loujug1's channel

When I discovered Ella in 1954 I thought "She's pretty good". But when she brought out "The Gershwin Song Book" it startled everyone for it's sheer quality,and it changed the way the top singers sang the "American" Songbook.. Of course the voice is great, but her control is incredible. Ella and N...

Saw these Freshmen sing this in Portsmouth UK in the 60's. I'd waited over 10 years for the chance, so it was a great thrill for me. Also I hadn't realised they were also such good musicians. To top it all the other half of the show was...... June Christy. "It don't get no better than that1"

Hi NowPleaseReadThis. Just in case you don't already know, If you like the sound of piano/vibes/guitar in unison then check out George Shearing on YouTube who pretty much invented it in in the late 1940's. It was his trade mark sound and you would enjoy "East of the Sun".

This is a copy of Bill Russo's arrangement of the song for Stan Kenton which features on his 1953 album Sketches on Standards Album. The singers handle the original solos by Frank Rosolino, Richie Kamuca, Lee Konitz and Bill Holman very well and I wish I could have heard it in better sound.

My favourite version of the song, taken from the album. Milt Bernhardt on trombone toned down his solo at Nelson's request. God knows what the original was like.

Literally bumped into Frank in London in 1951 when he could walk around unnoticed. By 1956 you couldn't get near him for minders.

Sa...

Please note the earlier comment bu local802blues about "Pennies

from Heaven" on Kenton's "Sketces". These days everything is said to be "Incredible" Fantastic" "Brilliant" But the commentator is right it is "Amazing", Conte's solo on "Pennies " deserves all that kind of praise. If you haven't h...

If I hadn't seen the name of the orchestra leader I'd have said this was The Sauter- Finnegan Orchestra from the early 1950's. If you haven't heard of them and like this type of music check out "Midnight Sleighride" and their huge hit "Doodletown Fifers".

One of , if not the, greatest trombone solos I've ever heard. I was convinced Frank was playing a valve trombone for years.

Listen to Sinatra sing this with Nelson Riddle on "Swing Easy".

I once read "Sometimes there's a musician who is the same but different". Enter Frank Rosolino. Victor Borge wrote of Mozart something like, "The manuscript of his first symphony was covered in ink blots, which just goes to show you shouldn't let a six year old loose with pen ink." Some people ...

In England I didn't know she was supposed to be black. We didn't have that problem. When I saw "Carmen Jones" I was in the RAF on Singapore Island in the 50's. All we guys wanted was to be Harry Belafonte to get near her.

When he got married at the Caxton Hall in London the whole area was gridlocked. That's how popular this guy was.

One of the least known talents in piano history. I remember hearing him on record with the Billy May big band, but it was years before sleeve notes gave me his name, Saw him in Portsmouth in the 60's with Jazz at the Philharrmonic with Shelly Manne on dfrumsand was astounded. What apairing! I lik...

I'm just amazed at the number of these musicians who played with Stan Kenton.

I first heard Toots on record playing guitar with the George Shearing Quintet of the mid 1950's. There's a video of them on YouTube. I caught up with him again 30 odd years later playing "Velas" on harmonica with Quincey Jones on "The Dude", also on YouTube, check it out, These Jazz guys certainl...

Good try my friend but you might as well have taken on Mike Tyson. Nat Cole was a one off

Whoever you are Bterrier I just joined you. Nat Cole started me on my music quest and 60 years later here I am, a 77 year old hard bop/ jazz/ big band fan cryin over two great guys.