New Music – Michael Buble

Fiona loved the music of Michael Buble and a few years ago went to see him live at the SECC with her mum and my mum.

No doubt if she was still with us his new album “Crazy Love” would have been purchased in it’s entirity, for me this track will do just fine.

“All I Do Is Dream Of You” – Michael Buble

All I do is dream of you
The whole night through
With the dawn I still go on
Dreamin’ of you

You’re every thought, you’re everything
You’re every song I ever sing
Summer, winter, autumn and spring

And were there more than twenty-four hours a day
They’d be spent in sweet content dreamin’ away

Sky’s are gray, sky’s are blue
Morning, noon and nighttime, too
All I do the whole day through is dream of you

It’s the cat’s meow

All I do the whole day through
Is dream of you

 

To buy the music of Michael Buble click HERE

 

 

For more information on Michael Buble click HERE

Jeepers Creepers

Picture : Sablan Bruni

“Jeepers Creepers” is a popular 1938 song and jazz standard. The music was written by Harry Warren and the lyrics by Johnny Mercer, for the movie Going Places. It was premiered by Louis Armstrong and has since been covered by dozens of other artists.

This song was featured in the 1938 film Going Places starring Richard Powell, Anita Louise, Louis Armstrong and Ronald Reagan. Louis Armstrong plays the part of Gabriel, the trainer of a race horse named Jeepers Creepers. Jeepers Creepers is a very wild horse and can only be soothed enough to let someone ride him when Gabriel plays the song “Jeepers Creepers” on his trumpet or sings it to him. Louis Armstrong’s character, Gabriel, had written the song specifically for the horse, Jeepers Creepers.

“Jeepers Creepers” – Louis Armstrong

Jeepers, creepers….whered ya get them peepers
Jeepers, creepers…whered ya get those eyes
Gosh oh, git up….howd they get so lit up
Gosh oh, gee oh….howd they get that size

Golly gee…when you turn them heaters on
Woe is me…got to put my cheaters on

Jeepers, creepers….whered ya get them peepers
Oh, those weepers….how they hypnotize

(instrumental break)

Jeepers, creepers….whered ya get them peepers
Oh, those weepers….how they hypnotize
Where did ya get those
Golly whered ya get those
Where did ya get them there eyes

 

To buy the music of Louis Armstrong click HERE

Rare Sinatra – “Maureen Is A Champ”

The very first song in the Beatles’ Apple Records singles catalogue “Apple 1″ was a special private recording sung by Frank Sinatra as a favour to Ringo Starr as a 22nd birthday gift for his wife Maureen in 1968. Sammy Cahn rewrote Lorenz Hart’s lyrics to “The Lady Is a Tramp” and personalized them about Maureen (who was a great Sinatra fan). Sinatra recorded the song in Los Angeles, and only a few copies were pressed before the master tape was destroyed. Ringo surprised Maureen with the one-of-a-kind single on 4 August 1968. Any surviving copies of the disc would be counted among the most priceless artifacts of Beatles/Sinatra memorabilia. A poor quality copy of the song began circulating in collector circles. It is now available on several bootleg albums. In a 2005 interview with Andre Gardner on WMGK Radio in Philadelphia, former Beatles business manager Peter Brown described extensively his role in getting Sinatra to do the record. Cahn plays piano while Sinatra sings the reworked lyrics. They are the only two performers on the song which was given the title “Maureen Is A Champ”

“Maureen Is A Champ” – Frank Sinatra with Sammy Cahn

…………………………..yes they do       xx

“When No One Cares” written by…………..Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen no surprise that one of Fiona’s favourite films is “Serendipity” the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something entirely unrelated!!

New Music – Claire Martin

One of my all time favourite modern era jazz singers is back with another album this time called “A Modern Art”

Why A Modern Art?

On my last recording I explored the repertoire of the great Shirley Horn to pay my own personal tribute. This time I was keen to record a selection of new material, songs which I feel define me as an individual, and as a jazz singer in the 21st century.

I have always chosen to sing contemporary material from “outside” the Great American Songbook, alongside lesser-known standards and original compositions. In doing so I have strived to find new songs that can stand alongside the classics we associate with the greats including Ella, Sarah, Betty and Carmen.

Only two of the songs on this album are by classic composers: Cy Coleman’s ‘Everybody Today Is Turning On’ and Rodgers & Hart’s ‘Everything I’ve Got Belongs To You’. Elsewhere, I have chosen songs from some of my favourite writers: Michael Franks, Donald Fagen and Rebekka Bakken. Mark Winkler has contributed lyrics to a great Joshua Redman melody; lyricist Colin Lazzerini has introduced me to two songs I’m proud to have recorded, and the heartfelt ‘As We Live and Breathe’ is by my friend, and New York Voices’ vocalist, Lauren Kinhan. I was really saddened by the untimely death of Esbjörn Svensson. His beautiful ballad ‘Love Is Real’, co-written with Josh Hayden, is a song I recently discovered and I hope makes a fitting tribute to a much-missed musician.

The title song ‘A Modern Art’ was written by me with Laurence Cottle and it’s my own take on celebrity culture and the mass dumbing-down of musical standards in popular music. Jazz remains as vibrant and relevant as ever and can indeed gain a mass appeal – I’m sure of it! In fact, I’m on a mission, and if you’re reading this you’ve already helped my cause! Please spread the word that jazz isn’t an inaccessible art form that is too difficult to understand, nor do you have to wear an anorak and listen to trad in some muddy field in unforgiving British weather. Jazz is a thoroughly Modern Art form and this is my version!

I hope you’ll enjoy this album.

Claire Martin

Here is her version of the Steely Dan song “Things I Like The Most” from their 2003 album “Everything Must Go”

This is the lovely “Nirvana”

To buy the music of Claire Martin click HERE

Gran Torino

Watched the Clint Eastwood film “Gran Torino” last night which I enjoyed though it was typical Eastwood fayre, hard man on the outside big softie inside.

The title song of the soundtrack is a collaboration between the jazz loving Eastwood and Jamie Cullum, I can assure you it is no Charlie Parker but all is forgiven as Jamie Cullum’s version of “But For Now” is with me for life.

"Go Ahead Punk...Make My Day"

Autumn Leaves

………………………any excuse for some Frank.

“Autumn Leaves” – Frank Sinatra

The falling leaves
Drift by my window
The falling leaves
Of red and gold

I see your lips
The summer kisses
The sunburned hands
I used to hold

Since you went away
The days grow long
And soon I’ll hear
Old winter’s song

But I miss you most of all
My darling
When autumn leaves
Start to fall

Since you went away
The days grow long
And soon I’ll hear
Old winter’s song

But I miss you most of all
My darling
When autumn leaves
Start to fall

From the album “Where Are You?”

To buy the music of Frank Sinatra click HERE

For more information on Frank Sinatra click HERE

Tortured Souls

The Beatles have been my soundtrack for the daylight hours, however as darkness engulfs us and midnight passes the tortured soul has to to be soothed and to this end there is no better than Chet Baker

Chet Baker was somewhat unique in the world of jazz as he was renowned both as a vocalist and as a trumpet player.

Here he is in his vocalist role with a sublime version of “You’re Driving Me Crazy” from the 1950’s album “It Could Happen  To You”

“You’re Driving Me Crazy” – Chet Baker

Here he is with just his trumpet for solace with “You’d Be Nice To Come Home To’ from his 1959 album “Chet”

“You’d Be Nice To Come Home To” – Chet Baker

As I am sure most of you are aware Baker was cursed with the side effect of many a talented genius and paid the ultimate penalty via an early death on May 13th 1988.

Although he recorded an album of Christmas songs, “Silent Nights” in 1987 his last real contribution to the world of popular music was recorded at the behest of Elvis Costello who asked him to contribute the soulful trumpet solo on Costello’s own version of “Shipbuilding” recorded in 1986.

“Shipbuilding ” – Elvis Costello

The song with lyrics by Costello and a melody by producer Clive Langer was of course originally recorded by Robert Wyatt in 1983, Langer having written the melody to reflect Wyatt’s own interpretation of Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit”

Before his death Baker repaid the Costello favour by recording Elvis’s “Almost Blue”

Goodnight……………and sleep tight.

Sunday Jazz – Aretha Franklin

No your eyes didn’t deceive you…….yes Aretha Franklin is featured today in Sunday Jazz.

Partly to make up for me bending the genres yesterday to include Louis Jordan in Saturday Soul as the song “Old Age” was appropriate for my birthday I hereby re-address the balance by adding a touch of soul into Sunday Jazz.

Aretha was and remains the Queen of Soul, however, in 1964 she recorded an album called “Unforgettable A Tribute to Dinah Washington” and like Dinah Washington hereself it was a varied collection including a cover of Hank Williams “Cold Cold Heart”  stretching the boundaries of R&B, Blues and Jazz and remains a must have album, though often neglected within Aretha’s vast bounty of recordings.

As Aretha said on the original sleeve notes “I hope this album will give people some idea of the way I felt and will always feel about Dinah”

Here is the title track

“Unforgettable” – Aretha Franklin

To buy the music of Aretha Franklin click HERE

 

To buy the music of Dinah Washington click HERE

Saturday Soul – Old Age

Today I am officially 12 months away from the big 50

Here is Louis Jordan

“Old Age!” – Louis Jordan

To buy the music of Louis Jordan click HERE

circa 1969

Sunday Jazz – Diana Krall

I haven’t as yet bought the new Bossa Nova themed Diana Krall album “Quiet Nights“, though I do have it on order.

This album has not been received very well with many people finding it uninspiring and even boring, however, I will give it a chance when it arrives. 

I have however received her new DVD “Live In Rio” which is superb

Recorded in November 2008 in support of her Quiet Nights album, Live In Rio finds Diana Krall on top form, lending her sultry vocals to a set of bossa nova standards. The DVD of this stand out live performance features the tracks: “I Love Being Here With You”, “Let’s Fall In Love”, “Where Or When”, “Too Marvellous For Words”, “I’ve Grown Accustomed To His Face”, “Walk On By”, “Frim Fram Sauce’, ‘Cheek To Cheek’, ‘You’re My Thrill’, ‘Let’s Face The Music And Dance”, “Every Time We Say Goodbye”, “So Nice”, “Quiet Nights”, “Este Seu Olhar”, “The Boy From Ipanema”, “I Don’t Know Enough About You”, “S’Wonderful” and “Exactly Like You”.

 

Here is a track from the first Diana Krall album I bought

“Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” – Diana Krall

 

To buy Diana Krall product click HERE