SONG SPOTTING: The Cotton Club

Most recently screening on CineMax’s MAX HD channel, this epic crime drama, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is centered around the famed Harlem Jazz Club of the 1920’s, The Cotton Club.

The 1984 film features several Jimmy McHugh songs including Exactly Like You and his iconic ‘hot jazz’ barn-burner, Diga Diga Doo.

Jimmy was the club’s first Musical Director a coveted position which he held during the Club’s most celebrated years. Under his musical direction he discovered Duke Ellington and brought the young, novice songwriter Dorothy Fields to the Club to write songs with him.

Richard Gere, Diane Lane and Gregory Hines head up the cast which includes Nicolas Cage, Bob Hoskins, Laurence Fishburne, Maurice Hines and Gwen Verdon.

The film received several Golden Globe © and Academy Award© nominations.

Try to catch The Cotton Club on the tube- you wont be disappointed!

Click to hear:

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra performing

Jimmy McHugh’s Diga Diga Doo

Go Wolverines!

We’re talking about The Wolverines Big Band!

The Wolverines Big Band were originally formed in 1973 to showcase the music of the ‘hot’ orchestras popular between the World Wars. The ensemble, now led by drummer Jendeen Forberg, has performed with artists ranging from Sarah Vaughan to The Manhattan Transfer. 

Four Wolverines albums have garnered 4-star reviews in DownBeat Magazine. Quite an achievement!

Frequently collaborating with the band is vocalist, Judi Donaghy, who first made her mark as part of Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra.

Below is a link to Judi and The Wolverines performing Jimmy McHugh’s I Just Found Out About Love. It’s culled from The Wolverines Big Band’s CD, Voracious: Live at the Times. 

http://youtu.be/_fQzCvNd9Oo

http://www.downbeat.com/

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/wolverinesbb