My Funny Valentine on Tenor Sax - Tribute to Gerry Mulligan (Randy Sherwood)

Destin SaxMan Randy Sherwood performs "My Funny Valentine". It is a lovely song that has been recorded well over 500 times (commercially). Written in 1937 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, Mitzi Green introduced My Funny Valentine in the Broadway musical, "Babes in Arms". Her character, Susie Ward, sang to Ray Heatherton whose character was (conveniently) named Valentine, Val White. The show opened at the Schubert Theater on April 14, 1937, and ran for 289 performances. My Funny Valentine subsequently went onto the recording charts in 1945, with Hal McIntyre and His Orchestra (Ruth Gaylor, vocal) taking it to number sixteen. Incidentally, "Babes in Arms" was the first true Rodgers and Hart musical. That is to say, this is the first time that they wrote the book (dialog) as well as the music and lyrics. Their storyline was the forerunner of the Hey kids, lets put on a show! formula, which provided a format for a sequence of song and dance numbers while allowing the inclusion of a thin plot and some modest character development.

My Funny Valentine has at one time or another been a specialty number for countless performers, including Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Miles Davis, and Chet Baker. Although Chet Baker's vocal version is one of the best known renditions of this tune, Chets version with Gerry Mulligan, from 1952 is one of his first recording sessions and is a haunting version of the tune, no doubt helped along by the acoustics of the empty San Francisco Blackhawk nightclub. Bakers approach on this track is strangely reminiscent of Clifford Brown.

I used a popular backing track for this recording, and I added my own string sections using my Yamaha keyboard. Also, I was experimenting with my movie editor (MAGIX V11) which at one point went kindof haywire on me. Once I added the effects, I couldn't get them "undone". Oh well - I do love this song and I wanted to try to make an "artsy" tribute to it since so many great artists have dedicated their time and talents to interpreting this wonderful melody. Hope you enjoy my interpretation and performance of this song - I certainly love playing it!!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Chet Baker
• Randy Sherwood
• valentine
• jazz
• sax
• destin
• musicians
• romantic
• ballad
• Rodgers and Hart
• funny valentine
• florida
• baytowne wharf
• gulf coast musicians
• Gerry Mulligan
• wedding
• love songs
• romantic sax
• Destin's Sax Man

[The280916]

I absolutely love the saxophone and the guys who play that instrument - sax is romantic, sexy and the type of music that I call "swooning music". "Europa", "She is Michelle", "Blow Your Own Horn", "Ne Me Quite Pas" - - just love them all - my absolute favourite is "Stand By Me" by Fausto Papetti. Cheerio and keep on playing that beautiful music.

[SaxyGuyDestin]

@The280916 Thanks so much! Yes, you are so right. The saxophone is an absolutely amazing instrument. I will never tire of playing the sax - each time I pick it up I hate to put it down. The thing about the sax that makes it so special is the ability of the player to inflect emotion into the music - the horn allows the player's personality to come through in the tone so well. A lifetime of pursuing the sax dream is not enough! Thanks for listening and please keep listening!

[The280916]

Great - so-o-o- beautiful and romantic.

[SaxyGuyDestin]

@The280916 Thanks! Please keep listening. I love playing these kind of songs... such beautiful progressions and chords. ;) Thanks and please subscribe and keep listening!

[MrKeys57]

mm...just relaxing and enjoying!

[SaxyGuyDestin]

Thanks Levi! Appreciate the kind words from the "KeyMaster"! Keep making those great sounds and if you want to do a duo let me know... I really like your sound!

[prettylady2347]

This is so awesome....sweet and sad all at the same time!!! I especially like that you put so much thought into the appearance of your backgrounds....

[JazzMePleez]

Randy - as usual a great job on this song. Love the work on the artsy stuff too! I could listen for hours (actually, I have). Bravo! and Encore!

[electronickjoke]

i loooove my saxophone :-X:-X:-X i play over the world on house music and i loove jazz.. i like very very much your interpretation. so nice. take care

[netshaman]

Found the link to this video via SOTW forum. Beautiful interpretation and wonderful tone of one of my all time favorite songs.

[1stCapn]

Thank you! I am actually taking private lessons right now to learn how to growl and scoop and use learn some other useful techniques!