JEAN-MICHEL PILC CONJURES OSCAR PETERSON PLAYING THE JIMMY MCHUGH SONGBOOK

Self-taught pianist Jean-Michel Pilc has built his jazz reputation by playing with the likes of Roy Haynes and Michael Brecker.

Pilc’s technique evokes Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson but demonstrates imagination that is entirely his own.

Jean-Michel’s standing as one of his generation’s best is solidified with his newest release, Essential.

                                     

The album is highlighted by his very original take on Jimmy’s Too Young to Go Steady, on which the pianist sticks close to McHugh’s melody, while playing up the minor harmonics.

Oscar Peterson Plays The Jimmy McHugh Songbook (originally released in 1959) has recently been re-released on Solar Records.


In addition to guest artists Stan Getz and Lester Young, The Oscar Peterson Trio which included jazz mainstays Ray Brown, Ed Thigpen and alternately, Barney Kessell or Herb Ellis, are all present and accounted for on this newly issued 22 track gem. 

Click below to hear the music. 

http://www.rhapsody.com/share/Alb.46128228

Tony Bennett: Forever On The Sunny Side Of The Street

At age 85, Tony Bennett is now the most senior artist ever to top Billboard’s Pop album chart.

His new release, Duets II, debuted in the #1 slot it’s first week in release. As hard to believe as it is, it’s Tony’s first Number One album! 

Duets II teams Tony with the late Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, Aretha Franklin and Willie Nelson along with several other top tier artists.

It goes without saying (but we will anyway) that On The Sunny Side Of The Street as performed by Messrs Bennett and Nelson is one for the books, but then again, so is the entire album. 

Here’s a link to Willie’s earlier solo recording of On The Sunny Side Of The Street. 

http://youtu.be/OcQJ4T9HNfU

What Happened in Jersey Didn’t Stay in Jersey

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

Here’s a story about Jimmy McHugh’s I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby that not only tickles our fancy, but was a major turning point for Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons. 

The legendary producer/writer, Bob Crewe, had been recording the group in vain, searching for a hit record. Hoping for inspiration, he would often catch The Seasons perform at a small, out of the way club in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. 

Finally late one night, Crewe glimpsed a side of Frankie Valli he'd never seen before. 

"Frankie did a thing that night that blew me away.” says Bob. ‘He put a bandana over his head, took two maracas and stuck them under his coat (for breasts), and began singing 'I Can't Give You Anything But Love' like (1940s cabaret singer) Nellie Lutcher, with that high voice." 

Frankie Valli & Bob Crewe

From this silly one-off improvised routine Bob suddenly recognized a sound that just might score the group a hit record. 

Crewe continues "I said to (group member and composer) Bob (Gaudio), 'Go write a song for Frankie with that chichi voice, and jump it an octave.'" 

After several false starts, Gaudio came up with an infectious number called Sherry, the first of the band’s 28 Top 20 hits.  

Not only did this unmatched string of hits eventually morph into the international smash musical, Jersey Boys, it also enabled Frankie to not pursue his fallback career choice, becoming a barber!

PS: Jersey Boys features three Jimmy McHugh songs, I’m In The Mood For Love, Moody’s Mood For Love and, of course, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby.

Here’s a link to Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons performing that tune.

I’m In The Mood For SKA?

Ever hear of Lord Tatamo and The Skatalites?

…Or The Administrators

How about I. Roy & The Heptones? 

All three are popular Jamaican Ska bands that recorded fresh and totally original versions of Jimmy McHugh’s I’m In The Mood For Love.

Ska music originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s mixing Caribbean Calypso sounds with American Jazz and Rhythm & Blues, paving the way for Bob Marley’s brand of Reggae. 

While all three groups are Ska through and through, each gives this McHugh gem their own unique twist. 

I’m In The Mood For Love, as performed by the mighty Lord Tatamo and The Skatalites, sticks closest to the traditional Ska sound. 

The Administrators offer an inadvertent tribute to The HiLos, a 1950s acappela jazz quartet that took their name from their extreme vocal range.

Last, but definitely not least, the I.Roy & The Heptones’  treatment conjures the spirit of Louis Prima & Keely Smith.

All three interpretations are absolutely amazing.

Links to the three tracks are below. All are definitely worth a listen.

Lord Tatamo and The Skatalites

The Administrators

I Roy & The Heptones

What happens when Hot Jazz meets Western Swing?

The Austin-based Hot Club of Cowtown have to be the most globe-trotting, hardest-swinging Western Swing trio on the planet. They have played stadiums opening for such artists as Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson and bring their brand of western swing to a wide range of festival audiences all over the world.

Jimmy McHugh’s Diga Diga Doo is just about the most perfect example of 1920’s Hot Jazz.

On tour Hot Club of Cowtown give a show-stopping performance of the tune.

We’ve unearthed a clip of HCC absolutely knocking Diga Diga Doo ‘out of the park’ on BBC Television's Later with Jools Holland, Wonderfully eclectic music program.

We hope you’ll take a minute to click the link below to hear Jimmy’s iconic hot jazz classic and discover Hot Club of Cowtown.

http://hotclubofcowtown.com/

A Moment of Reflection: 9/11 and The Twin Towers

A couple of days ago we saw something on television that we at Jimmy McHugh Music would like to share with you.

MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell featured a three-minute montage of the many cameo appearances made by the Twin Towers in films directed by such world-class filmmakers as Mike Nichols, Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen and Sidney Lumet to name but a few.

The short was created by New York filmmaker, Dan Meth, as a unique and fitting tribute to the memory of the thousands of people lost that day.

We hope you’ll take three minutes to view this moving and sadly beautiful tribute.

Twin Tower Cameos from Dan Meth on Vimeo.

thelastword.msnbc.com

R-E-S-P-E-C-T-I-N-G the Past

Before Aretha Franklin signed with Atlantic Records and gained worldwide ‘Respect’ for being a ‘Natural Woman’, she recorded a string of albums for Columbia Records.

Aretha was just 19 when the legendary auteur John Hammond (who ‘discovered’ Billie Holliday and Bob Dylan) began grooming her for stardom.

Many of the period’s best producers, arrangers and conductors came on board to work with Aretha, including Robert Mersey (Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams) and Richard Wess (Bobby Darin).

With a voice that was matured way beyond her years, Hammond decided that the future Queen of Soul record material tailored for an adult audience, so naturally they turned to the Great American Songbook.

It goes without saying (but we’ll say it anyway) that at the top of the Aretha’s song list was Jimmy McHugh’s Where Are You.

Click the link below to enjoy the results:

http://theseconddisc.com/2011/04/04/review-aretha-franklin-take-a-look-aretha-franklin-complete-on-columbia/