Mark Blackburn

Speaking as a guitarist . . .

CLARE TEAL – Try a Little Tenderness Just got an email that “You have a comment” here. From “A Fan”: "Hi Mark -- Have thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts and watching your curated videos -- such variety and excellent commentary -- it's like a PhD course! I found you from a Google search for a singer heard on Siriusly Sinatra: Try a Little Tenderness by a woman (I think a one syllable first name and surname). Was driving so didn't write it down -- foolish to trust memory. Maybe you can help?? -- THANKS!" ---- Thank you -- happy to help: I'm pretty sure you were hearing Clare Teal. Siriusly Sinatra's programmer extraordinaire 'Jersey Lou' Simon introduced us to this fine English singer about a year ago; I've celebrated her greatness here (several pages ago?). Is her lovely version of 'Try a Little Tenderness' (2011) at YouTube? Yes! Isn't Clare Teal a joy to hear? She now has a Wiki entry (below). Thanks again for triggering tender thoughts of her this day. Wikipedia Clare Teal (born 14 May 1973) is an English singer and broadcaster who has become famous not only for her singing, but also for having signed the biggest recording contract by a British jazz singer.[1][2][3] Teal's break came when she was asked to stand in for Stacey Kent at a weekend festival ….This led (after some determined self-promotion, in which she drew upon her advertising skills) to a three-album contract with the jazz label Candid Records. Her popularity soared, with appearances on radio and television bringing her to the attention of a wider public, and in 2004 she released her first album for Sony Jazz in what was the biggest recording deal by any British jazz singer.[2][3] Don't Talk topped the jazz charts and entered the UK Top 20 UK Albums Chart.[3][5] While the majority of her recordings are cover versions of standards, her albums feature original songs and contemporary cover versions, notably a cover of "California Dreaming" by The Mamas & the Papas. Teal has toured throughout the UK and the world, with her pianist, trio, mini big band, or Hollywood Orchestra. She has worked with the Hallé Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and the John Wilson Orchestra as well as other top big bands. In August 2017, she produced and presented her third concert for The Proms. Swing No End [6] featured two big bands and many special guests. It was broadcast on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, and televised on BBC Four. Teal collaborated with Van Morrison on the single "Carrying a Torch" from his album Duets: Reworking the Catalogue. She was the opening act for Liza Minnelli at Kenwood House and the Royal Festival Hall. She performed at the Glastonbury Festival and the Marlborough Jazz Festival.

CALABRIA FOTI – Do It Again As if saying “Hi, how are you?” to me personally, Siriusly Sinatra's programmer 'Jersey Lou' Simon has been giving regular airplay lately to “my favorite living singer” – Calabria Foti. At this moment, it's an early George Gershwin tune – the sexiest song he ever wrote, with lyric by Buddy DeSilva. The two were in the same office one day and Buddy walked in and said, "Hey George, let's write a hit!" They practically completed the song on the spot. (Wiki note below) From Calabria's 'Lovely Way to Spend an Evening' (2007) maybe my favorite of her albums. Though I love them all to bits. If you get that CD and don't love it, let me purchase your copy, please. There are six songs with that title -- DO IT AGAIN. Include the words "Gershwin song" and the Wikipedia entry says this one by Gershwin & DeSilva was dropped into a Broadway musical in 1922: "Gershwin recounted the origin of the song in 1934: Gershwin began playing the song, described as "innocently sensual",[citation needed] at parties. Upon hearing the song, Irène Bordoni insisted that she perform the song in her show.[2] "Do It Again" first appeared in the Broadway play The French Doll, which premiered on February 20, 1922 at the Lyceum and ran for a total of 120 performances.

SINATRA -- Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry Has it really been 17 years since I reviewed this CD at Amazon? Titled "Crying on the Inside" [5-stars April 28, 2005:] "I like to make friends laugh, but like the proverbial clown who is 'crying on the inside' (and as the singer is depicted here on the original album cover) -- I feel most in tune with life's poignant moments . . . the ones cynics like me usually dismiss as 'wallowing in self-pity.' I've identified with Johnny Mercer's protagonist in "One For My Baby" since I first saw Frank Sinatra perform it on black and white TV, 45 years ago. But it's the Sammy Cahn classics on this album -- especially the title track --- that resonate, most deeply in my heart. I close my eyes and listen in amazement to what many consider the single most beautiful ballad-recording Frank Sinatra and arranger Nelson Riddle ever created together --- Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne's "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry." I listen and see in my mind's eye the girl who broke my heart, in that 'very good year, when I was 21.' Shortly after my youngest son (now teaching English in Japan and in love again) had his heart broken for the first time, he "discovered" his favorite Sinatra recording, among his dad's CDs -- "Only the Lonely." Like his father, he prefers up-tempo Sinatra -- and singles out "I Thought About You" as his favorite 'swing' tune (mine too). But "Only the Lonely" he considers the "best song about lost love." (We agree on so few things!) The same version of this song, on the 3-CD "Capitol Years" box set, opens with an additional 25 seconds of Sinatra giving expert instruction to Felix Slatkin -- who actually conducted the Riddle orchestra, that night of May 29, 1958. The heartfelt liner notes, penned by Pete Welding, seem to speak to me personally. And the frustrated song writer within me, identifies with composer and lyricist as the two collaborators recalled, "attempting to write (this) song of loneliness for Frank Sinatra -- the challenge of matching words with notes." "The melody came first," said Jimmy Van Heusen. "The lyric came very hard; session after session without the glimmer of a line. Sammy is as facile a man with words as there is in our business and I wanted to change the melody here and there to be helpful. He wouldn't permit me to change a note." Said Sammy Cahn: "(It's) one of the best melodies Jimmy ever composed (and) I'm delighted now the melody is exactly as I first heard it." Sinatra once singled out this album as his personal favorite, among those he recorded for Capitol. It is mine. Perhaps it'll be yours too?

DORIS DAY / ANDRE PREVIN – Wait Till You See Him “Wait till you feel the warmth of his glance – pensive, and sweet, and wise I'll never be willing to free him – when you see him .... You won't believe your eyes.” I'd just been thinking about Andre Previn – that he was so much more than just a jazz pianist: As I like to say Previn was a “spontaneous arranger” whose chord sequences were positively 'orchestral.' Ella Fitzgerald, whose distinguished accompanists included Oscar Peterson (and guitar great Joe Pass), felt that Andre Previn was her greatest solo accompanist. I'd been thinking in particular of my favorite such 'alone together' recording by Andre and Doris Day. They died of old age a couple of months apart – Andre at home in NYC, February 28, 2019 age 89, and Doris – May 13, 2019, age 97 at home in Carmel Valley California. Both declared their one album together “Duet” their favorite such recording. So. What's playing right this minute on Siriusly Sinatra satellite radio? What a coincidence! Best-ever version (says me) of Wait Till You See Him – an early tender ballad with words by Larry Hart set to a perfect tune from my favorite composer, Dick Rodgers. Thanks, 'Jersey Lou' Simon (ch 71 programmer) for reading my mind – yet again! Most viewed version at YouTube this day, with "comments left on."

JOHN PIZZARELLI -- Here's That Rainy Day Had to leave my favorite jazz guitarist/singer a note for his most recently live-streamed "5 o'clock Somewhere" 'Tips Jar' show: [At around the 1952 mark] JOHN: [That was] “A little drip-drip-drip medley ….” JESSICA: “ …. and we got a little Kenny Rankin in there!” As James Taylor said, of his co-Grammy winner for James' “American Standard” (2021): “John is a one-in-a-million musician” – his musical knowledge is that comprehensive. For guitarists of an age (I'm 75) we're treated most every week to yet another favorite “surprise” only Mr. Pizzarelli could deliver. Case in point. John's “Here's That Rainy Day” [mostly] the way the late great Kenny Rankin arranged it – my all-time favorite version; yet with those special touches only John could have added. Coincidentally I'd been wondering what John would do with that Burke / VanHeusen song (their best) from 70 years ago. At around the 1952 mark (how's that for coincidence!) beginning with “April Showers.” Stay tuned another minute for a spontaneous addition: John Lennon's “Rain” – a perfect 'coda' for the medley. https://www.facebook.com/JohnPizzarelliOfficial

DOYLE DYKES – Deep River Google for “Deep River (the song)” and there's a photo of the original sheet music for “Old Negro Spiritual arranged by H.T. Burleigh.” A Gospel song that dates back (almost) to Civil War days, according to its Wiki entry which quotes a snippet of lyric: “Deep river, my home is over Jordan. / Deep river, Lord, I want to cross over [to] that Promised Land, where all is peace . . . ” Leave it to my finger-style guitar hero Doyle Dykes to revive this great old song [shared with fans on Facebook: his solo version on a 'White Falcon' electric guitar – a gift to Doyle from Gretsch]. Deep River's Wikipedia entry was recently expanded after it was “played at Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's memorial service” (two years ago). "Deep River" is an anonymous African-American spiritual, popularized by Henry Burleigh in his 1916 collection Jubilee Songs of the USA. The melody was adopted in 1921 for the song Dear Old Southland by Henry Creamer and Turner Layton, which enjoyed popular success the next year in versions by Paul Whiteman and by Vernon Dalhart.[3] "Deep River" has been sung in several films. The 1929 film Show Boat featured it mouthed by Laura La Plante to the singing of Eva Olivetti.[4] Paul Robeson famously sang it accompanied by male chorus in the 1940 movie The Proud Valley.[5] And in the 1983 blockbuster hit National Lampoon's Vacation it was sung by Chevy Chase.[6] "Deep River" is also one of five spirituals written into the 1941 oratorio A Child of Our Time by Michael Tippett. An operatic adaption of the spiritual was sung at the memorial service for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she was taken to lie in state on September 25, 2020. ---- The Wiki list of artists who have recorded Deep River includes Barbra Streisand (who turns 80 this month). From her “27th studio album, 'Higher Ground' – recorded November 11, 1997.”

JOHNNY HARTMAN / JOHN COLTRANE – My One and Only Love A Facebook friend just shared a favorite Johnny Hartman song – from the summer of '63. Track 3 on an album Johnny recorded with tenor sax giant John Coltrane – the only album of ballads Coltrane would record with any singer before he died young – age 40 – the summer of 1967. It's fair to say that Clint Eastwood introduced millions of us to Mr. Hartman's mellow baritone by including Johnny's tender ballads on more than one of his movie soundtracks – most notably “Bridges of Madison County” where this song was included. First version at YouTube this day (most viewed, and with a review by my namesake “1 year ago”): Quite the finest melody penned by English composer Guy Wood. [Wikipedia notes:] Guy B. Wood (24 July 1911 – 23 February 2001) was a musician and songwriter born in Manchester, England. Wood started his career in music playing saxophone in dance bands in England. He moved to the United States in the 1930s, where he worked for Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures as well as serving as bandleader at the Arcadia Ballroom in New York. His songs include "Till Then", "My One and Only Love", "Shoo-Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy". His song "Till Then" reached the pop charts three times (in 1944, 1954, and 1963). Wood also wrote songs for Captain Kangaroo and the Radio City Music Hall. Wood died on 23 February 2001.[2][3][4] ---- My One And Only Love's Wiki entry reminds us that the song's melody was first recorded with different words from another lyricist – and it wasn't a hit. "My One and Only Love" is a popular song with music written by Guy Wood and lyrics by Robert Mellin. Published in 1953, it is a conventional 32-bar song with four 8-bar sections, including a bridge ("Type A" or "AABA" song structure). Typically performed as a ballad, it has an aria-like melody that is a challenge to many vocalists; in the key of C, the song's melody extends from G below middle C to the second D above middle C. The song originated in 1947 as “Music from Beyond the Moon” with music by Guy B. Wood and lyrics by Jack Lawrence. Vocalist Vic Damone recorded this version in 1948, but it was unsuccessful. In 1952, Robert Mellin wrote a new title and lyrics for the song, and it was republished the next year as “My One and Only Love”. When Frank Sinatra recorded it in 1953 with Nelson Riddle, first released as B-side to his hit single "I've Got the World on a String" (Capitol 2505), it became known. Then popular saxophonist Charlie Ventura saw the song's "jazz potential" and recorded the first instrumental version in the very same year.[1]

RICHARD SMITH -- Bye Bye Blackbird English-born, Nashville-based finger-style guitar virtuoso Richard Smith with a 'retire-the-trophy' rendition of Bye, Bye Blackburn ... er, Blackbird. Left Richard a note at his Facebook page: Love your allusion at the close, a little coda quoting the notes for the words: “Blackbird singing in the dead of night.” Which is to say Sir Paul would love this rendition. As would Chet Atkins himself, who first thought of that Blackbird 'quote.' I love knowing that a nine-year-old Richard Smith got to play a song or two with him when Chet visited England. My own musical father -- who had to endure a lot of “Bye Bye Blackburn” [correct] when he was about that same age in the 1920s – Dad would have loved this too. The trick for virtuoso artists is to keep playing variations – where each one is better than the last. Mission accomplished, especially beginning with the perfect key change, at around the 2:20 mark. Thanks, Richard Smith for the retire-the-trophy reading of this great old song.

NANCY WILSON – All Night Long Nancy Wilson is featured every day on Siriusly Sinatra satellite radio: most recently today with England's greatest gift to piano jazz George Shearing – from an album they recorded 61 years ago. The song is ALL NIGHT LONG. One of three songs with that title, but this one was the first: composed (words & tune) by Curtis Lewis – who has a recent Wikipedia entry that cites “no sources” but lists the great women singers who recorded his “one great song” [below]. A memorable tune – a 'girl song' about the man who haunts her dreams. Never knew the softness of his tender kiss Don't know if he's weak or strong All I know is he's every dream I dream Never heard him say a single word of love Don't know his fate or his soul 'Cause he only speaks to me in dreams I've dreamed When I sleep he tells me he's in love with me And how much he needs me to be near But at best my dream is just a fantasy If I touch his hand he'll disappear, no no no I don't want a love that's just a memory Fate, how could you be so warm? Now, I've got to find the man who's haunting me Curtis Reginald Lewis (August 29, 1918 – May 23, 1969), American composer of popular songs, many of which have become jazz standards. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas, grew up in Chicago, and came to New York City in the 1940s. Lewis subsequently became one of the first black composers and lyricists to own a music publishing company on Broadway in the early 1950s. He died in Kew Gardens, New York. Having served in the United States Army during World War II (from August 22, 1942, discharged as a Staff Sergeant December 2, 1945), his body was interred at the Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, NY. [Just the one “selected song”] "All Night Long" [noted recordings] Shirley Horn; Album: All Night Long (1981) Billie Holiday George Shearing Quintet with Nancy Wilson; Album: The Swingin's Mutual! Aretha Franklin; Album: Sweet Bitter Love Diana Krall; Album: Only Trust Your Heart (1995)

SINATRA -- My Heart Stood Still My "Desert Island CD" I called it (The Concert Sinatra) -- true then, (01/13/2005), still true today -- that it can "give goosebumps." [I wrote at Amazon:] "With an extra decade of immersing myself in Frank Sinatra's greatness, I'd have to say that only a "religious experience" -- and a glimpse of Eternity-- could surpass what I feel in my heart, the sheer exhilarating joy I experience, when I listen for example, to "My Heart Stood Still" (my favorite of these). There is the high plateau where the singer and his great collaborator Nelson Riddle have their true, "shining hour." At that defining moment in 1963, the arranger conducts his finest orchestrations, with the largest symphony orchestra ever assembled in Hollywood---as the singer on a mountain peak of vocal greatness, performs his favorite songs by his (and my) favorite composer. These days [pre Siriusly Sinatra] the experience is rationed to perhaps once a month, and then just a cut or two at a time, so as to preserve the experience: I want to `spread it out' over the rest of my life, if I can!" [73 musicians says the small print on the cover of this CD version -- remixed under the supervision of Frank Jr.] Okay -- the best 'live' performance was just sent my way by the intuitive genius at YouTube. As if to say just that: 'Best concert performance' -- this one, right? Exactly so.

SONDHEIM – deconstructs All The Things You Are A four-minute 'hidden treasure' (posted to YouTube six years ago when I wasn't looking) features one of my life-long musical heroes -- English-born jazz piano giant Marian McPartland. Her NPR radio 'Piano Jazz' series (released on CDs) included favorite shows with Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans. But I'd never heard Marian's incredible approach to my family's favorite 'show tune' – ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE. Starting around the 1:15 mark. [Deepest thanks to an English Facebook friend "Nick" for sharing this.] Marian McPartland, who left us at age 95, nine summers ago, has a huge Wikipedia entry. With a more recently expanded note about her “legacy” (below). Wikipedia note on Marian's "legacy" DownBeat honored McPartland with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994.[46] McPartland was awarded a Grammy in 2004, a Trustees' Lifetime Achievement Award, for her work as an educator, writer, and host of NPR Radio's long-running Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz. Although a master at adapting to her guest's musical styles and having a well-known affinity for beautiful and harmonically-rich ballads, she also recorded many tunes of her own. Her compositions included "Ambiance", "There'll Be Other Times", "With You in Mind", "Twilight World", and "In the Days of Our Love". Just before her 90th birthday, McPartland composed and performed a symphonic piece, A Portrait of Rachel Carson, to mark the centennial of the environmental pioneer.[47] McPartland was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours, "For services to jazz and to aspiring young musicians in the USA".[48] McPartland's encyclopaedic knowledge of jazz standards, highly musical ear, involvement in over 60 years of evolving jazz styles, and rich experience blending with radio guests[49] led to a musical style that was described as "flexible and complex, and almost impossible to pigeonhole."[50] She was known as a harmonically and rhythmically complex and inventive improviser. "She was never content to be in one place, and always kept improving. She has great ears and great harmonics. Because of her ear, she can go into two or three different keys in a tune and shift with no problem."[51] McPartland was also a synesthete, associating different musical keys with colours, stating that "The key of D is daffodil yellow, B major is maroon, and B flat is blue."[52] McPartland died on 20 August 2013 of natural causes in her home in Port Washington, New York. She was 95 years old.[53][54]

JACK JONES – and his “Seriously Sinatra” album We've seen and heard the words “Siriusly Sinatra” for so many years now -- it's a little jarring to see the 'original' spelling: As on the cover for Jack Jones' then-current (2015) Sinatra tribute album – “arranged and conducted by (the great) Patrick Williams” (who left us at age 79 three years later the summer of 2018). Their album to mark the occasion of Sinatra's 100th birthday in 2017. Just as an aside: the English interviewer has an endearingly 'fuzzy' style of asking questions – an almost inarticulate, slightly emotional, jumble of words that convey open-ended questions: It worked – eliciting from one of my life-long musical heroes, a couple or three anecdotes I'd not heard before. Like the moment when a teenaged Jack Jones was stopped in the hallway of their high school by his friend Nancy Sinatra, who said: “Jonesy! – are you coming to the assembly (right now)? “Why? What's happening?” Said Nancy: “My father will be singing for us!” I'd forgotten that it was Jack Jones who charted the original hit version of Cahn & Van Heusen's “Call Me Irresponsible.” (“Best Original Song” Oscar-winner in 1963.) Jack Jones recalls that the songwriting team wanted him to have the chart record, not Sinatra -- because he (Jones) would give it more of the 'innocence' they had in mind. Whereas, Sinatra's album version reflected an older, more cynical character, played in the movie 'Papa's Delicate Condition' by Jackie Gleason. Thanks, to an English Facebook friend Nick L for sharing this 14 minute feature. WIKIPEDIA informs that Patrick Williams had 16 Grammy nominations and one Academy Award nomination for his compositions and arrangements. There's now a quote (that wasn't there before) from a compatriot, originally from Hamilton Canada: “Respected music critic Gene Lees was quoted as saying: "His An American Concerto is, in my opinion, the best mixture of jazz and classical that anybody has ever done. Pat's writing is breathtaking. He's just one of the finest arrangers and composers who ever put pen to paper."

LENA HORNE -- I've Grown Accustomed to His Face Thanks to a compatriot Max Weissengruber for sharing this one. Lena with the Robert Farnon orchestra. Alas "comments turned off." [Just responded:] Thank you Max for the informed note. The Canadian-born Farnon arranged Sinatra's only 'offshore' studio recording GREAT SONGS FROM GREAT BRITAIN (1962) and Tony Bennett's classic "Snowfall" -- first of Tony's Christmas albums. When he appeared in Toronto, Tony began urging Canadians to "erect a statue to Robert Farnon" -- the most influential of all arrangers, according to all the other great ones. I'd forgotten he'd orchestrated this gem for Lena -- but I'd spot his 'touch' within seconds of those opening notes.

THE CAROUSEL WALTZ -- Richard Rodgers' masterpiece Rodgers & Hammerstein's personal favorite of their shows was Carousel which opened just after WWII ended in 1945. My Mom and Dad went to New York City for “the honeymoon they never had” before Dad shipped off to war. I remember the joy in their eyes when they recalled to me, decades later that they saw Duke Ellington's orchestra at the Club Zanzibar. The other highlight – seeing Carousel – which starred a young John Raitt (Bonnie's Dad). I've often thought the 'Overture' for Carousel is the greatest piece of music my favorite composer Richard Rodgers ever wrote; which is saying something. As I said in my letter to Mr. Sinatra (December 1992) “Rodgers wrote more strong melodies” (over 50) than any of his Great Songbook peers – “melodies I could hum or whistle half a lifetime after hearing them for the first time.” Just as an aside: when I was in my teens, my family purchased the black vinyl LP of Carousel the movie – and I just couldn't get enough of this amazing 'not-really-an-overture' (because it didn't quote from any of Carousel's wonderful songs). A decade ago I obtained a CD version – that was missing the first 30 seconds of the opening movement – music that depicts the eerie feeling of a deserted fairground at night – evoking faintly discordant notes on a ghostly carousel organ. (That's how I'd describe it.) Best 'live' version at YouTube? This one -- with those opening notes that gave me goosebumps (still do!). A concert performance by London symphony musicians. If you can spare seven minutes – please enjoy my single “most favorite work of art.” p.s. Thanks to Masses Esclaves for posting and to "Kaneohe" (below) for noting the name of the man who orchestrated and selected all the 'voicings' for this: "And credit must be given to Robert Russell Bennet, Rodgers' go-to arranger, whose beautifully complex orchestrations were the icing on the cake!" P.S. I've often thought that Richard Rodgers wrote 16 of the 20 greatest waltzes of the last century. It's easier to list the great ones he DIDN'T write: Leroy Anderson's Belle of the Ball, pre-eminent on a list that also includes Frank (Guys & Dolls) Loesser's Wonderful Copenhagen from the Hans Christian Anderson movie starring Danny Kaye. And as I said in my own note (above) this night, this was his greatest musical achievement.

TONY BENNETT – I Do Not Know A Day I Did Not Love You Just spotted a comment at Tony Bennett's Facebook page – from a lady who wondered: “Do you have one favorite song?” Immediately I thought of something a NYC radio host shared about “Tony's favorite of his own recordings” – I Do Not Know A Day I Did Not Love You. (The slightly awkward syntax of that hard-to-remember title, may have contributed to its relative obscurity.) From my favorite composer Richard Rodgers – who wrote the melody to words by a lesser-known lyricist, Martin Charnin, for a long-forgotten Broadway show. An oft-quoted musicologist (the son of “Dancing in the Dark” composer Arthur Schwartz) recalled on an early Sirius/XM program that, “Whenever I'd see Tony I'd ask him the same question: 'Is that one still your favorite (among all of your recordings)?' His answer was always 'Yes!'.” Arranged by Torrie Zito and released on Tony's black vinyl LP “Love Story” album 51 years ago. Most recent upload to YouTube (2021) with “comments left on” – Thank you, “BlondieJohnson.” Deepest thanks for this personal anecdote from DON STITT: "I mentioned to lyricist Martin Charnin that this was Tony's favorite recording of his own singing, something of which Martin had been unaware." Regarding Charnin . . . My favorite of his songs -- MAYBE -- a 'girl song' yet my favorite rendition is by Harry Connick Jr.

TOMMY EMMANUEL -- Happy Hours The shading! Nobody does it better! It's not that other great guitarists couldn't replicate those notes; there is simply no one else who can play those sudden shifts, from loud to soft -- and do it at such high speed. And, as we all like to say: "make it look easy!" I like to think I pestered Mr. Emmanuel (for a couple of years) into including the "world's coldest major city" (any Canadian can tell you where that is) on his 300 dates-per-year tour, several years ago. We got tickets to the meet-and-greet before the show -- my guitarist grandson and I -- and requested "The Tall Fiddler." For the "shading at high speed." With a flat pick. Included below, from a decade ago. THE TALL FIDDLER (flat pick solo)

JESSICA MOLASKEY & JOHN PIZZARELLI -- Traffic Jam My favorite funny song by James Taylor -- who always maintained that “Funny songs are the hardest to write” -- is "Traffic Jam." ("Now when I die, don't want no coffin – thought about it far too often -- just strap me in behind the wheel, and bury me in my auto-mobile”). Performed on their most recent 'live' streamed “5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE” Tips Jar show by my favorite musical couple Jessica Molaskey and John Pizzarelli. Left them a note of appreciation for their “Traffic Jam medley” – recalling James Taylor's observation that John is a “one in a million” musician. They are co- Grammy winners for their “two guitar arrangements” on Taylor's AMERICAN STANDARD (2020). A link, hope it works. https://www.facebook.com/JohnPizzarelliOfficial

JAMES TAYLOR -- That Lonesome Road On his Facebook page today (3/8/2022) James Taylor asked us fans for "your favorite" track from a special album of his that "went platinum" in 1981. I had to reply: No contest. This one. [I see my namesake wrote a 'review' "1 year ago" for the best live version I could ever hope for.] Talk about a magic moment in time: From 12 years ago – an 'a capella' performance “with the Tanglewood Festival Choir ” – the sheer beauty of unaccompanied human voices (well-trained, 23 in all, including James' wife Kim) with the best-engineered (most mics) “live” version we could ever hope to hear. Surely the most hymn-like of James Taylor's compositions, (co-authored by pianist Don Grolnick) it reminds some of us of a key moment in a '12-step program' – before acceptance of what's holding you back, spiritually. “Never mind feeling sorry for yourself, it doesn't save you from . . . ” Then as now, deepest thanks for sharing this one Mr. Taylor.

TONY & DIANA – Nice Work If You Can Get It If I didn't know better, I'd say 'What a coincidence!' I'd just been thinking of the lucky souls who are the best in the world at what they do – and are paid to do it: earning a living, doing the thing you love most. I thought of the Gershwin song that summed it up better than anyone else ever did: "Nice work if you can get it, (and you can get it, if you try!)" Talk about 'Hold that thought!' – Tony Bennett's Facebook page just shared a YouTube video: Tony and Diana Krall's note perfect duet (my all time favorite) of – you guessed it. Mom always said, “There ARE no coincidences.” You know what she meant. The graphic prepared by Tony's team reads JAZZ RELAX MUSIC. The simple truth, right? Who could ask for anything more? Well, “comments left on” would be icing on the cake.

CELINE DION & CLIVE GRIFFIN – When I Fall In Love At the 'Sinatra Family Forum' Alumni (private) Facebook site, there are a hundred of us who still care about the loss of the only Sinatra 'legacy' dot com website -- terminated last August by Frank's daughter Nancy after a 24 year run. One of our youngest members “Aida D.” (who was born in Ukraine and now resides in Russia) just shared her favorite duet version of “When I Fall in Love” – the version which won a Grammy for the late great arranger Jeremy Lubbock. (Heard over the closing credits of the movie “Sleepless in Seattle.”) Left Aida a note about “my hero, Mr. Lubbock, who who left us a year ago. At a young age Jeremy moved with his family to L.A., where he spent most of his career -- and did a ton of great arranging. He returned to England "frail and in a wheel chair" to die in January 2021, age 89. Just listen to those shimmering strings on 'When I Fall in Love.' The cause of his one big regret – never getting to do albums of Big Band jazz charts. They just loved his string arrangements too much to allow that to happen! ---- An informed note below the video from a kindred spirit "Michael Glickman” who wrote (4 years ago): "For those wondering, the musicians are keyboardist-synth bassist David Foster, arranger and conductor Jeremy Lubbock, drum and synthesizer programmer Claude Gaudette, and synthesizer programmer Tony Smith." Most viewed (101K) version at YouTube “with lyrics” and a montage of romantic moments from the film. Thanks, Jeremy Lubbock. Oh yes, and Celine Dion's duet partner, English singer Clive Griffin, seemingly disappeared without a trace. (Can't find anything online about his present whereabouts. Can you?)

JAMES TAYLOR – Teach Me Tonight Google the name “Walt Fowler” – and learn a little more about a trumpet and flugelhorn virtuoso you may not have heard-of, but whose music has reached our ears in a hundred settings dating back half a century: he's accompanied the proverbial 'Who's Who' of musical greats, in studio and on stage, and has “orchestrated” dozens of Hollywood blockbuster movies (note below). Walt doesn't have his own Wiki entry, but an official online bio reminds us that he and James Taylor 'go way back.' Has it really been two years? -- since Walt played on the musical bridge for TEACH ME TONIGHT – the first song James shared with fans as a video from his home studio (heated by firewood James splits for himself this time of year): This video, that heralded the release of “American Standard.” An intuitive genius at YouTube just sent me the video – still heartwarming in every sense but also just what I needed to calm my mind and heart. Which is to say “Thanks, YouTube and and thank you James Taylor. Walt Fowler was born March 2, 1955 in Salt Lake City, Utah. At age 6, he started playing piano, then took an interest in trumpet at age 8. Basically self taught, he practiced along with records, from Miles, Coltrane and Bird to Ellington, Basie and Woody Herman. In 1974, he joined Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention [and] moved to Los Angeles in the fall of 1975 and formed a band with his brothers known as "The Fowler Brothers Band"and toured with Ray Charles and Buddy Rich's Big Band. In 1986 he toured with George Benson, then rejoined Frank Zappa's band in 1987 for the "Broadway The Hardway" tour. He appears on the CD "Broadway The Hardway", "The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life." He then did many tours with Diana Ross starting in 1989, then joined James Taylor's band in 2001 for the "Pullover" tour (Pullover DVD), the 2003 "October Road" tour (October Road CD) , and the 2005 "Summer's Here" tour. Walt also appears on the 2006 DVD "Musicares Person of the Year Tribute" honoring James Taylor. Walt is also featured on many major motion picture soundtracks, including Backdraft, Regarding Henry, Pacific Heights, The Lion King, Broken Arrow, The Thin Red Line, Black Hawk Down, Ocean's 12 and Ocean's 13. He has also orchestrated on many feature films including The Rock, Con Air, Twister, Enemy of the State, Face-Off, Gladiator, Pearl Harbor, Chicken Run, Shrek, Shrek 2, Spanglish, The Bourne Supremacy, X Men 3, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Da Vinci Code, The Holiday, The Good Shepherd, Pirates of the Caribbean 1, 2 & 3, Transformers, The Simpsons Movie, American Gangster, Baby Mama, The Dark Knight and Body of Lies.

DOYLE DYKES -- Abide With Me “My Dad loved this,” says Doyle Dykes midway through the first song in a three-song medley – the one whose refrain goes, “Look down, look down, that lonesome road, before you travel on.” (Incidentally, the countrified jazz solo around the 1:00 minute mark, sparkles with a brilliance and ingenuity that Hank Garland would have loved.) Doyle followed “Lonesome Road” with a slow and gentle hymn, with the refrain: “God be with you till we meet again.” And then (around the 3:00 mark when that big E string is tuned down to D) my own favorite: Abide With Me – a seldom-heard hymn that used to be played at our “Remembrance Day” (November 11th) services at cenotaphs here in Canada: I'd despaired of ever hearing it played so well on the guitar. Lo and behold! Doyle plays the most achingly beautiful arrangement; I silently mouthed the words of the stanza my own father most loved about the “Help of the helpless.” [From memory imperfect:] “Abide with me . . . fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens, Lord with me abide When other helpers fail, and comforts flee 'help of the helpless' – oh, abide with me.” Deepest thanks for sharing this on your "Sunday String-along." You achieved your aim of “making myself feel good, and making you feel good too.”

TONY BENNETT & PAUL MCCARTNEY – The Very Thought of You When planning their collaboration for Tony Bennett's first “DUETS” album (2006) Tony and Paul McCartney had the same thought: Let's do “The Very Thought of You” -- their mutual favorite love song from England – composed, words and tune, by band leader Ray Noble; who wrote several of my parents' favorite songs, including “The Touch of Your Lips.” Dad told me it was spinning on the record player in her parents' front 'parlor' while they danced, alone together, before he planted his first kiss on her (16-year-old) lips -- Christmas, 1936. Google for “Bennett and McCartney” and the first offering this day at YouTube is this 're-enactment' in the studio after an introduction by Sir Paul, praising Tony's son Danny who suggested the duet. “We were performing at the Queen's Garden Party – we were both on the same bill …. “

TONY BENNETT – Tenderly At this moment on Sirius radio channel 71, Tony Bennett is singing a favorite ballad – Tenderly: a capella at the start, then a piano trio – Ralph Sharon, his long-time favorite accompanist, exchanging lines as Tony hums along like a horn player, on the musical bridge. A latter-day recording from his “Here's To The Ladies” album of 1995. My 'new' all-time favorite rendition of this tender ballad which has a small Wiki entry (below) that doesn't include Tony's version on its list of 'covers.' "Tenderly" is a popular song published in 1946 with music by Walter Gross and lyrics by Jack Lawrence. Written in the key of E♭ as a waltz in 3/4 time, it has since been performed in 4/4 and has become a popular jazz standard. Notable versions have been recorded by singers, such as Sarah Vaughan and Nat King Cole, and pianists, such as Art Tatum, Bill Evans. (Oddly, no mention of this 1995 recording by Tony Bennett.) "Tenderly" was first recorded by Brazilian singer and pianist Dick Farney on June 15, 1947. One month later the song's second recording was made by Sarah Vaughan on July 2, 1947. Her version [which] reached number 27 on the Billboard chart has been described as "a ravishing rendition".[2] Shared this day at Tony Bennett's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tonybennett