I've always thought he was saying Debuke: the name of some town. Seem to recall there being one called that or something similar.

Neat too how the agent William Morris was around back then. Still in business, handling authors too.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=buke

Might be a reference to the seal.

Love Stan Getz and Kenny Barron might be my favorite piano player.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0RPHm8auT4

Ken · Jun 2, 2012

... cool tune by Getz. I've heard it before, by other artists I believe. Must be a classic. Fine rendition here. Picks up midway through. (Bookmarked it.)

Thnx for the definition of 'buke'. I'm sure you're right. Funny reference. Adds an additional dimension.

One by Parker. A favorite of mine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMuItUv9xZc

According to the radio DJ at the end it was recorded live at a club on 52nd Street. Admission was only a buck. Some bargain!

Another of his that's a bit mellower:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHNei7jNnZQ&feature=related

Maze Runner · Jun 3, 2012

Charlie Parker was the guy who took it to another level, and 52nd Street was the place to do it. Not just for instrumentalists, even a guy like Sinatra went to school on 52nd Street. That's where he picked much of his lyric interpretation and phrasing. He was already a phenomenon, but on his off time he would haunt the clubs on that block and listen to singers like Billie and Sylvia Sims and Mabel Mercer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/52nd_Street_%28Manhattan%29

Ken · Jun 3, 2012

... great photo from 1948 of 52nd Street. I didn't realize that there were so many clubs for jazz, period, let alone all packed onto one street. Nothing short of paradise! Man, what I wouldn't give to be able to travel back in time. And with admission being a buck, I'd be all set to go

... Never heard of Sylvia or Mabel. Will have to check them out.

Maze Runner · Jun 3, 2012

Yeah Ken, would have been great. But just like video killed the radio star, TV killed the nightclub scene. I have a chapter in by book called 52nd Street, 'cause my guy who fought a lot in NY in those days was also a big jazz fan and spent a lot of nights on that block.

It's always interesting to me, who influenced the guys/gals I like. It's not often who you would think. I read where Tony Bennett had a vocal coach who told him early on not to imitate singers 'cause you'll sound too much like them. Though with that unique timbre it's hard to imagine Tony sounding like anyone other than Tony. So Tony took a lot from the great jazz instrumentalists.

Reminds me of a story Sammy Davis told of when he was starting out as a straight singer and Frank took him aside and said, "Look, I'm flattered that you admire what I do, but you gotta find your own sound or you're always gonna be second best."

Interpreting The Standards

Court Jester