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Amos Lee pays Homage to Jazz Legend with the release of his new album My Ideal: A Tribute To Chet Baker Sings featuring “My Ideal”
Amos Lee, who has made his name with his rustic, countryfied folk and earthy R&B turns his attention towards the classic American Popular Songbook with the November 2022 release of his warmly delivered homage My Ideal: A Tribute to Chet Baker Sings. A longtime, if somewhat quiet, fan of the iconic trumpeter/vocalist, Lee particularly gravitated to Baker’s lyrical jazz recordings while in lockdown over the COVID-19 pandemic. There is an affinity between the two vocalists, with Baker’s laid-back style a good fit for Lee’s own melodic, largely unadorned approach to singing. To access more details about Amos Lee new album My Ideal: A Tribute to Chet Baker Sings and the development and the story behind the history of it and his rendition of “My Ideal,” click on this image.
The New Edition of The Poets of Tin Pan Alley Offers a Unique Perspective on these Great Songwriters including a Compelling Chapter on Leo Robin and His Music
From the turn of the century to the 1960s, the songwriters of Tin Pan Alley were synonymous with American popular music. In this new edition published on October 25, 2022 by Oxford University Press of The Poets of Tin Pan Alley, authors Philip Furia and Laurie Patterson offer a unique perspective on these great songwriters, showing how their poetic lyrics were as important as their brilliant music in shaping a golden age of American popular song. They devote full chapters to such greats as Irving Berlin, Lorenz Hart, Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Oscar Hammerstain II, Howard Dietz, E.Y. Harburg, Dorothy Fields, Leo Robin, and Johnny Mercer. To access more details about The Poets of Tin Pan Alley and the chapter about Leo Robin that provides interesting biographical information and fascinating antidotes on some of Leo Robin’s classics, click on the image.
An ode to the classic “Thanks for the Memory” is given by Tracy Conrad from the Palm Springs Historical Society in his delightful story History: On Memorial Day, it’s fitting to thank Bob Hope ‘for the memories’ appearing in the Desert Sun on April 29, 2022.
An ode to the classic “Thanks for the Memory,” composed by Ralph Ranger with lyrics by Leo Robin, is given by Tracy Conrad from the Palm Springs Historical Society in his delightful story History: On Memorial Day, it’s fitting to thank Bob Hope ‘for the memories’ appearing in the Desert Sun on April 29, 2022. The story begins with, “The charming song was first introduced by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross in the movie, “The Big Broadcast of 1938.” It was Hope’s first film and he and Ross play a divorced couple who unexpectedly encounter each other aboard ship. They playfully and poignantly review their tumultuous relationship to the music that reflects life itself in many circumstances. To view this wonderful story and this scene with the song, click on this image.
The Legendary Jazz Pianist Bill Evans’ New Album Morning Glory and Inner Spirit Features “Up With the Lark” in Live Recordings from Buenos Aires, Argentina
Previously unreleased live recordings by the legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans are on a new album Morning Glory Inner Spirit from Resonance Records. While recorded six years apart and showcasing two different iterations of his famous trio, come tied together stronger than most, both were recorded in Buenos Aires, Argentina during times of political upheaval. The Bill Evans trio performs masterful takes on favorite standards like the Jerome Kern and Leo Robin chestnut “Up With the Lark,” which was one of two songs on the setlist at both venues. To access more details about the legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans and these extraordinary concerts which featured “Up With the Lark” during times of political upheaval in Buenos Aires, Argentina, click on this image.
Grammy award-winning composer Maria Schneider ended her concert at The Center for the Arts at George Mason University with “My Ideal,” a standard she has been playing ever since her live performance at the Jazz Standard in New York in 2000
Jazz lovers know that The Center for the Arts at George Mason University is one of the best venues to enjoy a great night of music, as the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra delivers unforgettable performances whenever it takes to the stage. That’s certainly would be the case on April 16, when the orchestra, which was founded by artistic director and saxophone virtuoso Jim Carroll, welcomes seven-time Grammy Award-winning composer Maria Schneider to conduct the night’s performance. The concert ended with ‘My Ideal,” composed by Richard Whiting and Newell Chase with lyrics by Leo Robin, arranged by Schneider. Schneider was originally slated to perform and be in residence at the Center for the Arts in the spring of 2020, but the pandemic forced her participation to be cancelled, though she did participate in a virtual event as part of Mason Arts at Home. To access more details about the amazing jazz composer Maria Schneider and her concert at The Center for the Arts at George Mason University with “My Ideal.”
Six-time Grammy nominated artist Gerald Clayton new album Bells On Sand has two solo piano versions of the standard “My Ideal” to connote drifting moods during the solitude-induced pandemic period
Six-time Grammy nominated artist Gerald Clayton returns with Bells On Sand, his ravishing second album for Blue Note Records. Recorded at Sam First in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Sound Design, the album features ten tracks of fresh orchestration and original music with contributions from mentor Charles Lloyd on saxophone, father John Clayton on bass, longtime friend and peer Justin Brown on drums, and new collaborator Maro on vocals. Together, they explore the impact and abstraction of time. There are two solo renderings of “My Ideal,” composed by Richard Whiting and Newell Chase with lyrics by Leo Robin, which offer drifting moods to connote the meandering swell of emotions during the solitude-induced pandemic period. For Clayton, their presence on the recording feels integral. To access more details about the amazing jazz artist Gerald Clayton and his new ravishing album Bells On Sand and two solo piano versions of the standard “My Ideal” during the solitude-induced pandemic period, click on this image.
Melissa Errico’s new studio album Out Of The Dark: The Film Noir Project features Leo Robin’s “Checkin’ My Heart”
Singer, actress Melissa Errico has announced the release of her compelling new studio album, Out Of The Dark: The Film Noir Project on February 18 on the Ghostlight Records label. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when the world was locked away in lonely rooms with only old movies to watch at midnight, Errico suddenly returned to one of her life-long obsessions – noir! Out Of The Dark: The Film Noir Project presents a masterly-crafted song cycle, all black-velvet piano and vibraphone tones, telling a complete story of hope, despair, and hope renewed. Her song selections reach from noir classics, all arranged by musical director/pianist Tedd Firth, such as Harry Warren & Leo Robin’s mischievous “Checkin’ My Heart.” To access more details about Melissa Errico’s new studio album Out Of The Dark: The Film Noir Project and the development of this music project along with the story behind the history of“Checkin’ My Heart” and her rendition click on this image.
The new 2020 action-adventure video game Mafia: Definitive Edition has tunes of Leo Robin to fill your ears — “Beyond the Blue Horizon” and “Thanks for the Memory”
Mafia: Definitive Edition is a 2020 action-adventure video game, developed by Hangar 13 and published by 2K Games. Set within the fictional city of Lost Heaven, based on Chicago during the organized crime 1930s era, the story follows the rise and fall of taxi driver turned mobster Tommy Angelo within the Salieri crime family. Mafia: Definitive Edition will make you feel right at home in the prohibition-era Midwestern city of Lost Heaven with jazz music from that era. The songs will recapture this era which features classic jazz hits composed by Ralph Rainger with lyrics by Leo Robin including “Beyond the Blue Horizon,” performed by Jeanette MacDonald and the Rounders, and “Thanks for the Memory,” performed by Mildred Bailey. To learn more about this exciting game with its old-timey jazz tunes, click on this image:
Madonna’s adoring fans sing-a-long with her to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” on Rebel Heart Tour
A concert special on Showtime of Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour features the iconic superstar as she performs in packed arenas around the globe. The concert features new hits and beloved classics including “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” written by Jule Styne and Leo Robin that was first introduced in the 1949 Broadway show Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The concert showcases Madonna’s signature visual theatrics, exquisite costumes and awe-inspiring choreography creating an astonishing arena show celebrated by fans around the world. For your enjoyment, click on the image to view Madonna’s adoring fans sing-a-long with her to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” at a concert on the Rebel Heart Tour.
Seth MacFarlane’s new album In Full Swing receives lofty praises
Grammy-nominated artist Seth MacFarlane’s love affair with standards continues with his fourth album, In Full Swing, set for release on September 15 on Verve Label Group/ Republic Records. The album was highly acclaimed by many critics. In a review on August 18, 2017 by the Music News Desk on broadwayworld.com, the album receives lofty praises for Seth MacFarlane’s rich, expressive baritone voice, his masterful selection of upbeat tunes from the era and brilliant arrangements that “make familiar songs new again.” One of the tracks on the album is “A Kiss Or Two,” a tune from the smash 1927 Broadway show Hit the Deck, written by Leo Robin (W), Clifford Grey (W) and Vincent Youmans (M). For your enjoyment, click on the image for a view of a critical acclaim of Seth MacFarlane’s new album In Full Swing, a look at his passion for singing, a magical musical moment of him singing “A Kiss Or Two” and more.
Ariana’s marvelous jazz version of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” at Tiffany & Co.’s party
Ariana Grande was the entertainment at Tiffany & Co.’s party to celebrate its renovated Beverly Hills store on the night of Thursday, October 13, 2016. Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson, Halle Berry, and more watched her perform some tracks from Dangerous Woman, and then the most appropriate throwback track: “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” made iconic by Marilyn Monroe from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953. Ariana shared the special moment on Instagram. “Because what else do you sing when you’re singin at @tiffanyandco ?,” Grande put it simply on Instagram. For your enjoyment, click on the image to view Ariana’s marvelous jazz version of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” at Tiffany & Co.’s party and during a jam session, as well, and much more!
Mini-film created by Parisian Cartier, “king of jewelers”
In a mini-film created by Parisian Cartier, “king of jewelers,” British singer-songwriter Karen Elson channels Marilyn Monroe, as she is surrounded by a bevy of suitors and sings the song “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” recalling scenes from the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. This iconic standard was written by Jule Styne and Leo Robin and was first introduced in the 1949 Broadway show. To view this Cartier mini-film, click the image:
