STEVIE WONDER AND THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK

In 1963, less than two years after taking America by storm with his first number one record, Fingertips Part Two, 15 year-old Stevie Wonder took time out to record an  album of standards. 
It was his third LP on the Tamla (Motown) label and the first to drop Stevie's nickname, 'Little' Stevie Wonder'.

Whenever (and however) possible, Motown Records chief Berry Gordy would strive to reach the widest demographic appeal for the label's artist stable.

Consequently Gordy urged Marvin Gaye, The Supremes and other Motown stars to record music from the Great American Songbook.
Although the time was not right for Stevie's album to capture the mature adult audience Berry Gordy sought, it nonetheless is a undiscovered gem that definitely warrants attention. 
Veteran jazz man Ernie Wilkins did a brilliant job of arranging and conducting the album which is highlighted by Jimmy McHugh's On The Sunny Side Of The Street.

BOB DYLAN SINGS JIMMY McHUGH

 
Searching around the internet we discovered that Bob Dylan has performed Jimmy McHugh's 'I'm In The Mood For Love' in concert a number of times over the years. 
It is exactly what you would expect a Dylan version of 'I'm In The Mood For Love' to sound like, complete with harmonica and the kind of slight Crosby-esque croon he used on his album 'Self Portrait'.

Unfortunately, as of yet, we haven't  been able to track down a recording of Mr. Dylan performing the song. Instead we decided to treat you to a somewhat different version of the tune as performed by the iconic 'Little Rascal star, Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer.
The song was featured in a 1936 'Our Gang Comedy' short.

It been said (also on the internet) that I'm In The Mood For Love is Alfalfa's signature song.

Here's the link.

Enjoy!

NY’s City Center transforms into Harlem’s Cotton Club to Salute Duke Ellington. Show features the Music of Jimmy McHugh

Duke Ellington‘s Cotton Club Parade, opens November 18 at New York City Center. Cotton Club Parade is a celebration of Ellington’s years at the famed Harlem nightclub in the 1920s and early ’30s, when the joint was jumping with revues featuring big bands, swing and blues, dancers, singers and novelty acts.

The Cotton Club Parade re-imagines one of the world famous Cotton Club floor shows. It will feature the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, who also serves as music director.

Jimmy McHugh, who was the Cotton Club’s musical director, discovered Ellington at a small New Jersey club. He was responsible for booking Duke and his Band into the famed nightspot for a two-week engagement, which turned into a four-year residency at the Club.

Legendary performers such as the Nicholas Brothers, Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, Snake Hips Tucker, Peg Leg Bates and a 16-year old Lena Horne all performed at the Cotton Club.

As in the original revues, Cotton Club Parade will feature singers, dancers and variety acts, and songs by the greatest jazz composers of the time, including Jimmy McHugh (I Can’t Give You Anything But Love and Diga Diga Doo).

Cotton Club Parade will run for six performances only November 18-22, 2011

Links:

http://www.nycitycenter.org/tickets/productionnew.aspx?performanceNumber=6033

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Ellington

www.dukeellington.com

SONY'S MASTERWORKS BROADWAY RELEASES RECORDINGS OF SONGS FROM THE HISTORIC JIMMY MCHUGH & DOROTHY FIELDS MUSICAL 'BLACKBIRDS OF 1928'

Masterworks Broadway, a subsidiary label of Sony Masterworks, is re-releasing classic recordings of songs from 'Blackbirds of 1928' the pioneering, all-black musical written by Jimmy McHugh & Dorothy Fields.


These are the only recordings of songs from this landmark score, presented as they were originally performed. Taken directly from the original masters, they have never before been available digitally.

Adelaide Hall

Originally recorded in 1953, the recording features the legendary Cab Calloway and Thelma Carpenter performing I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby, Diga-Diga-Doo and other McHugh/Fields classics. 


The show, which was the first Broadway success for composer Jimmy McHugh and lyricist Dorothy Fields, became the longest running all-black show on the New York stage.
Directed by producer Lew Leslie, it starred Adelaide Hall, Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson and Mantan Moreland.





Set for release November 15, 2011 , Blackbirds of 1928 will be available as a digital download and disc-on-demand with the original cover art and new liner notes at Arkivmusic.com and Amazon.com.