Broadway in Jazz

#1

Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 7/23/03 at 5:45pm

What's the level of interest in jazz versions of musical show scores? These type of recordings started back in the late 1950's. (Shelly Manne's MY FAIR LADY). I have somewhat of a collection of these on vinyl and CD, and was wondering if others share that interest too.

Yours for a jazzy Broadway!

#2

re: Broadway in jazz

Posted: 7/23/03 at 6:33pm

I've only one jazz version of a musical, I'm afraid

It's a jazz version of PASSION - the arrangements were not done by Stephen Sondheim but the album notes say the recording had Mr. Sondheim's blessing.

jo

Updated On: 7/23/03 at 06:33 PM

#3

re: re: Broadway in jazz

Posted: 7/23/03 at 6:48pm

Having produced the Passion in Jazz CD I guess you know that I love jazz covers of B'way. I had them all as a kid, and I was thankfully able to revive the genre when I began producing. We did jazz covers of a bunch of Sondheim shows - Passion, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, Company, Funny Thing and Follies, all with the fantastic Terry Trotter. I also did jazz covers of Chicago and Cabaret with Brad Ellis. I can tell you that Sondheim was really taken with the Trotter albums - he confessed to me early on that he had no real knowledge of jazz, but he really got into those albums. We tried to keep them accessible and not too far out.

My favorite of the classics are Stan Kenton's West Side Story, Oscar Peterson's West Side Story, all the Andre Previn/Shelly Manne albums, Cy Coleman's Flower Drum Song (yes, Virginia, Cy did a cover version of FDS - it's quite rare but turns up on eBay every now and then), Dave Grusin's Subways are for Sleeping cover version and on and on.

#4

re: re: re: Broadway in jazz

Posted: 7/23/03 at 7:00pm

BK, thanks for your response. You'll be pleased to know that I have the Trotter PASSION, as well as the others in the series and in fact was just listening to PASSION earlier today in my office. I love this recording of PASSION. Thank you for making it happen. I gave a copy to a SR VP at the Kennedy Center last summer when they mounted their version of the show. She absolutely loves it as well. I too enjoy finding these show gems...in my top 5 has to be Teddy Wilson's GYPSY IN JAZZ. Alas, it's only on vinyl but I have an copy in the office and at home.

Yours for a jazzy Broadway!

#5

re: re: re: re: Broadway in jazz

Posted: 7/23/03 at 7:28pm

Glad to meet you, Mr.K!

And thanks for that jazz album of PASSION which I enjoy listening to.

jo

#6

re: re: re: re: re: Broadway in jazz

Posted: 7/23/03 at 8:41pm

Nice to meet you, too and glad you like the CD. I, too, love Teddy Wilson's Gypsy in Jazz - I'm hoping the Collectibles label, who've reissued other Wilson Columbia albums, gets around to it. I also adore Victor Feldman's jazz album of Stop the World - on red vinyl yet. The most jazzified B'way score does seem to be West Side Story.

I also love orchestral covers of scores, and if you haven't found the Percy Faith two-fers, you should - especially the one with Porgy and Bess/The Most Happy Fella, and Subways are For Sleeping/Do I Hear a Waltz - they're great great albums.

bk

and come visit us at www.haineshisway.com

#7

re: re: re: re: re: re: Broadway in jazz

Posted: 7/23/03 at 9:52pm

I too like orchestral covers. One of my favorites it Percy Faith's HOUSE OF FLOWERS. PORGY AND BESS is, I believe, the most jazzified show score, and WWS must definitely be second. You undoubtedly know Oscar Peterson's many jazz show albums. Also my favorites. Somehow I can't imagine a jazz version of LES MIZ, HAIRSPRAY, MILLIE, lol. But then who would have thought FORUM in jazz?

Yours for a jazzy Broadway!

#8

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Broadway in jazz

Posted: 7/24/03 at 10:14am

You have not LIVED until you've heard Sarah Vaughan tackle:

"I FEEL PRETTY"

On the sublime CD "Live at the Tripoli"...

She does this ascending ornamental scale on the second line, (yes, she waits THAT long)

"I feel pretty and witty and fine"

..That is so inventive..so charming ....and so out of nowhere ...you can't help but be charmed into what ever else she does with the song.........

#9

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Broadway in jazz

Posted: 7/24/03 at 1:03pm

I was thilled to see this post, as I also love orchestral versions of musicals. I have all the Trotter Trio Sondheim CD's and some of Andre Previn's CDs. For PORGY & BESS, I have Miles Davis' wonderful version.

I'm writing down all of the suggestions from this post. HOORAY! Love that jazz!

---

"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"

#10

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Broadway in jazz

Posted: 7/26/03 at 2:02pm

Some of my collection "in jazz" include those below. I'd very much like to hear of others you might have. I'm always on the lookout--vinyl or CD. Many thanks.

GYPSY (Teddy Wilson and a vocal jazz by Annie Ross)
MY FAIR LADY
PORGY AND BESS (various recordings, instrumental and vocal)
PAL JOEY
GIGI
BELLS ARE RINGING
WEST SIDE STORY (various recordings)
SHOW BOAT
OLIVER
FIORELLO
the entire Terry Trotter series of Sondheim
FANTASTICS
THE KING AND I
LIL ABNER

Yours for a jazzier Broadway!

#11

Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/5/03 at 10:15pm

Has anyone added any new titles to their collection?

A few weeks ago I found an LP of Duke Ellington Orchestra performing Cy Coleman's ALL AMERICAN.

I'm still looking for
BYE BYE BIRDIE, Count Basie Orchestra
JAMAICA, Phineas Newborn, Jr.
NO STRINGS, No Strings Sextet
HOW TO SUCCEED..., Gary McFarland
WHOLESALE Sy Oliver
SUBWAYS, Dave Grusin
SOUND OF MUSIC (yes, SOM), Mitchell-Ruff Duo and/or Paul Smith Quartet
TENDERLOIN, Phil Napoleon
SARATOGA, Paul Smith, too

Yours for a jazzier Broadway!

Updated On: 9/5/03 at 10:15 PM

#12

re: Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/5/03 at 10:22pm

I would be really interested to hear a jazz-ified score of Nine. I think it could work really well. Some of the score already has an element of jazz built in...a call from the vatican is the most obvious but i think that songs like "unusual way" and "folies bergeres" would be great jazz songs.

#13

re: re: Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/6/03 at 5:14pm

I am going to admit that I don't know NINE. I don't think Yeston is very gifted, personally. Friends associated with the original production always say that it was Tune's staging that made the show, otherwise there is nothing to it. (I understand that the recent production trails a long way behind the original in the class department, but that's annecdotal.)

Still, I'd buy a jazz version of the score.

How about a jazz version of HELLO, DOLLY! ?

Yours for a jazzy Broadway!

#14

re: re: re: Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/6/03 at 8:06pm

BB, on my treaured WHOOP-UP! CD (someone here used it as an ID icon not too long ago) there are a few Dave Rose jazz versions of songs from the score particularly nice is his version of "When the Tall Man Talks" (the Susan Johnson original aint bad neither!).

The Maurice Chevalier version of "Nobody Throw Those Bull" has got to be heard to be believed.

---

"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"

#15

re: re: re: re: Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/6/03 at 9:05pm

Don't be offended but WHO is that dyke-y looking person in your photo?

BB

Updated On: 9/6/03 at 09:05 PM

#16

re: Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/7/03 at 5:42am

Not offended at all, B! I'm kinda surprised you didn't recognize her, though - it's a VERY butch Martha Raye, c. 1936.

---

"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"

#17

re: re: Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/7/03 at 4:45pm

OK folks, while out and about today I remembered this thread and thought I'd try something new.

I was in Best Buy and looked through the Jazz section and then the soundtrack section but couldn't find anything. Then I made the mistake of trying to explain what I wanted and got the "And which planet are you from?" look from the sales person.

Could someone give me:

A: an artist

B: a CD title

and most important

C: Tell me what the heck I'm asking for! Jazzy Broadway? Broadway Jazz? Which section is it in?

Many thanks,
D

#18

re: re: re: Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/7/03 at 7:28pm

Dear D,...ask for any CD by the Terry Trotter Trio...Terry Trotter has recorded about 7 or 8 Sondhiem shows...my favorite is the first, PASSSION. He has also done NIGHT MUSIC, FORUM, COMPANY, SWEENY TODD. I believe you'll love it. You should find it in the Jazz section of most CD sellers.

Also the Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong recording of PORGY AND BESS is on CD and it is terrific. So that's one instrumental and one vocal jazz recording of show music.

Great to know you're exploring this. Happy to help with other titles as you venture down this path.

Broadway Bulldog.

Updated On: 9/7/03 at 07:28 PM

#19

re: re: re: re: Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/7/03 at 7:45pm

I agree with you, Bulldog, re Passion. It remains my favorite of all those we did together. That session was just magical and everything worked well. Most of what's on the album are the first takes - we did very few second takes on any of the songs. I was told that they played the jazz version at the closing night party for Passion. Sondheim admitted to me he didn't know from jazz but he really grew quite fond of the albums and he loved Terry.

Some other vinyl to look out for: The Jack Sterling Quintet does Gypsy, Cy Coleman does Flower Drum Song, and the great four-piano version of Take Me Along (available on an import RCA CD from Spain - playing the pianos are Marty Paich, the great Pete Jolly, Jimmy Rowles and, wait for it, Johnny Williams, who shotened his name to John and wrote a few nice film scores.

#20

re: re: re: re: re: Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/7/03 at 8:34pm

Thanks, to you both. I make no promises about liking them but I went to Amazon.com and bought both "A Little Night Music" and "Passion". Not 100% sure when I'll get them but I promise to listen to both and will let you know what I think.

Shopping online is sooo much easier.

Thanks again.

D

#21

re: re: re: re: re: re: Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/9/03 at 1:00pm

I really liked the way they treated RAGTIME....but that might not be jazz per say.

They also did Chicago, I thought. Maybe I am not thinking right.

#22

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/9/03 at 4:11pm

Actually, the Chicago and Ragtime albums are with The Brad Ellis Little Big Band and they're quite different but very appealing, I think. They were fun to do, as well. I've been talking to Terry about doing something new for my upcoming label - anybody wants to give suggestions - I'm listening.

#23

Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/9/03 at 6:37pm

Hold that thought.....

I haven't even received the CD's I ordered yet! I'm sure I'll think of something once I get a feel for it.



D

#24

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/9/03 at 10:06pm

BK, how about a jazz version of Duke & LaTouche's CABIN IN THE SKY? With a little Arlen thrown in, of couse.

BB

#25

Broadway in Jazz

Posted: 9/29/03 at 7:34pm

Took awhile but I finely found this thread. I promised I would tell you what I thought so here it is.

First, I have to say that I honestly think it was a mistake for me to get something from plays I had never heard before. I had no frame of reference to compare what I was hearing to what I knew/know. So I really can't say what I think of the Jazz version vs any other.

As such, I found the music interesting–I didn’t hate it–but I don’t think I really “got it” either.

Hope that doesn’t offend but that’s my honest opinion.

D