9.30.10 nightengale
1939, Maschwitz, Sherwin and Strachey
Few
can truly claim to create in a vacuum; I think all of us, whether
conscious of it or not, have had influences on our work. Obviously I'm
not creating new songs on this site; in fact, I'm re-creating the ones I
like. I first heard "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square"
from a 1981 Manhattan Transfer Album and it stuck with me. It's been
covered by Ray Noble, Vera Lynn, Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra among many
others over the years and even inspired a 1979 film of the same name.
This arrangement is Harry Connick's.
9.22.10 fever
Had a great day at the Wine and Arts Festival; thanks to Bob Meyers, Woody Hume and Jim Houck who made the sound great, as well as Bill the soundguy...pics and video to come. For now, I'm sick today, so here's the blong.
9.16.10 what a world
Looking
forward to Saturday's Wine and Arts Festival gig in Old Town with the
Fabulous Bob Meyers Trio; there'll be four sets over four hours (11-4).
Here's the first setlist:
The Days of
Wine and Roses
Blue Skies
How High
the Moon
Witchcraft
Imagination
Our Love is
Here to Stay
Night and
Day
I Could
Write a Book
Besame
Mucho
Mac
the Knife
I'll leave you with my favorite closing number made famous by the late, great Louis Armstrong..
9.10.10 Crush
1928, George Gershwin
9.2.10 All of Me
So by now you're thinking - what is J up to..why the site, why the blong, etc. If you know my family, then you know their take.
But seriously, I've been performing this stuff off and on since
college, and it's the recent jumps in technology that have enabled me to
perform it live the way I do. It sort of started Christmas, 2008 when
my father-in-law, Alan, gave me an iPod Nano.
It sat on the shelf for a while, and then I found karaoke! on
iTunes..and the purchases began. Before long, it was one after the
other, and before I knew it I'd bought a sound system. My wife, Aljith,
gave me the Elvis mic and suit for Father's Day, and I was loaded for
bear. The rest just sort of happened along the way. Anyhoo, now that
you're up-to-date, here's the blong. Next week - where it's all
heading..
8.26.10 ..under my skin
I936, Cole Porter, from Born to Dance
8.22.10 The Very Thought of You
I934, Ray Noble
8.13.10 Like You!
8.12.10 cry me a river
1953, Arthur Hamilton
8.5.10 blue skies
7.30.10 brazil, baby!
7.15.10 the nearness of you
1938, Hoagy Carmichael (info)
7.15.10 concentrate
7.08.10 ...let's (Diana Krall version)
7.03.10 cheeks
6.30.10 just the way
6.18.10 something, you're
6.17.10 imagination
6.13.10 ..for you
6.08.10 change partners
6.03.10 embrace
5.27.10
Bono has broken his back..
well, not completely, but he did slip a disk. Too bad; U2 was set to
re-tour the US this summer. My wife and I got to see them last October,
and it was mammoth. Here's to you (too).
tribu2e
5.21.10 the C
5.13.10 samba coo
4.30.10 team spirit
4.28.10
I recently called up a friend with whom I'd gigged last November, Bob Meyer. Bob
is one of the jazz guitar greats of our time, and it looks like we'll
be working together again very soon. We share a common interest in
Bossa Nova; in particular, Antonio Carlos Jobim. Here's Bob and me on one of my favorite tunes by "Brazil's Gershwin":