May 24

Ella Fitzgerald - Blue Skies. Late Fifties. This is like Coltrane singing: Ella had a ‘horn-like’ improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing.

Hope you like.

Recorded March 18, 1958 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood.

With Paul Weston’s Orchestra: John Best, Pete Candoli, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Don Fagerquist, Mannie Klein (tpt); Edward Kusby, Dick Noel, William Schaefer (trmb); Juan Tizol (v trmb); Chuck Gentry, Matty Matlock, Ted Nash, Babe Russin, Fred Stulce (reeds); Paul Smith (p); Barney Kessel (g); Joe Mondragon (b); Alvin Stoller (d); Weston (arr, cond).

“First Lady of Song,” “Queen of Jazz,” and “Lady Ella”

May 04

Even though Passover is past, it will certainly come again next year!

Apr 29

Today is Duke Ellington’s 113th birthday (he died in 1974 at age 75).

This is a segment from the film Reveille with Beverly from 1943; the song, “Take The A Train,” arguably one of his best if not most popular, was composed in 1939.

I got to see Duke in 1967 at an early Boston Globe Jazz Festival. The antithesis of Duke, Sun Ra and His Arkestra, was on the same bill.

Miss you Duke.

Apr 01

Andy Griffith - What It Was, Was Football

Recorded in Raleigh, NC in 1953, this is the comedy monologue that launched the stage, film and television career of North Carolina’s favorite son, Andy Griffith. Humorously illustrated by Mad Magazine in a 1958 issue (same illustrations used throughout the video), this routine is a comedy classic.

Mar 29

Earl Scruggs - Ground Speed

RIP Earl, banjo meister extrodinaire!

Mar 28

“Long John Blues” written and performed by Dinah Washington on Mercury, 1948.

Dinah was certainly one of the “queens of the blues.” They don’t make ‘em like this anymore!

I’ve got a dentist who’s over seven feet tall
Yes I’ve got a dentist who’s over seven feet tall
Long John they call him, and he answers every call
Well I went to Long Johns office and told him the pain was killin’
Yes I went to Long Johns office and told him the pain was killin’
He told me not to worry, that my cavity just needed fillin’
He said “when I start drillin’, I’ll have to give you novocaine”
He said, “Yes, when I start drillin’, I’ll have to give you novocaine
Cause ev’ry woman just can’t stand the pain”
He took out his trusted drill
And he told me to open wide
He said he wouldn’t hurt me
But he’d fill my hole inside
Long John, Long John, you’ve got that golden touch
You thrill me when you drill me, and I need you very much
When he got through, he said “Baby that will cost you ten”
Yes when he got through, he said “Baby that will cost you ten
Six months from now, come back and see me again”
Say you’re supposed to see your dentist
‘Bout twice a year, that’s right
But I think I feel it bobbin’
Yes I’ll go back there tonight
Long John, Long John, don’t ever move away
Say I hope I keep on achin’ so I can see you every day.