Song of the Day: Leap Frog (pdf), composed by trumpeter Benny Harris and alto saxophonist Charlie Parker, was first recorded by Parker and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie for the 1952 album “Bird and Diz.” Check out the original recording by these two bop giants and then take a look at two remarkable comic routines that I once posted on Facebook, spotlighting the trade-off between these legendary musicians here and here [YouTube links].
Song of the Day #1810
Song of the Day: Yes [YouTube link], composed by pianist Kait Dunton, is performed by trioKait on their 2015 eponymous album, with bassist Cooper Appelt and drummer Jake Reed. A sweet groove for a late summer’s day.
Song of the Day #1809
Song of the Day: Chocolate Souffle [YouTube link], composed by jazz-fusion guitarist Oz Noy, appears on the 2019 album, “Booga Looga Loo” on the Abstract Logix label. Featured on this recording is Noy on guitar, Brian Charette on keyboards, John Patitucci on bass, and Vinnie Colaiuta on drums. Also check out an alternative Noy live version [YouTube link] with bass guitarist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Dave Weckl, and Noy discussing the tools of his trade [YouTube link].
Song of the Day #1808
Song of the Day: Elephant’s Eye [YouTube link] was composed by post-bop pianist Marc Cary and Brooklyn-based jazz percussionist Sameer Gupta. It appears on the 2006 album, “Focus” (not to be confused with the Stan Getz-Eddie Sauter masterpiece of the same name [YouTube link]). Cary was influenced by both Randy Weston and McCoy Tyner. He heads this trio, which includes bassist David Ewell. They incorporate East Asian, Indian, Native American, and African American influences in their approach, making for a genuinely global sound.
Song of the Day #1807
Song of the Day: The Island (Comecar de Novo), music by Ivan Lins, Portuguese lyrics by Brazilian songwriter Vitor Matins and English lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, begins an extended Labor Day weekend of the Summer Music Festival (Jazz Edition). Notable recordings of this sensuous love song include renditions by Ivan Lins (live), pianist Steve Kuhn, virtuoso harmonica player TootsThielemans (live too!), tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, pianist Richie Beirach and vocalist Laurie Antonioli, and vocalists Patti Austin, Julie Andrews, Sergio Mendes (with vocalist Angie Jaree), Dee Dee Bridgewater, Barbra Streisand [YouTube links], and, from the album, “Embraceable You,” Joanne Barry [mp3 link] (my sister-in-law, whose birthday is today: Happy Birthday Wan, with Love!), with my brother, jazz guitarist Carl Barry [YouTube link], Mike Morreale on fluegelhorn, Tim Lekan on bass, and Mike Hyman on drums.
Song of the Day #1806
Song of the Day: Ben, music by Walter Scharf, lyrics by Don Black, was the title track to the 1972 flick, sequel to the 1971 killer rat film, “Willard.” A young Michael Jackson (born on this date in 1958) sings this song over the film’s closing credits [YouTube link]. The studio recording [YouTube link] would go on to become a #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, the first of so many solo MJ hits to come. It would go on to win a Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Other renditions include those performed live by Billy Gillman and by Dutch violinist Andre Rieu [YouTube links]. In keeping with our Summer Music Festival (Jazz Edition), check out this big band arrangement by Jim McMillen and Company [YouTube link] (from the album “Swingin’ to Michael Jackson: A Tribute” [YouTube links]). Tomorrow is the VMAs… where MJ collected quite a few awards over the years.
Song of the Day #1805
Song of the Day: The Breeze and I, music by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuono (originally entitled “Andalucia” [YouTube link]), Spanish lyrics by Emilio de Torro, English lyrics by Al Stillman, was a huge hit in 1940 for the Jimmy Dorsey Band, featuring vocalist Bob Eberly [YouTube link]. It was also recorded by vocalist Dinah Shore with Xavier Cugat, Caterina Valente with the Werner Muller Orchestra, Vic Damone, and Bing Crosby (in a medley with “Malaguena”) [YouTube links], as well as by alto saxophonist Art Pepper. My all-time favorite instrumental rendition comes from the irrepressible jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery [YouTube link].
Phucumol: Remedy for the Political Season!
I don’t do TikTok or much of any other social media (except blogging, Facebook, uh, okay, fuhgedaboudit!)… but this one went viral last month, and given that we’re now moving Top Speed into the political season, this has become my general attitude. If folks don’t care for language of this sort, well, You Need to Calm Down and Take Phucumol.
Song of the Day #1804
Song of the Day: Never Let Me Go, words and music by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston, was first heard in the 1956 Michael Curtiz-directed crime drama, “The Scarlet Hour” brought to life in the film by the great Nat King Cole and in a longer studio recording as well [YouTube links]. Jazz pianist Bill Evans recorded this song for his album, “Alone,” for which he received his third of seven Grammy Awards (out of 31 total nominations in his career). The legendary musician was born on this date in 1929. Check out Bill’s 14+ minute solo piano performance of this lovely composition [YouTube link].
Song of the Day #1803
Song of the Day: C.E.D., composed by jazz guitarist Joe Pass and jazz pianist Arnold Ross, is featured on Pass’s debut album—and what a debut it was—“Sounds of Synanon,” recorded with patients of the Synanon Drug Center, where a young Pass was being treated for heroin addiction. Influenced by jazz guitar pioneers Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian, Pass would go on to become one of the greatest jazz guitarists in the history of the genre. (In fact, his tribute album, “For Django” [YouTube album link] remains a staple in the jazz guitar pantheon [YouTube link to a Django tribute from jazz guitarist Johnny Smith]. Check out the album version of this opening track to the Synanon album and a live TV version [YouTube links], where you can witness the birth of that unique fiery, rhythmic, melodic, virtuosic technique that Pass would come to master.
