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…and Ira.
George Gershwin wrote this song’s music, his brother Ira the words, for a 1932 opera. A flop on debut, it is now a landmark. Its most tender number – Summertime – is probably the best-loved 20th century song. Its sardonic song is less popular; I have heard only several hundred covers of It Ain’t Necessarily So!
Comments closed…wordlessly, but you can hear how acutely conscious he is of Woodstock‘s lyric.
Comments closedFor many years Fred Hersch has been an inspired interpreter of two of the greatest songbooks – Thelonious Monk’s and Tom (Antonio Carlos) Jobim’s. On his new album Fred does right by both. He also covers someone whose songbook I long have loathed…
Comments closedI was born in the middle of the sea…
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Hers is likely the slowest, but also the most playful, witty and inventive of all recorded versions of Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most – a “jazz standard” with a most unlikely inspiration source.
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This “iconic” ballad began life as Music from Beyond the Moon – a 1947 flop. Retitled in 1952, it became famous in 1953, thanks to Frank Sinatra. The “iconic” version was sung in 1963 by Johnny Hartman on John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. However, the loveliest version is an instrumental duet, recorded in 1989. One man – not ‘Trane, not Hartman – was common to both recordings.
Comments closedSi Kahn’s Gone, Gonna Rise Again is a great American song, much covered. But there is just one absolutely definitive, great, recorded version. It’s not American!
One CommentThe king of Prince covers – on disc, at least – was recorded in February 2007 by a Polish instrumental trio.
You are unlikely to hear a more beautiful interpretation of Diamonds and Pearls.
Comments closedJanis Joplin’s Me and Bobby McGee will forever be the best-known cover of a Kris Kristofferson song, but even more remarkable is June Tabor‘s singular version of Casey’s Last Ride.
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