From the Record Shelves #358 - Pink Elephants - The title “primarily refers to a euphemism for visual hallucinations, often associated with Delirium Tremens, a severe alcohol withdrawal symptom.” The musicians involved in this session may have sent thoughts to their newly deceased friend (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Record Shelves #358 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Studio #99 - When You’re Smiling - This is a tune written by Fats Waller that was recorded by many great ones in the 1920s, but after that almost never as far as I know. It ought to have a longer life. I’ve made it into a cornet/trumpet duet which can be interesting for the brass specialists (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Studio #99 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Record Shelves #357- Dixie Drag - This tune came out of a nice and interesting 1928 session by ”Mendello’s Dance Orchestra”. I first get to think about Red Nichols and his Five Pennies, and the rhythm section that gives much of the character to the group are the usual suspects (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Record Shelves #357 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Studio #98 - When You’re Smiling - Again, to keep in shape, I make a short jam with myself on a very well-known and much-played tune. And as Jelly Roll Morton said, ”Keep the melody going.” My clarinet is an Albert System Selmer from the 1920s (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Studio #98 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Record Shelves #356- Sweet Sue - It’s like I’ve always loved this tune by Victor Young. At least since I heard it for the first time in my teens in this version by Paul Whiteman’s big orchestra. Others that have heard other, more jazz-oriented versions first may just be waiting for the fabulous (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Record Shelves #356 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Studio #97 - I’ve Got the World on a String - This is one of Harold Arlen’s most memorable tunes. It could be played and sung more often. Ivie Anderson, Red McKenzie, and Lee Wiley made fine versions. I presented the melody without the verse and did a vocal and a short cornet solo (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Studio #97 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Record Shelves #355 - Fidgety Feet - It’s said in the liner notes: When the De Paris orchestra entered the stage for their first concert in the Antibes Jazz Festival in 1960, the vast audience was not prepared. Apart from the few specialists, they knew nothing about the band, and they, the musicians (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Record Shelves #355 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Studio #96 - Bourbon Street Parade - You probably know the song that is one of the most common in New Orleans Revival Jazz. I did a jam session with myself to keep my instruments warm. My cornet is a Columbia/Harry B. Jay from the 1920s. (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Studio #96 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Record Shelves #354 - Lazy Weather - When it says “University Six,” you’re counting on Adrian Rollini for the musical excitement. He starts on xylophone, inspired. Then Arthur Fields sings, as he does on many of those recordings, and after that you hear that the bass sax of Rollini is (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Record Shelves #354 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Studio #95 - Rosetta - The lyrics of this Harry Warren song celebrate a more realistic ideal than usual. “You may not be an angel...” and “every little fault that you have” point to that. It comes from the flowering period of the early 30s pre-Code musical films (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Studio #95 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Record Shelves #353 - You’re Getting to Be a Habit With Me - Five things that I enjoy with this. One: That it’s a 78 rpm record. Now you hear it through your computer or telephone, but here in my living room with my equipment, the presence of the recording is unbearable. Two: The record (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Record Shelves #353 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Studio #94 - Rosetta - Here’s a jam on another tune that is fit for that purpose. The tempo that I’ve chosen is somewhere between Fats Waller’s (slower) and Frankie Newton’s with a swing ensemble (faster). Earl Hines wrote the tune and recorded it as a piano solo (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Studio #94 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Studio #93 - Am I Blue - Today I play one in jam session mode. First there is the verse and then a couple of choruses, mostly played ensemble. In the 80s and 90s we had plenty of sessions to try out tunes like this one. We often met more than once in a week to jam, but now it’s at best once a month (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Studio #93 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Studio #92 - Amapola - Here’s an originally Spanish song that, to my surprise, was written already in 1924. Playing it, I can’t help thinking of the omnipresent singer (in the beginning of the 1930s), Chick Bullock, who made a fine recording of it with some great jazzmen (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Studio #92 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Studio #91 - I’m Wondering Who - This tune would probably be forgotten if it hadn’t been recorded by “The New Yorkers”. And they would in turn probably also be forgotten, if they hadn’t been consisting of the top white jazzmen including Bix Beiderbecke and Frankie Trumbauer under (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Studio #91 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Studio #90 - Angela Mia - The tune was written as the theme song for an early sound film in 1928. It was recorded as “My Angel” by The Paul Whiteman Orchestra around the same time, and it’s also played and sung in a Vitaphone short by The Capitolians featuring several of the (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Studio #90 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Studio #89 - Ain’t-Cha Glad - I heard this tune from 1933 first on one of the earliest records I bought, “King of the Blues Trombone” with Jack Teagarden. It is written by the iconic songwriter couple Fats Waller and Andy Razaf. And here’s my recording of it (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Studio #89 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Studio #88 - Anytime, Any Day, Anywhere - There are several songs referred to as Anytime with similar chords and similar messages in the lyrics. I used to play and sing one by Clarence Williams, and Leon Redbone did another one. But this, with the longer title, is (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Studio #88 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Studio #87 - A pretty Girl Is Like a Melody - Today’s recording features a 1919 tune by Irving Berlin that has been used by many in various ways. I take it at a slow tempo, play the melody, sing a chorus, and make a cornet solo before a short cornet and trumpet ending. (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Studio #87 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.
From the Studio #86 - After My Laughter Came Tears - Here is a tune that could be played more often. It’s by Roy Turk (1892-1934), a successful songwriter who often collaborated with Fred Ahlert, who then was the composer. But in this case it seems that Turk did the music himself. The lyrics tell (…) read more and listenread more and listen The post From the Studio #86 appeared first on Paul – and some of that Jazz.