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JAZZ...OR SOMETHING LIKE IT returns to 91.7 FM WMUH Allentown on May 10.

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Jazz Ramblings...and other Idle Thoughts

Greetings:

I take pen in hand (so to speak)(and being fully aware of the dearth of readership of this blog)(not to mention my annoying proclivity toward parenthetical comments)...where was I?

Oh yes, I just picked up a copy of Sir Paul's new CD "Kisses On The Bottom" and I can't praise it enough.  Having heard only a few preview tracks, but liking the looks of the song list, I took a flyer, and was not just pleasantly surprised, but nearly blown away.  This rare juxtaposition of outstanding jazz musicians (the instantly recognizable Diana Krall and John Pizzarelli to name just two) in support of McCartney's almost delicate voicing of some vintage songs is elegant and sublime.  In particular, his reading of the Frank Loesser's gem More I Cannot Wish You brings a tear to my eye.

 

I realize that aging Pop singers recording the Great American Songbook is no longer a novelty (notwithstanding Rod Stewart's efforts, which I loathe, there have been some nice discs in this area of late by a wide range of singers the likes of Boz Scaggs, Willie Nelson and Gladys Knight), but it's Paul McCartney, folks.  I was tickled by his liner-note comments of being nervous in Capitol Studios singing into Nat "King" Cole's microphone and in the face of all the accomplished "jazz players" (imagine how they felt).  Interestingly enough, his voice sounded most in command while performing his two originals.  "Kisses On The Bottom" evokes for me nothing so much as Harry Nilsson's classic recording "A Little Touch Of Schmilsson In The Night," songs in the same vein recorded with the great Gordon Jenkins and a full orchestra back in the 70's.  I still have the vinyl of that one.  (Both recordings have Always and Paper Moon in common).

When I do get back on the air, we will hear this fine recording.  I hope it won't be long.

Peace.

GREETINGS!

It is with equal parts of wistfulness and relief that I announce a brief Sabbatical for "Jazz...Or Something Like It."  I'm taking a few months off to rest, recharge and tend to other aspects of my life.  Thank you for your support; I shall return.  See you soon!

December 29 - Playlist

A BACKWARD GLANCE
Some of my favorite releases from 2011

Gerald Wilson Orchestra - Variations On Clair De Lune (Legacy)
Stanley Jordan - Capital J (Friends)

Stefon Harris/David Sanchez/Christian Scott - And This Too Shall Pass (Ninety Miles)
Hot Club Of Detroit - Noto Swing (It's About That Time)

Dave Brubeck Quartet - Cielito Lindo (Their Last Time Out)
Dave Brubeck Quartet - I'm In A Dancing Mood (Their Last Time Out)
Roberta Gambarini/Dave Brubeck Trio - Alice In Wonderland (Everybody Wants To Be A Cat)

Roberta Piket - Make Someone Happy (Sides, Colors)
Glenn Crytzer And His Syncopators - You Don't Say (Harlem Mad)

Sonny Rollins - They Say It's Wonderful (Road Shows Vol. 2)

Esperanza Spalding - Knowledge Of Good And Evil (Chamber Music Society)
Yo-Yo Ma, et al. - Quarter Chicken Dark (The Goat Rodeo Sessions)

Christian McBride with Sting - Consider Me Gone (Conversations With Christian)
Christian McBride Big Band - Bluesin' In Alphabet City (The Good Feeling)

Ray Charles - Teardrops From My Eyes (Singular Genius)
Lynn Stein - Only Trust Your Heart (Softly)
Michael Franks - I'd Rather Be Happy Than Right (Time Together)
Frank Sinatra/Count Basie - The Good Life (The Complete Sinatra/Basie Sessions On Reprise)

December 22 - Playlist

JAZZ HOLIDAY

Dexter Gordon - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (God Rest Ye Merry Jazzman)
Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime (Holiday)

Dave Brubeck Quartet - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Jingle Bell Jazz)
Manhattan Transfer - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (The Christmas Album)
Antonio Hart - Winter Wonderland (A Merry Jazzmas)

Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmastime Is Here (A Charlie Brown Christmas)
Beach Boys - Morning Christmas (Ultimate Christmas)
Al DiMeola - Carol Of The Bells (Mix Disc)

Darlene Love/Brian Setzer Orchestra - Deep In The Heart Of Xmas (Jingle All The Way)
Stan Kenton - Christmas Medley (A Merry Christmas)
Julie London - Warm December (Christmas Belles)

Ray Charles - Little Drummer Boy (Sunday Music 5: Holiday)
Dave Koz/Kimberley Locke - Please Come Home For Christmas (Memories Of A Winter's Night)
Lou Rawls - Merry Christmas Baby (Sunday Music 5: Holiday)
Chuck Berry - Run Rudolph Run (Golden Decade Vol. II)

Count Basie - Basie's Jingle Bells (Ultimate Jazz Christmas)
Diana Krall - Jingle Bells (Christmas Songs)
Oscar Peterson - Jingle Bells (Christmas)
Kenny Davern - Jingle Bells (A Jazz Christmas)

Yo-Yo Ma & Friends - The Wassail Song (Songs Of Joy & Peace)
Yo-Yo Ma & Friends - Merry Xmas [War Is Over] (Songs Of Joy & Peace)
Inner Voices - Boogie Woogie Santa Claus (Holiday Harmonies)
"City Of New Orleans" - O Holy Night (Sunday Music 5: Holiday)

Ella Fitzgerald - Sleigh Ride (Christmas Belles)
Dean Martin - A Winter Romance (Making Spirits Bright)
Mel Tormé - The Christmas Song (Christmas Songs)
Frank Sinatra - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (A Jolly Christmas)

December 15 - Playlist

THE CHAIRMAN’S 96TH BIRTHDAY
My Annual Frank Sinatra Birthday Show

Frank Sinatra sings on all selections (accompanied as noted)

"The 30's"

with Harry James - All Or Nothing At All (Harry James And His Orchestra Featuring Frank Sinatra)
with Tommy Dorsey - I'll Be Seeing You ("The Song Is You")
with Tommy Dorsey - The One I Love [Belongs To Somebody Else] ("The Song Is You")
 - Saturday Night [Is The Loneliest Night Of The Week] (Portrait Of Sinatra)

Love, Etc.

 - The Lady Is A Tramp (A Swingin' Affair)
 - Star (The Complete Reprise)
 - When Somebody Loves You (The Complete Reprise)
 - This Can't Be Love (Classic Sinatra II)
 - Nice 'N' Easy (Nice 'N' Easy)

Real Duets

with Ella Fitzgerald - Necessity (Frank Sinatra In Hollywood)
with Sammy Davis, Jr. - Me And My Shadow (Eee-O 11)
with Keely Smith - How Are Ya' Fixed For Love (Come Dance With Me)
with Dean Martin - Guys And Dolls (Boys Night Out)
with Rosemary Clooney - Peachtree Street (Songs From the Girl Singer)

In Concert 

- Soliloquy (80th: Live In Concert)

with Red Norvo Quintet - Night And Day (Live In Australia, 1959)

Brazil

(Sinatra/Jobim: The Complete Reprise Recordings)

 - The Girl From Ipanema

 - Change Partners

 - Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars [Corcovado]

 - Baubles, Bangles And Beads

 - Wave

Basie

(Sinatra/Basie: The Complete Reprise Recordings)

 - Pennies from Heaven

 - [Love Is] The Tender Trap

 - My Kind Of Girl

 - I Won't Dance

Holidays

with Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (80th: All the Best)

 - The Christmas Waltz (A Jolly Christmas)

 - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Christmas Songs)

 - White Christmas (A Jolly Christmas)

with Bing Crosby - We Wish You The Merriest (Complete Reprise)

"One More Time"

 - Saturday Night [Is The Loneliest Night Of The Week] (Come Dance With Me)

 - The One I Love [Belongs To Somebody Else] (Vegas)

 - I'll Be Seeing You (The Complete Reprise)

 - All Or Nothing At All (The Complete Reprise)

December 8 - Playlist

HAPPY 91ST BIRTHDAY, DAVE BRUBECK!
Dave Brubeck plays piano on all tracks, accompanied by one or another of the Dave Brubeck Quartets (unless otherwise noted)

- It's Deja Vu All Over Again (So What's New)
- Look For The Silver Lining (Stardust)
- The Unihorn (Near Myth)

with Joshua Redman - Joshua Redman (Young Lions & Old Tigers)
with Two Generations Of Brubeck - Forty Days (Brother, The Great Spirit Made Us All)

- Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now (Brubeck Time)
- The Duke (Jazz: Red Hot And Cool)
- Brandenberg Gate (Jazz Impressions Of Eurasia)

DAVE DIGS DISNEY

- Someday My Prince Will Come (Everybody Wants To Be A Cat)*
- Heigh-Ho (Dave Digs Disney)
with Paul Desmond - Alice In Wonderland (1975: The Duets)

LIVE DAVE

- Blue Rondo A La Turk (At Carnegie Hall)
- Limehouse Blues (Live AT Berlin Philharmonie)
- Waltzing (Double Live In The USA & UK)

SINGERS

with Jimmy Rushing - Blues In The Dark (Brubeck & Rushing)
with Carmen McRae - My One Bad Habit (The Real Ambassadors)
with Roberta Gambarini - Alice In Wonderland (Everybody Wants To Be A Cat)*

with Yo-Yo Ma & Friends - Concordia (Songs Of Joy & Peace)
with Yo-Yo Ma & Friends - Joy To The World (Songs Of Joy & Peace)
- Take Five (Time Out)

* indicates Recent Release