Author Archives: Robert Jan Dukarm

On The Sunny Side Of The Street (performed by Eddie South (violin), David Martin (piano), Isidore Langlois Paul Cordonnier, sbs. Tommy Benford, dms

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“On The Sunny Side of the Street”

“On The Sunny Side of The Street” was a song written by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields.  It was first introduced in Lew Leslie’s musical International Revue with Harry Richman and Gertrude Lawrence.

The song became a jazz standard and was performed by jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Errol Garner, and Benny Goodman.

Here is a recording of “On the Sunny Side of The Street” performed by Eddie South (violin), David Martin (piano), Isidore Langlois (guitar), Paul Cordonnier, and Tommy Benford on the drums.  The quintet also does the vocals  in this recording.  I hope you enjoy it!

 

Lionel Hampton – Bossa Nova Jazz

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Lionel Hampton (1908-2002)

Lionel Hampton was an American vibraphone player, pianist, percussionist, band leader, and actor. He was one of the greatest jazz musicians of the 20th century. Throughout his career Lionel Hampton played with many of the jazz greats including Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Charlie parker, and Quincey Jones.

Here is an album of Bossa Novas performed by Lionel Hampton and a group of jazz musicians. Bossa Nova is a fusion of the samba and jazz. It was developed in the 1950s and 1960s and became widely popular. Enjoy!

Stuff Smith – You’se A Viper

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Hezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith (1909-1967)

Hezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith, best known as Stuff Smith was an American jazz violinist. Stuff Smith was one of the great jazz violinists of the swing era (along with Stephane Grappelli, Eddie South, Svend Asmussen, and Joe Venuti). During his career, Stuff Smith worked with several great jazz musicians including Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, and Coleman Hawkins. Stuff Smith, like Louis Armstrong was a vocalist as well as an instrumentalist. It was Louis Armstrong who inspired and influenced Stuff Smith to play jazz.

One of the songs that Stuff Smith was well known for is “You’se A Viper.” Here is a recording of that song with Stuff Smith singing and playing the violin. Enjoy!

Gabriel Faure – Cantique de Jean Racine op.11

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Gabriel Faure (1845=1924)

Gabriel Faure was a French organist, composer, and teacher. He is known for his Requiem in d minor, op 48, his Pavane, and is widely regarded as the greatest master of French art song.

The Cantique de Jean Racine op.11 was written by Gabriel Faure when he was 19 years old. Faure won first prize from the École Niedermeyer de Paris (a school for studying church music). The piece was originally written for choir with piano or organ accompaniment. In 1906 a version of the piece was done for choir and orchestra (possibly by the composer himself). John Rutter wrote an arrangement of the piece for choir, strings, and harp.

Here is a recording of the Cantique de Jean Racine op.11 for choir, strings, and harp. The choir singing in this recording is the Cambridge Singers. Unfortunately I was not able to find a suitable recording of the piece done by a choir with organ accompaniment. I hope you enjoy this recording.

George Onslow – Piano Trio Op. 27

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George Onslow (1784-1853)

George Onslow was a French composer and cellist of English descent. His music bridges the gap between the classical and romantic periods.

George Onslow composed a large body of chamber music. There are over 70 string quartets, some string quintets, and ten piano trios. George Onslow also composed four symphonies and four operas.

His music was popular in Germany and England during his lifetime. After his death, George Onslow went into obscurity. It is only in recent years that his music has begun to resurface.

Here is a recording of the Piano Trio, op.27 by George Onslow. It is played by a group called the Trio Cascades. The musicians are Thomas Palm (piano), Katrina Schulz (violin), and Inka Ehlert (cello).

Angelo Debarre and Ludovic Beier – Troublant Bolero

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Troublant Bolero is a tune by Django Reinhardt.  He first recorded the tune in 1948.

Here is a recording of Troublant Bolero palyed by the Romani “gypsy jazz” guitarist Angelo Debarre, and “gypsy jazz” accordion virtuoso Ludovic Beier.

“Gypsy jazz” is a style of jazz that is believed to be invented by the Romani guitarist Django Reinhardt in the 1930s.  It combines dark, chromatic gypsy sounds with swing.

Quintet of the Hot Club of France – After You’ve Gone

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The Quintet of the Hot Club of France

The Quintet of the Hot Club of France was a string jazz group made up of three guitars, a violin, and a bass.  It was originally formed in 1934 after a series of informal backstage jam sessions. The quintet was a unique jazz group because it was made up of an interesting combination of instruments and it invented a style of jazz known as “gypsy jazz” or “hot jazz.”  Over the years the quintet went through many different rhythm guitarists and bass players but the two main players (Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli) remained the same.  From 1934 until the beginning of the war in 1939 the quintet made hundreds of recordings and toured Europe many times.  The quintet was disbanded in 1939.  In 1946 Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt teamed up together again and formed another quintet.  This post-war quintet lasted from 1946 until 1948.

Here is a recording of the jazz standard “After You’ve Gone” performed by the Quintet of the Hot Club of France.  The singer in the recording is Freddy Taylor.

Astor Piazzolla – Oblivion (played by the Roby Lakatos Ensemble and Frantisek Janoska)

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Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)

Astor Piazzolla was an Argentinian tango composer, arranger, and bandoneon virtuoso (the bandoneon is a type of accordion).  He invented a modern style of tango music called tango nuevo (a style of tango that uses elements of jazz and classical music).

Here is a tango by Piazzolla arranged for violin, piano, melodia, cymbalom, guitar, and bass by Frantisek Janoska (the pianist).  It is played by the Romani (gypsy) violinist Roby Lakatos ensemble and pianist Frantisek Janoska.  Enjoy!

G.F. Handel – Fiamma bella from Aminta e Fillide (HMV 83)

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G.F. Handel (1685-1759)

G.F. Handel was a German baroque composer, organist, harpsichordist, and violinist.  He is most well known today for works such as his Messiah, Water Music, and Royal Fireworks Music.

Here is a soprano aria from called Fiamma bella from a Cantata by Handel entitled Aminta e Fillide.  The aria is sung by Catalan soprano Nuria Rial.  Enjoy!