dhofkin's channel

Elton really showed an extended vocal range here on the high notes for this point in his career (circa 1990). Consider that he'd had surgery three years earlier to remove pre-cancerous polyps and nodules from his vocal chords. This surgery had the effect of lowering and narrowing his range somewh...

@EXPYouthProgram The studio recording was made in 1946, and the film footage (for "New Orleans") was shot that year as well. This is lip-synched, but a great recording/"live" performance nonetheless. And yes, she was beautiful in her prime.

I don't know why this album ("Sinatra Sings Great Songs from Great Britain") gets so little attention. Frank's voice may not have been in top form on this occasion, but it is still very good here. And his interpretations combine with the subject matter and the arrangements to create a very moving...

@azapro911 well put. A vastly under-marketed/mis-marketed album, in my opinion.

@agentringo Hey there! Hope all's well. It's been a long time! All's well here in the center of the country.

Lou looks and sounds great here. Amazing that he'd had traumatic surgery only 6 months earlier.

This is truly awesome! What a voice! Is there any video footage from this concert/tour? How about from the brief "Long Hard Look" tour? The only things I've seen are an Arsenio Hall appearance and a Jay Leno appearance, but no actual concert footage.

@Xirobebito Definitely! :-) Lou was a drummer earlier in his career (with Black Sheep), after all, so not a surprise that he's got rhythm. This was from around July 1996, roughly 9 months prior to Lou's traumatic surgery. This version of Foreigner is Lou Gramm (lead vocals and cowbell), Mick Jone...

What a collection of world-class talent! And Lester Young, who was in very poor health by this point in his life (note that he is seated for almost the whole song - except during his solo), manages a great performance. Billie's reaction to her old friend's solo is poignant, to put it mildly.

Great footage from September 1956!

@crockettjackson15 Polka Dots and Moonbeams. It was originally a song recorded by Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra on vocals around 1940. Lester Young made a great studio recording with Hank Jones on piano in 1949 (Verve label). I think this live performance is from late summer/early fall 1958 - p...

Quite the performance, particularly for someone whose health was in serious decline and who would pass away only 5 months later. This is from February 1959 in London, her last filmed performance and one of her final live performances. Her delivery of the song gives you chills.

This was filmed in London in February 1959, about 2 or 3 weeks prior to her final studio recordings and only about 5 months before her death at the young age of 44. This concert was her final filmed performance and one of her final live performances.

Most of her performances by this time in her ...

Incredible ability to convey a song in a natural, truly believable way without unnecessary embellishment.

Love the "For Smokers Only" on the faux background album cover too.

Doesn't get much better than this!

@acallender58 Your father was a great bassist. He also seemed to be a really nice man from the times I've seen him interviewed regarding his days with Lester Young, Billie Holiday, and Nat King Cole. I'm only 35 but have loved great jazz all my life and had the opportunity to meet some of the g...