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Showing posts with label jimmy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jimmy. Show all posts
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
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| Jimmy McHugh & Bobby Darin |
One summer night in 1959, at The Hollywood Bowl, Bobby Darin headlined a salute to the music of Jimmy McHugh. It was called I Feel a Song Coming On.
The 21-year old wunderkind had just exploded onto the national scene, winning Record of the Year for his breakthrough hit, Mack The Knife, at the first ever Grammy Awards Ceremony.
Bobby sang I Feel A Song Comin' On, On The Sunny Side Of The Street, Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer, I Won't Dance, I Can't Give You Anything But Love, I Couldn't Sleep A Wink Last Night and Let's Get Lost.
Conductor Buddy Bregman led the mammoth 105 piece orchestra, which included a 55 member string section!
Rounding out the salute to Jimmy’s music was Vic Damone and the gorgeous Italian actress and singer Anna Maria Alberghetti. Among the McHugh songs they performed was Can't Get Out Of This Mood, When You and I Were Young Maggie Blues and When My Sugar Walks Down The Street.
The show ended with Jimmy Bobby, Vic and Anna Marie singing A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening.
Indeed it was.
Click to hear:
Thursday, August 11, 2011
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
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
On The Radio
Recently, after playing John Pizzarelli's recording of I Just Found Out About Love, SiriusXM Radio’s redoubtable Jonathan Schwartz had some glowing words to say about Jimmy McHugh.
To paraphrase Jonathan: ‘There wouldn't be any worthwhile music in this country without Great American Songbook composers like Jimmy McHugh.’
Thursday, May 19, 2011
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/
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
SONG SPOTTING: Woody Allen - In Living Color - 'South American Way'
Although many of Director Woody Allen’s movies have been photographed in striking black & white, he chose to film his 1987 comedy, Radio Days, in rich color. Woody painted nostalgic picture of American family life during the Golden Age of Radio.
Allen narrates the film which features Mia Farrow, Diane Keaton, Diane Wiest, Julie Kavner and Josh Mostel.
Of course, we at Jimmy McHugh Music love the scene where Wiest’s character, alone in her bedroom, does the Samba while lip-syncing to Carmen Miranda's classic recording of South American Way (which just happens to be written by Senor Jimmy McHugh).
Allen received an Academy Award © nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
Critical Acclaim for Wesla Whitfield in Concert
From a New York Times review by Stephen Holden:
‘Ms. Whitfield combines ruthless insight, intense emotion and highly evolved jazz phrasing into a musical evening that goes beyond mere entertainment to flirt with profundity. Ms. Whitfield has always shown signs that she glimpsed more than she let on about the popular standards she chose.’
In the San Francisco Chronicle, David Wiegand says…
‘Wesla Whitfield is an indoor landmark. Every great city deserves a signature chanteuse, and San Francisco is fortunate to have Whitfield as its resident voice.’
Wesla Whitfield will be performing her new show, ‘Whistling Away The Dark’, accompanied by The Mike Greensill Trio. Wesla and the Trio will be appearing exclusively at The Rrazz Room - the premiere night club in San Francisco, located in the beautiful Nikko Hotel, from May 10 through 29. Not to be missed!
On May 31st Wesla begins a return engagement at The Metropolitan Room in New York City through June 12.
As Wesla sings on her CD Let’s Get Lost: The Music of Jimmy McHugh, this is A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening.
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| Mike Greensill and Wesla rehearsing in San Francisco - 2010 |
Link:
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
SONG SPOTTERS UNITE!
Couldn’t Sleep a Wink Last Night?
Why not put that insomnia to work for you?
If you spot a Jimmy McHugh Song in a classic film or TV show, we’d love you to tell us about it.
When you can’t sleep and you’re watching late night TV or surfing the web, be on the lookout for vintage McHugh tunes.
In appreciation, we’ll send you a terrific Jimmy McHugh Music CD Sampler along with our undying gratitude.
PS:
As Inspiration (and Consolation!), click on the link below for a clip of a very young Frank Sinatra crooning Jimmy’s I Couldn’t Sleep A Wink Last Night from debut film Higher and Higher. By the way-That’s Dooley Wilson (of ‘Casablanca’ fame) on the piano.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
SONG SPOTTING: When My Sugar Walks Down the Street
In his authoritative biography of Jimmy McHugh, author Alyn Shipton writes, “The extraordinary success of When My Sugar Walks Down The Street (1925) gave McHugh his first taste of what it felt like to write a truly popular hit. A melody that was hummed on every street corner.”
We just uncovered this rarely seen clip of Judy Garland performing the song in a scene that was shot for 1954’s A Star Is Born.
The song was intended to be part of Judy’s legendary ‘Born In A Trunk’ sequence.
It was cut out due to intense pressure from Warner Brothers Studios to make the film shorter (so exhibitors could squeeze in more showings each day).
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
DIANA KRALL: LIVE IN RIO
In case you missed it in 2009, we suggest you catch up with Diana Krall’s Live in Rio DVD.
Accompanied by her longtime band and a splendid Brazilian orchestra, Diana delivers a superb set of standards in true Bossa Nova fashion.
The concert is beautifully photographed and features an impeccable line up of songs. It is Diana Krall at her scintillating best.
She closes her show with Jimmy McHugh’s knock out Exactly Like You.
Want to see it? Click here and enjoy!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Speedy Haworth Plays Jimmy McHugh
We just unearthed some very rare footage of legendary guitarist Speedy Haworth performing ‘Maggie Blues’ on Ozark Jubilee, the first network television program to feature Country Music’s top stars.
Speedy Haworth is recognized as one of the finest country guitarists of the 40's and 50's.
The clip is from 1955 and introduced by Red Foley, who was, at that time, was the biggest name in country music.
(Trivia fans: Several years later, Red became Pat Boone’s father-in-law when the singer married daughter, Shirley!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozark_Jubilee
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Jazz Corner: Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Band @ Vibrato Grill
Clayton Hamilton Jazz Band knocked out the SRO audience at Herb Alpert's Vibrato Grill (Tues. Jan. 18) with their rousing "Dorsey-esque" arrangement of "Sunny Side of the Street" to a standing ovation!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Italian Superstar MINA Sings McHugh
Like Judy & Liza, she only needs one name
Pop Music Icon, Mina, has scored 77 hit albums and 71 Top Ten singles since exploding onto Italy’s music scene in 1960.
She became a household name thanks to her incredible three-octave vocal range and her image as an emancipated woman, who rebelled against traditional Italian conventions.
Famed Spanish filmmaker, Pedro Almodovar, has just announced he is set to direct a film on the singer’s life.
Throughout her career, Mina has combined her contemporary music style with standards like Jimmy’s classic, ‘I’m In The Mood For Love’.
Click here to see the video:
More on Mina:
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Dear Liza, We Couldn't Agree More!
‘Reality Is Something You Rise Above’ -Liza Minnelli, answering the Vanity Fair ‘Proust Questionnaire’ - Nov 2010
Liza Minnelli’s long awaited new album, Confessions features a real Jimmy McHugh rarity,
‘I Must Have That Man’ -Start to finish, this disc is a guaranteed treat for her fans.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Song Spotting: The Strip
THE STRIP: Mickey Rooney’s Mid-Century Musical Melodrama
We hope you’ll get a chance to catch Mickey Rooney in The Strip.
(MGM,1951). It features a very young Vic Damone performing the Jimmy McHugh gem, ‘Don’t Blame Me’.
This black & white potboiler features Mickey as a young drummer returning from service in the Korean War. While restarting his musical career he gets a gig in a Sunset Strip club, meets the love of his life and falls in with a very bad-news gambling syndicate.
The kicker is his supporting cast of musicians, which include Louis Armstrong, Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines and the illustrious jazz trombonist, Bix Beiderbecke.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Song Spotting
Be sure to catch Stormy Weather, a 1943 gem starring Lena Horne, who turns in bravura performances of Jimmy’s ‘I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby’ & ‘Diga Diga Doo’
And talk about a supporting cast: Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson & the tap dancing Nicholas Brothers.
A True DVR Delight!
See Lena & Bill Robinson perform ‘I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby’: youtube.com
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Rod Stewart at Caesars Palace
After a sold out performance at Caesars Palace the backstage celebrating kicked into high gear.
During his show Rod told the packed house ‘If it weren't for Great American Songbook Composers (Like JIMMY MCHUGH, whose classic 'On The Sunny Side Of The Street' is on Vol.5) there would be no Rock and Roll!’
During his show Rod told the packed house ‘If it weren't for Great American Songbook Composers (Like JIMMY MCHUGH, whose classic 'On The Sunny Side Of The Street' is on Vol.5) there would be no Rock and Roll!’
Pictured with Rod, left to right:
Vocalist Christena Rich; ‘Vol. 5’ producer Lauren Wild (with wife, Lindsay); Lee Newman, Managing Director, Jimmy McHugh Music
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Barry Manilow And Jersey Boys
Two MUST SEE SHOWS:
Barry Manilow At Paris Las Vegas and Jersey Boys at The Palazzo!
Barry’s latest album ‘The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time’ features Jimmy McHugh’s I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby.
Jersey Boys spotlights three McHugh gems, I’m In The Mood For Love; Moody’s Mood For Love & I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Steve Tyrell Live at the Cafe Carlyle
This is the first live album by Grammy-Award winning Steve Tyrell. It was recorded during his Annual Holiday Engagement at the Legendary Cafe Carlyle.
Steve took over the engagement from Bobby Short when he passed away after playing 36 straight Holiday Seasons.
The live recording is highlighted by Steve’s inimitable version of Jimmy McHugh’s classic ‘On The Sunny Side Of The Street’
Steve’s 6th annual holiday engagement at the Café Carlyle runs from November 9 through New Year’s Eve, 2010.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Catch Him If You Can
Congratulations to John Proulx who was featured as Michael Feinstein’s special guest this past week at The Music Center of St Cecilia, Nebraska.
John heads up to Toronto before coming to LA for a return engagement at the Vibrato Bar & Grill, October 31, Halloween!
On December 19, you can catch John at Feinstein’s At The Regency, when he will be performing a tribute to Nat King Cole. (including the McHugh classic ‘Too Young To Go Steady.’
PS: That night, John’s trio will include the legendary Bucky Pizzarelli!
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