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

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.

http://www.digitaldeliftp.com

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

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.

Mike Greensill and Wesla rehearsing in San Francisco - 2010

Link:

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Phenomenal-Woman-Wesla-Whitfield/1

http://youtu.be/-Mlh100DlA0

Keeping Jazz Alive

Bobby Short - Late Night at the Carlyle

“This is Bobby Short at his Best! It documents one of his legendary appearances at the Café Carlyle.

The recording is crystal clear- 'His voice and piano are exquisite' and you can really hear and feel the audience react to his performance.

Originally released in 1992 on Telarc Records, the label has wisely chosen to re-release the recording as a fitting tribute to this truly one-of-a-kind artist.

By the way, wait till you hear Bobby’s take on "I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby" He performs a rare, never before recorded, pre-pre-opening verse. Outstanding!

You can listen to this CD a hundred times and hear new aspects each time.”

Duke Ellington said ‘Jazz is a great barometer of freedom.’

Likewise, the Jazz community has always been compassionate to those in distress, as was demonstrated this month by the Jazz Relief for Japan event held Upstairs at Vitello’s in Studio City, California.

The 12-hour marathon fundraiser was the brainchild of Flip Manne, widow of drum legend Shelly Manne, who, at almost 90 years, continues to head up The Los Angeles Jazz Society.

Judy McHugh, grand-daughter of Jimmy McHugh says, “Flip Mann is an amazing woman, a little dynamo and just as stunning as ever. Flip is dedicated to keeping jazz alive. That’s what it’s about. ‘Keeping jazz alive in LA’- it’s what we do!”

Attending the day-long benefit along with Judy was jazz pianist & vocalist John Proulx.


Los Angeles Jazz Society www.lajazz.org

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.

http://www.movieweb.com/dvd/DVjOsmolL14fml/i-couldnt-sleep-a-wink-last-night

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).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Star_Is_Born_%281954_film%29