...now that's jazz ....

[Ian Thumwood]

SA

Well, she is rather nice. However I think it is extremely rare for a pop tune to be performed at such a slow tempo. Nice harmonies and haunting melody too.

Ian

[johncorrigan]

I know it's how you're feeling when you hear it, but Coleman Hawkins Quartet playing 'Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho' from Hawkins! Alive! At the Village Gate played on Jazz Record Requests yesterday afternoon was as fine a bit of jazz as I've heard in many a long day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbv5JN14w30

Sorry Jazzers - just realised I probably put this post in the wrong place.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

not at all johncorrigan, now that is jazz .....

[cloughie]

Calum

Wondered if you played the Robbie Williams' track for it's full duration? The reason I ask is because I would have made the same conclusion as yourself up until the point that I pressed "play." The track is not jazz and it is clear that William's has taken his cue from Sinatra but . other than a brief wobble, his sense of timing and phrasing it not at all bad. I believe that he actually cut his teeth performing this kind of material on the road with his afther when he was a teenager. Whilst I grant you that he is no Sinatra, do you really think this perormance is so bad? It is infinately better than Rod Stweart's feeble attempt in this oeuvre.

What interests me is that most people on this board will either look at these selections from a point of view of being "good jazz", an attempt by a seasoned and respected jazz musician to make something commercial or in relation to their tastes in popular music. This is fascinating as you will get no consensus as soon as you deviate too far from jazz where the perceptions will be pretty uniform. Take the George Shearing tracks. I don't like the easy listening element in these performances and they are too far away from the kind of work of his that I do appreciate for me to find much within them. I don't feel these Shearing perfomances are much worse than the Williams' track you selected albeit I wouldn't say the same about his bebop and later work especially with Grappelli.

What is apparent is how the different generations view this music. I would be of the same opinion as you with the "serious" jazz selections, but I don't feel the same about the "schmaltzy" stuff - i can't stand it to be honest. Not only does it seem corny but it is also hopelessly old-fashioned. I would struggle to differentiate between schmalt and bad stuff. On the other hand, I would suggest that the more modern recordings will be viewed by the older members here as being nowhere as good as the originals.

What is fascinating is that very few modern musicians seem to get involved in "schmaltz." The onyl stuff in my collection anywhere near this is a record I have by Diana Krall where the orchestra behind her plays John Clayton charts amongst others.

Here is my selection:-

1. Good

2. Schmaltz / commercial:-

3. Bad (Parental guidance.) ~ Believe me, this is bad but not in the Michael Jackson sense of the word!

Kurt Elling seems to be toted as a good jazz singer, my only criticism of him despite good timing he is not always on the note. Robbie's tuning is usually v good!

[Quarky]

Kurt Elling seems to be toted as a good jazz singer, my only criticism of him despite good timing he is not always on the note. Robbie's tuning is usually v good!

We seem to be in that conundrum of division between good Jazz singers and good Singers that also sing Jazz. Only great singers like Ela can bridge both divisions.

Kurt Elling is an excellent Jazz singer, but sometimes a somewhat rasping quality to voice -but then he is usually in the company of musicians doing strange things with their instruments.

Now if you want a really good singer that sings Jazz, I agree with Jez Nelson et al in recommending Gregory Porter - a possible superstar - see end of Jazz on 3 last night: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode..._Jazz_in_2011/

Query about Greg's physical appearance - is he somewhat sensitive about his very hairy skin? I'm quite the opposite - but whether this might be an obstacle to work in the pop scene?

[johncorrigan]

re Gregory Porter I posted this on the World Music board after seeing him on Hootenanny - I thought it was a pretty stunning performance but a pretty strange hat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVWH-cOJBpI

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

all so baad they make life bearable ...