Tenor saxophonist Chu Berry recorded numerous records as a sideman during the swing era, in both small groups and big bands, in the 1930s and up until his untimely death in 1941. I’ve selected “Limehouse Blues”, recorded under his own name as leader, which shows how very skillful a musician he was. Strongly influenced by Coleman Hawkins, Berry developed a lighter, more rhythmic and agile sound. Berry played and soloed with the Fletcher Henderson orchestra and later the Cab Calloway orchestra. While with Henderson, he composed “Christopher Columbus”, which later became part of “Sing, Sing, Sing” in the Benny Goodman version.
Mel Tormé was a true and truly great jazz singer, and that was only one of his accomplishments. He also acted in movies and tv, composed songs, played drums, arranged music, and wrote books. Tormé knew the chords so well that jazz players accompanying him had to be on their toes or expect to be corrected. His hallmarks are impeccable taste, control of dynamics, perfect enunciation, inventive phrasing, jazz rhythm, warm and even vibrato, wide range, breath control, and a smooth restrained voice with a trace of huskiness when he calls it forth. Really, he just ropes you into any song that he sings, makes it sound good, and makes you feel good. He sings “Stardust” here accompanied by Frank Wess on tenor (a Basie alumnus).
4:59 am on September 13, 2012
