The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
The continual disregard of the health and safety of others during this medical state of our country by certain factions who want the recently removed days of old by contributing new surges in Covid cases, gives me added incentive to remain sequestered and listening to great music. This week I am turning to a resident of Cannes, France and pulling from the shelves the March 12, 1991 released album Rooms In My Fatha’s House by Vinx.
To claim him as a vocalist would be an injustice, Vinx owns the songs on this debut release, where up is the only way he can go. His unique, interpretive phrasing and melodic presentation expresses so much more that I was taken from the first note of his voice, which is why I have enjoyed this over the years and recommend it for your listening pleasure.
The session was produced by Greg Poree, John Eden, Sting, and by Vinx on track 2. It was released on the Pangea record label and distributed by Capitol Records-EMI Of Canada.
Tracklist | 54:43- Tell My Feet ~ 4:44
- I Should Have Told Her ~ 3:41
- My TV ~ 4:19
- While The City Sleeps ~ 4:46
- I’ll Give My All To You ~ 4:23
- Captain’s Song ~ 4:32
- Somehow Did You Know ~ 4:44
- Little Queen ~ 3:44
- Temporary Love ~ 4:07
- Porch Light ~ 6:02
- Don’t Got to Be That Way ~ 5:16
- A Little Bit More ~ 6:24
- Sting ~ Bass, Backing Vocals
- Herbie Hancock ~ Piano
- Sheryl Crow ~ Vocal, Guitar
- Taj Mahal ~ Guitar, Vocal
- Branford Marsalis ~ Saxophone
When the curtain goes up and the pandemic is controlled I will return to flying around the globe discovering the best of jazz. Until that time arrives, stay safe and healthy.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Francis Albert Sinatra was born December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey and at an early age was greatly influenced by the intimate easy listening vocal style of Bing Crosby. While Sinatra never learned how to read music, he worked very hard from a young age to improve his abilities in all aspects of music. A perfectionist, renowned for his dress sense and performing presence, he always insisted on recording live with his band. He began his musical career in the swing era with bandleaders Harry James and Tommy Dorsey. Finding success as a solo artist after signing with Columbia Records in 1943, he became the bobbysoxers idol.
Releasing his debut album, The Voice of Frank Sinatra, in 1946, by the early 1950s, his professional career had stalled. Turning to Las Vegas, Nevada he became one of its best-known residency performers as part of the Rat Pack. Venturing into Hollywood, his career was reborn in 1953 with the success of From Here to Eternity, and his subsequent wins of an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Through the Sixties Sinatra released several critically lauded albums, including In the Wee Small Hours, Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!, Come Fly with Me, Only the Lonely, and Nice ‘n’ Easy. Leaving Capitol in 1960 to start his own record label, Reprise Records and released a string of successful albums. In 1965, he recorded the retrospective album, September of My Years and starred in the Emmy-winning television special Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music.
After releasing Sinatra at the Sands, recorded at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Vegas with frequent collaborator Count Basie in early 1966, the following year he recorded one of his most famous collaborations with Tom Jobim, the album Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim. It was followed by 1968’s Francis A. & Edward K. with Duke Ellington.
Retiring for the first time in 1971 he came out of retirement two years later. He recorded several albums and resumed performing at Caesars Palace, and released New York, New York in 1980. Using his Las Vegas shows as a home base, he toured both within the United States and internationally until shortly before his death in 1998.
Forging a highly successful career as an actor during the Sixties he starred in The Man with the Golden Arm, The Manchurian Candidate, On the Town, Guys and Dolls, High Society, Pal Joey, Ocean’s Eleven, and Tony Rome, as well as television appearances.
He was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1985, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997. Sinatra was also the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Trustees Award, Grammy Legend Award, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and included in Time magazine’s compilation of the 20th century’s 100 most influential people.
Vocalist, actor, and producer Frank Sinatra, who was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century and sold more than 150 million records worldwide, passed away on May 14, 1998.
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Three Wishes
When asked, Louis Armstrong had three wishes he told to Pannonica:
- “One year off my horn to listen to all the tapes I’ve colected and index them, so I can write a few things. The rest will do me good”
- “That I go back to the world and see the fans, and play for them again.”
- “That I live a hundred years, so I can enjoy what the next generation’s doing, same as I do this one.”
*Excerpt from Three Wishes: An Intimate Look at Jazz Greats ~ Compiled and Photographed by Pannonica de Koenigswarter
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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
Kicking back in my quarantined room I have a hankering to listen to one of my favorite voices of our time in recent years. My indulgences are taking me to pull down from the stacks Sound Of Red by René Marie for this week’s listening session. The album is filled with personal insights and wisdom that cross the emotional borders of human consciousness, allowing us to investigate our own frailties and rejoices.
Recorded in 2016 and produced by Marie and Quentin Baxter, and released on the Motéma Music label. This is her first album of entirely self-penned, provocative originals, that has garnered her a Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy nomination. Drawing from jazz, folk, R&B, and country, proves to be a compelling exploration in sound.
The album is produced by René Marie and Quentin Baxter who also plays drums on the album. Sound of Red contains all original songs by René Marie.
Track Listing | 64:34 1. Sound Of Red ~ 6:00 2. If You Were Mine ~ 6:33 3. Go Home ~ 5:46 4. Lost ~ 10:36 5. Stronger Than You ~ 4:36 6. Certaldo ~ 7:04 7. Colorado River Spring ~ 3:21 8. This Is Not A Protest Song ~ 5:41 9. Many Years Ago ~ 4:50 10. Joy Of Jazz ~ 4:12 11. Blessings ~ 5:55 Personnel
- René Marie ~ Vocal, Producer
- John Chin ~ Piano
- Elias Bailey ~ Bass
- Quentin E. Baxter ~ Drums, Producer
- Sherman Irby ~ Alto Saxophone (tracks: 1)
- Romero Lubambo ~ Guitar (tracks: 6)
- Etienne Charles ~ Trumpet (tracks: 2, 10)
- Shayna Steele ~ Backing Vocals (tracks: 8, 11)
As you listen I hope you enjoy this great addition to the jazz catalog. Continue your vigilance of social distancing, wear your masks, and stay healthy. During this sabbatical from flying and investigating jazz around the globe, this Quarantined Jazz Voyager will enjoy it with you and know that the music, world and I have not gone anywhere.
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Hollywood On 52nd Street
Stella by Starlight is a popular song by Victor Young that was drawn from thematic material composed for the main title and soundtrack of the 1944 Paramount Pictures film, The Uninvited. Appearing in the film’s underscore as well as in source music as an instrumental theme song without lyrics.
It was turned over to Ned Washington, who wrote the lyrics for it two years later in 1946. The title had to be incorporated into the lyrics, which resulted in its unusual placement: the phrase appears about three-quarters of the way through the song, rather than at the beginning or the end.
At one point in the film, the main character, Rick (Ray Milland) tells Stella (Gail Russell) that he is playing a serenade, To Stella by Starlight.
Plot
Rick (Ray Milland) and his sister Pamela (Ruth Hussey) unknowingly buy a seaside home that is haunted by the ghost of Mary Meredith. Meredith’s husband was a painter who had an affair with his gypsy model, Carmel, Meredith discovers the affair, takes Carmel to and leaves her in Paris, where she gives birth to a child, which ultimately Mary took. Subsequently, Carmel returned to England, takes the infant Stella from Windward, and, during the confrontation, pushes Mary off the cliff to her death. So Mary haunts the house and when Stella returns her affinity to the place is cemented. Rick falls for her but wants her to leave. Seances, ghost visitations by both Camel and Mary, and a sanatorium reveal that Carmel, not Mary is Stella’s mother. This frees Carmel’s spirit from Windward House and with Rick confronting Mary’s spirit announcing he is no longer afraid, the spirit also departs.
Recordings
“Stella by Starlight” is one of the most popular standards, its May 1947 recording by Harry James and his orchestra reached 21st place in the pop charts. Two months later, the recording by Frank Sinatra with Axel Stordahl and his orchestra also rose to the 21st position.
Early adaptations of the song were performed and recorded by Charlie Parker, Stan Getz in December 1952, trumpeter Chet Baker, Bud Powell, Stan Kenton, Nat King Cole. Other recordings have been made by Miles Davis, Red Garland, Earl Grant, Joe Pass, Bill Evans, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Lou Donaldson, Charlie Rouse, Dexter Gordon, Billy Eckstine, Dick Haymes, Ray Charles, Anita O’Day, Helen Reddy, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Mina, Al Hirt, Larry Coryell, among others.