Why the waffling between five or six songs? Well, it has to do with a new song that was created out of a saxophone solo used in I’m In The Mood for Love. Is Moody Mood For Love a new tune or a variation of an old one?
And those interpretations of I’m In The Mood For Love led to a whole new jazz vocal style called jazz vocalese. It also takes a detour into the old Our Gang (aka The Little Rascals) short films from the 30’s that I saw many years later on television.
On this week’s program you’ll also hear interesting renditions of (and stories about) two Duke Ellington tunes (It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got That Swing and I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart). The last two tunes I feature are One O’Clock Jump (including a bebop version), and Body and Soul)
One last comment: re. that version of Moody Mood for Love by King Pleasure that I play. There’s a female vocalist who comes in. Who is it? Apparently it’s Blossom Dearie. I just found that out. I should also mention (since I forgot to point it out on the podcast) that those lyrics were written by Eddie Jefferson.
Hi Larry, Fantastic episode today!
Could you list the songs and musicians we listened? Thank you!
Thanks for your kind words, Sebastia. I really like this episode too.
The songs and musicians, in order, are:
1. It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing–Tommy Flanagan (w. Ron Carter and Tony Williams)
2. It Don’t Mean A Thing–Duke Ellington Orchestra w. Ivie Anderson
3. It Don’t Mean a Thing–Offramp Jazz Band (w. Mike Treadway–vcls and drums, Justing Glibbery-piano, Stan Sabourin and Larry Crawford-sax, Stefan Bienze-bass.
4. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart–Ella Fitzgerald.
5. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart–Thelonious Monk. w. Oscar Pettiford-bass, Kenny Clarke-drums
6. I’m in the Mood For Love–Nat King Cole Trio w. Oscar Moore-guitar, Johnny Miller-bass
7. I’m In the Mood For Love–James Moody and the Swedish Crowns.
8. Moody’s Mood For Love–King Pleasure w. Blossom Dearie and Teacho & Band
9. One O’Clock Jump–Count Basie ORch. w. Herschel Evans and Lester Young-sax, Buck Clayton-trmpt, Walter Page-bass.
10.One O’Clock Jump–Tony D’Andrea Trio
11. Body and Soul–Coleman Hawkins
12. Body and Soul–Mark Eisenman Trio w. Steve Wallace-bass, John Sumner-drums, Mark Eisenman-piano.
Hope that helps.
-Larry
Amazing! Thanks a lot!