Torch From Berlin

Clockwise: Diana Krall; Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald; Judy Garland; and Billie Holiday.

After last week's foray into the Blues, I return once again to Jazz for our Saturday night entertainment. Inspired by the Johnny Mathis song from this morning, I once again returned to the well that has kept my Saturday nights in great music, with my muse for the evening, Irving Berlin. As a composer, Berlin has written great songs for some of the greatest characters of the 20th Century, and some of the greatest singers of the time. Tonight I will begin with a song made famous by the amazing Fred Astaire, and danced to by Fred and his partner, Ginger Rogers. The song was written for the 1936 film 'Follow The Fleet', starring Fred and Ginger. Sixty-three years later, "Let's Face The Music And Dance" was recorded by Diana Krall in 1999, for the album 'When I Look In Your Eyes'. Krall has a wonderful sultry style, which is truly on display on this recording. This is the official music video of Diana Krall singing 'Let's Face The Music And Dance'.

While Berlin wrote for many of the great stars of the 1930s and 40s, once again I go back to the quintessential stars of the period, Astaire and Rogers, from the 1935 film, 'Top Hat'. While few could deliver "Cheek to Cheek" with the suave style that is so easy for Fred Astaire, when I heard the recording used here, I got really excited. Whenever you combine the talents of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, how could you go wrong? You can't. Please enjoy Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong singing Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek", recorded in 1956.

"Always" was written in 1925, meant to be a wedding gift to his wife, Ellin. The two were married in 1926, and they were together until her death in 1988. Berlin had assigned the rights to this song and others to his new wife, ensuring that if something happened to him, she would still get money from his income stream of songs. In 1958, the song was recorded by the great Billie Holiday, and it is really very special. While many took it slow, Holiday made it a mid-tempo song, putting a bit of swing into the ballad. This is Billie Holiday singing "Always".

The final song of the evening is another that was introduced to the public in a Broadway score, before going on to a life of its own. "What'll I Do", written in 1923 and appeared in the show 'The Music Box Review' of the same year, as well as in the show for the 1924. It was a hit with the audience, and proved to have staying power when it was sung by the great voices in music for decades to come. In fact, it was sung by the great Judy Garland on her television show in 1964. Yes, forty years later,the song was still entertaining audiences. This is Judy Garland singing "What'll I Do" on 'The Judy Garland Show'.

Hope your weekend is allowing you to soar!

Sunday Morning with Louis Armstrong

This morning I thought it would be nice to hear a couple of spirituals that are traditionally heard in some of the southern churches. It didn't take me long to pick a couple of songs, and an outstanding artist to sing them both. Louis Armstrong made a name for himself first as a jazz musician, playing the cornet and trumpet. He would also take the microphone, and sing a song with his throaty voice that was hard to forget. The first song I found was "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen". The song was a recorded in 1935 by singer Marian Anderson. Give Louis a listen.



Next up, there is another traditional spiritual, "Go Down Moses". Based on a verse found in the Scriptures, it was thought to be sung by the slaves in the South while they worked the fields. Lyrics were first published in 1872, it quickly became a favorite of gospel singers and groups all around the world. Here is a stunning version by Armstrong.



You can find both songs on Louis And The Good Book, available on iTunes and Amazon.

Paolo Nutini Covers And Such

Hey, I was just in the mood to hear the voice of the beautiful Scotsman, Paolo Nutini. For someone so very young, Paolo has something very special going on when he sings. I wasn't too sure about him after I heard his 2006 hit, "New Shoes", a catchy and very poppy tune. But if you listened to the other music on the album, you would learn there was much more to the artist than that first single. The title single for the album, "These Streets", was far more memorable for me. So I was intrigued to see which Paolo we would see on his sophomore effort, Sunny Side Up. One of the songs I loved on it was "Pencil Full of Lead", not a cover, but written written by Paolo with an older feel.



I really enjoyed his cover of the Gnarls Barkley song, "Crazy". It fits his vocals so well, I kinda wish he would record it in the studio.



In another special live event, Paolo recorded a stunning version of the song written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss, and recorded by Louis Armstrong. In 1999, Armstrong's recording of "What A Wonderful World" was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame. I have to say, Paolo serves it up in form.



Now I didn't think anyone could deliver "I'd Rather Go Blind" like Etta James could, and that may be true. However, when Paolo sings the song written by Ellington Jordan and Billy Foster, he owns his version with amazing depth. Enjoy.



And I almost forgot to mention, Paolo is awfully easy on the eyes. For more about Paolo Nutini, check out his official website. You can buy his latest album, Sunny Side Up, on iTunes and Amazon.

Wedding Blues

Clockwise: Adele; Blossom Dearie, Judy Garland; and Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong.

Well, since I will most likely still be at my nephew's wedding by the time this posts, I thought I would have a fun time with songs about weddings and the like. Well, that was not as easy as I thought it would be. In fact, I will start with one of the songs I found. Now, I just love the song "Never Will I Marry". It was written by Frank Loesser for a 1960 musical, Greenwillow. And while the show might have been a disappointment, running less than 100 performances on Broadway, it did give us this incredible song. Here is "Never Will I Marry" sung by the luminous Judy Garland.



Now, I didn't think that was a rousing endorsement for marriage, so I looked further. I found an interesting song by Etta James called "Stop The Wedding" and, well, decided against that one. It was a great song, but didn't celebrate the wedding process. So I looked just for love songs, and came across a few sung by Miss Etta. I decided on "Fool That I Am" and then it hit me. I needed to use the version done by Adele, who is herself inspired by Etta. So here is the classic song, "Fool That I Am".



"The Nearness of You" was written in 1938 by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Ned Washington. It is a gorgeous song, just so lush and beautiful, I knew I needed to find it recorded by very special voices. So when I discovered this version by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, I couldn't resist.



Now, I just find Blossom Dearie to be far too charming to believe, and thought it might e nice to find a little something to add to this post. And it didn't take me all that long to decide it must be "Lies of Handsome Men" written by Francesca Blumenthal. It is a wonderful song, and sung to perfection by Blossom Dearie.



Enjoy the night, and hope I was able to deliver a little bit of love...

Louis Sings The Blues

While I was thinking about who I wanted to feature this Saturday night, it occurred to me that I have yet to really give Louis Armstrong the appreciation he should be due. It is hard for me to believe that the great jazz trumpeter and vocal stylist has been gone for 41 years, for I still remember his music so clearly, that unforgettable voice and his brilliant smile. Not only was Armstrong a gifted musician, he also made remarkable inroads to society for an African American man of his time. In the 1930s, he became the first African American to host a nationally broadcast radio show. He was able to play many venues and stay at many hotels that were considered white-only at the time. And while many within his own community referred to him with the pejorative "Uncle Tom," he did speak out and take stands, including speaking out in 1957 about the lack of government protection offered in the Arkansas desegregation.



In 1968, Armstrong release a song written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss that became an international sensation. What A Wonderful World spoke optimistically about the future, a time where people had respect and appreciation for one another, a perfect time for a period that was fraught with anger and protests.



While La Vie En Rose was a signature song of the great Edith Piaf, the song was covered by many, including Armstrong. With music by Louiguy and lyrics by Piaf, Louis gave it a very different feeling than Piaf.



In 1925, Armstrong played on a record with the great Bessie Smith. The song was St Louis Blues, written by W. C. Handy, considered the father of the blues by many, and later a key figure in Marc Cohn's iconic Walking In Memphis. The song stayed with Armstrong thoughout his career, and here is a version he did with Velma Middleton in 1959.



In 1956, Louis had a #1 hit with Mack The Knife, the song from the Three Penny Opera, written by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht. His voice added depth to the song that was often covered.



Basin Street Blues was written by Spencer Williams in 1926, and recorded by Armstrong two years later. The title refers to the red-light district of New Orleans, although it could apply to any such area anywhere. The part of town were one found the jazz clubs were often those areas, and some of the few areas all races could go without too much trouble.



You can get your copy of Luis Armstrong's album What A Wonderful World on iTunes and Amazon.

Miss Dorothy Dandridge

Well, tonight I thought we would feature some clips of a gorgeous and talented lady, Dorothy Dandridge. Some might know her as the character played by Halle Berry in 1999. The beauty of that is Miss Berry became the first woman of color wot win the award for Best Actress, and many thought Dandridge should have son the award when she was nominated in 1954 for her work in Carmen Jones, 55 years before. However, to get to the point she was earning nominations for her acting in films, the gorgeous Miss Dandridge made her way by showing off her talent with big bands and the like, often singing with music great Louis Armstrong. What this clip of Dorothy singing Whatcha Say? with Louis.



In 1944, you could catch the singing of Miss Dandridge in this movie clip, where she sang the lead. The clip also features the talented of Louis Armstrong and the great Buck & Bubbles.



Here she appeared with Count Basie and his orchestra to sing Harlem Sandman. This was part of the film musical Hit Parade of 1943. While the quality of this clip is not great, her beauty is still unmistakable.



Paul White and Dandridge sing in a movie short, Zoot Suit, in 1942. This was from one of the "Soundies", the earliest version of music videos known. They were three-minute musical films, produced in New York City, Chicago, and Hollywood between 1940 and 1946, often including short dance sequences. Thanks to them, some great talent was captured that might not have been remembered later. This was particularly true for the artists of African American heritage, for they were often not in major films due to the prevailing mores of the time.



In 1951, Dandridge appeared on the Colgate Comedy Hour, sponsored by the soap company and featuring some great talent of the day. In this clip, she is introduced by a young Jerry Lewis, and comes out to sing Blow Out The Candles.



Here she is captured in a night club performance. Dandridge sang Taking a Chance On Love at the Velvet Nightclub in 1953. The song was written by Vernon Duke with lyrics by John Latouche and Ted Fetter, and was originally featured in Cabin In The Sky, a musical featuring an African-American cast.



In some ways, the similarities of the lives of Dandridge and the late Whitney Houston are sad. Dandridge certainly a star, but one who had no luck in love. Her first marriage to dancer Harold Nicholas resulted in a child born with brain damage, adding pressure on the couple and driving them apart. Her second marriage also ended, with reports of abuse involved. And while Dandridge was an Academy Award-nominated actress, she was also a woman of color at a time of inequality. She also discovered the men handling her finances had taken much of her money, and left her in great debt. She had to sell her home, place her daughter in a State hospital, and take a small apartment in hopes of earning the money to pay her debts. All this lead to Dandridge struggling with her demons, and dying of an overdose at the age of 42. A natural beauty whose talent left us far too soon. Rest In Peace, Miss Dandridge.

Happy Birthday, Jerry Herman

Pictured: Jerry Herman, Angela Lansbury, Bea Arthur, John Barrowman, Michael Feinstein, and Carol Channing.

Jerry Herman was born on July 10, 1931, so he is celebrating his 80th today. He made his career writing some amazing songs through the years, as well as some iconic roles for some of the greatest leading ladies musical theater has known. He is at least in part responsible for the magical creations of Dolly Levi, Mame Dennis, and Zaza, who offstage was known as Albin. He wrote about love in every form, be it the love of an aunt for a nephew, two best friends, a widow and a widower, or two men who run a drag bar.

But he also made sure all of his leads were strong. They didn't bend to the winds blowing from the society at large, as you can tell when Zaza stands up to tell everyone, I Am What I Am from the 1983 show, La Cage Aux Folles. This is John Barrowman performing it when he starred in a recent London revival of the show.



Sure, Vera might have had a tendency to drink a bit more than most and Mame might have marched to the beat of a different drummer, but when push came to shove, the ladies were inseparable. Here Angela Lansbury & Bea Arthur sing Bosom Buddies from Mame.



Mame celebrated her unconventional nature, something her nephew Patrick loved when he was young, and seemed to be uncomfortable, and even embarrassed about later. But when Patrick was having a tough time because of the passing of his parents, she was right there, singing We Need A Little Christmas from Mame. This is a clip of Angela Lansbury singing it for a Christmas special.



In 1974, Herman wrote a special show called Mack & Mabel. The story revolved around Hollywood legend Mack Sennett and his rocky relationship with Mabel Normand, who went on to be a big star in the movies. The original production was not a big success, closing after 8 weeks. But it grew in cult status, and subsequent revivals garnered some great reviews. Here is Michael Feinstein singing I Won't Send Roses from the show.



Everyone knows the story behind Hello Dolly!, which first opened on Broadway in 1964. Countless woman have played the role, from Carol Channing to Ginger Rogers to Martha Raye to Betty Grable to Pearl Bailey. Here is the original Dolly Levi, Carol Channing, singing the number that closed the first act, Before The Parade Passes By.



Of course, if you mention Hello Dolly!, you can't ignore the title song, can you? Especially if it is sung in the movies by a young Barbra Streisand and the great Louis Armstrong. Here they are, singing Hello Dolly.



Happy Birthday, Jerry! May you celebrate many more!

Cause I Can - Billie Hoiday

Just thought I would step up and put a little Billie in the blog today, simple because I can. I was rumbling through YouTube, and ran across a couple of clips of the woman herself singing, and felt it was impossible to resist. So I didn't. Billie Holiday was lost to the world over 51 years ago, but her talent, her music, rages on long after she died. She had lived a hard life, for while she was alive and in this country, she was never seen as an equal, living with the double whammy of being born a person of color and a woman. Whether this colored her singing, or her amazing attachment to the music was innate, there are few who could deliver a song with as much emotion and passion as Lady Day. For many, she set a standard as a singer that might not be topped during out lifetimes, or those of the generations to come.



I could wax on about her brilliance, but it would only interfere with what really needs to be done, and that is listening to her, and watching her. Take, for example, her cover of a song that was made much more famous of two other incredible ladies. The song, My Man, originally composed in French by Jacques Charles, Channing Pollack, Albert Willemetz, and Maurice Yvain ni 1916. The song became a standard for comedian/singer Fanny Brice in 1921. Later on, Barbra Streisand sang it in the 1967 film Funny Girl, based on the life of Fanny Brice. However, it was also sung by Holiday in 1938, who had a hit with it as well, and we are lucky to have it captured on film.



In 1958, Billie Holiday recorded The Blues Are A-Brewin' with Louis Armstrong.



(Do You Know What It Means To Miss) New Orleans was recorded in 1947, and was performed here also with Louis Armstrong.



Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Happy Birthday Louis Armstrong

Today August 4, 2009, Louis Armstrong would celebrate his 109th birthday. He was a gifted and talented musician who graced us with many wonderful songs, but his best known is What A Wonderful World.



Happy birthday, Mr. Armstrong. May you be playing with the best orchestra ever up there.