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

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!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-G3vJkJrgg

http://www.dianakrall.com/

Putting Her Stamp on Show Business

The US Postal Service has just released a Carmen Miranda 

postage stamp.

In 1940 the outrageous Ms Miranda, dubbed the Brazilian Bombshell exploded onto movie screens starring alongside  Don Ameche and Betty Grable in Down Argentine Way.

The film’s centerpiece is the South American Way production number, performed by Carmen and written by that famed Latin American composer, Jimmy McHugh. 

The Carmen Miranda stamp is one in a series of five commemorative issues saluting Latin American music. The other honorees are Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Carlos Gardel and Selena.

Here’s a clip of South American Way

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDwQN4UeF8E

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=13147071

Speedy Haworth Plays Jimmy McHugh

"When You and I Were Young Maggie Blues" was written in 1922 by Jimmy McHugh and Jack Frost.

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