“I want you to lend an ear,
Because I want you to hear
Some shimmering sharps and flats.
For these cozy virtuosi,
Just about the greatest of the trade,
Are fixing to show you now,
Precisely how
Jazz music is made.
Take some skins,
Jazz begins.
And you take a bass
Now we’re getting some place.
Take a box,
One that rocks.
Take a blue horn, New Orleans-born.
Take a stick
With a lick.
Take a bone,
Dixie-grown.
Take a spot,
Cool and hot,
Now you has jazz.”
In his recipe for jazz, Cole Porter left out two key aspects; an excellent vocalist and some great lyrics. The jazz music of Cole Porter’s time certainly wasn’t lacking either one.
Now, I don’t know if it’s right of me, but I consider “swing” and ”jazz” to be interchangeable. When I hear the terms, I think of the music of the Big Band era. Composers and lyricists like Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin and Johnny Mercer were the kings of crafting the beautiful lyrics that have become such a beloved part of American music. In terms of vocalists, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Sammy Davis Jr. and Judy Garland were some of the best.
I have come up with a list of three of the albums that I think are particularly beautiful and representative of the genre.
- Frank Sinatra’s Live at the Meadowlands- A live recording of a 1986 concert at the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey. The album features fifty minutes of Old Blue Eyes backed by a full orchestra. Out of the twenty-one tracks, some of the ones that stand out for me are: “Nice N’ Easy,” “Change Partners,” “It Was a Very Good Year,” “The Gal That Got Away,” “Moonlight in Vermont” and “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.” I love Frank Sinatra at any age, but there’s just something about his voice when he was older that is especially lovely to listen to.
- Judy Garland’s Judy at Carnegie Hall- A recording of Judy Garland’s famous 1961 concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The concert has become one of the more well-known concerts of all time because it was a major triumph for Garland. For two hours, she entertained the crowd with some of her greatest hits and other popular songs of the time. Highlights include “The Man That Got Away,” “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart,” “Stormy Weather,” “Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody” and of course, “Over the Rainbow.” The concert took place at one of the high points of Garland’s career and when listening to her vocals it is obvious why the concert was such a success. For a glimpse of the album, check out “Over the Rainbow” here:
- The Rat Pack: Members Edition (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.)- This also is a live recording. The album was recorded at one of the Rat Pack’s famous concerts in Las Vegas. It is enjoyable to listen to because the recording brings out the personalities of the performers, who genuinely sound like they are having a good time. (Maybe even too good a time.
) Some of the rare gems include “Me and My Shadow,” “Sam’s Song,” “Embraceable You” and “Volare/An Evening in Roma.”
Check out these albums and songs, and let me know if you come across any jazz classics I have missed.
