Music that I like: March 2009

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Lawrence "Bud" Freeman (April 13, 1906 in Chicago, Illinois - March 15, 1991 in Chicago) was a U.S. jazz musician, known mainly for playing the tenor saxophone, but also able at the clarinet. His smooth and full tenor sax style with a heavy robust swing was the only strong alternative to Coleman Hawkins' harder toned approach, until the arrival of Lester Young whom Freeman had allegedly influenced [1] (although Young himself denied this, citing Frank Trumbauer as his main influence).
Musical career

One of the original members of the Austin High School Gang which began in 1922, Freeman played the C-melody saxophone alongside his other band members such as Jimmy McPartland and Frank Teschemacher before switching to tenor saxophone two years later. Influenced by artists like the New Orleans Rhythm Kings and Louis Armstrong from the South, they would begin to formulate their own style, becoming part of the emerging Chicago Style of jazz.

In 1927, he moved to New York, where he worked as a session musician and band member with Red Nichols, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Ben Pollack, Joe Venuti, among others. One of his most notable performances was a solo on Eddie Condon's 1933 recording, The Eel, which then became Freeman's nickname (for his long snake-like improvisations). Freeman played with Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra (1936-1938) as well as for a short time Benny Goodman's band in 1938 before forming his own band, the Summa Cum Laude Orchestra (1939-1940). Freeman joined the US Army during World War II, and headed a US Army band in the Aleutian Islands.

Following the war, Freeman returned to New York and led his own groups, yet still kept a close tie to the freewheeling bands of Eddie Condon as well as working in 'mainstream' groups with the likes of Buck Clayton, Ruby Braff, Vic Dickenson and Jo Jones. He wrote (along with Leon Pober) the ballad "Zen Is When", recorded by The Dave Brubeck Quartet on Jazz Impressions of Japan (1964). He was a member of the World's Greatest Jazz Band between 1969 and 1970, and on occasionally there after. In 1974, he would move to England where he made numerous recordings and performances there and in Europe. Returning to Chicago in 1980, he continued to work into his eighties.

He also released two memoirs You Don't Look Like a Musician (1974) and If You Know of a Better Life, Please Tell Me (1976), and wrote an autobiography with Robert Wolf, Crazeology (1989).

The Temptations - Swannee

Bob Dylan - Million Dollar Bash

Ben Pollack Orchestra - Sally of My Dreams (1929)

Ben Pollack (June 22, 1903 - June 7, 1971)

He was one of the more successful white band leaders of the late 1920s. His orchestras featured many future Jazz stars such as Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden and Jimmy McPartland. While his orchestras were basically commercial dance bands they also gave soloists plenty of freedom in determining the shape of the music. Pollack played in several bands in Chicago before joining the Friar's Society Orchestra in 1921.

Murray Head - One Night In Bangkok

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 21 - Andante

Heifetz plays Korngold Violin Concerto in D

Part 1

part 2

part 3

Yo Yo Ma Chopin: Trio in G minor

op.8. I

Op.8-II

op.8. III

Gerry Mulligan Quartet - Open Country

Nick Cave God is in the house

Andre Rieu & Orchestra 'Tribute To Frank Sinatra', MY WAY

Talk Talk - IT'S MY LIFE - 1984

Simply Red - If You Don't Know Me

Simply Red - If You Don't Know Me
Uploaded by manon42

Lyrics
If you dont know me by now
You will never never never know me

All the things that weve been through
You should understand me like I understand you
Now girl I know the difference between right and wrong
I aint gonna do nothing to break up our happy home
Oh dont get so excited when I come home a little late at night
Cos we only act like children when we argue fuss and fight

If you dont know me by now (if you dont know me)
You will never never never know me (no you wont)
If you dont know me by now
You will never never never know me

Weve all got our own funny moods
Ive got mine, woman youve got yours too
Just trust in me like I trust in you
As long as weve been together it should be so easy to do
Just get yourself together or we might as well say goodbye
What good is a love affair when you cant see eye to eye, oh

If you dont know me by now (if you dont know me)
You will never never never know me (no you wont)
If you dont know me by now (you will never never never know me)
You will never never never know me (ooh)

Monday, March 9, 2009

RIP HANK LOCKLIN PLEASE HELP ME I'M FALLING

Hank Locklin (born Lawrence Hankins Locklin, February 15, 1918, McLellan, Florida) was an American country music singer-songwriter.

Born in the Florida Panhandle, he is one of country music's Honky Tonk singers. He first recorded for 4 Star Records and had a long recording career with RCA Victor. A member of the Grand Ole Opry, Locklin's biggest hits include "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On", "Geisha Girl", and "Please Help Me I'm Falling", which went to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart. Billboard Magazine's 100th Anniversary issue also listed it as the second most successful country single of the Rock and Roll era.

Other hits for Locklin included, "Happy Journey" (1961), "Happy Birthday To Me" (1962), and "The Country Hall Of Fame" (1968).

Locklin had a strong following in Europe, and in Ireland - his popularity was such that in 1963 he recorded an album called Irish Songs Country Style. He has a fanclub situated in Langeli, Bjerkreim, Norway.

In 2006, he appeared on the PBS special, Country Pop Legends in which he performed "Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On", and "Please Help Me I'm Falling". Until his passing in 2009, he was the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry at the age of 91. Locklin recently released his 65th album, By the Grace of God, a collection of gospel songs.

He passed away in the early morning on Sunday March 8, 2009 at his home in Brewton, Alabama.