Here’s a beautiful version of a hauntingly beautiful song to send us into the weekend. The wistful words and music were written by Billy Strayhorn, who manages an uncanny melding of lyrical and musical phrases. The fact that most of it was written when Strayhorn was just 16 is, well, crazy.
It is performed here by Johnny Hartman, with John Coltrane on saxophone and McCoy Tyner on piano, a combination of talent impossible to match. If I ever drew up a personal Top Ten list of favorite recordings*, this one would be on it. It comes off a 1963 album recorded by Hartman and Coltrane that some experts call the greatest album ever made. The fact that it was recorded in a single day, with most songs laid down in a single take, still astounds, particularly in an era when musicians are often treated as a producer’s plaything.
Sink into “Lush Life,” and let it sink into you.
* (I started thinking about it, and my personal nominations to round out the Top Five jazz cuts would be Ellington’s “Take the A Train,” “Real Compared to What” by Les McCann and Eddie Harris, Miles Davis’ “Stella by Starlight” and Billie Holiday’s “Lover Man.”)
363 comments Add your comment
HG3
January 28th, 2011
3:35 pm
Good choice, JB – have a great weekend!
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 28th, 2011
3:37 pm
This guy is so talented, it’s plumb sickening.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQZY87PDsnQ
getalife
January 28th, 2011
3:38 pm
“Heck, all they had to do was ask me or ask Todd himself, ‘Hey Todd, you been hanging out with hookers in Anchorage,’ and he’d tell the truth,” Palin said.
Crazy times:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwELajFteTo
Bosch
January 28th, 2011
3:41 pm
What’s wrong with that chick’s legs?
Bosch
January 28th, 2011
3:41 pm
Jesus, after listening to that I’m gonna have to do a few jumping jacks to wake back up….
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 28th, 2011
3:45 pm
If Les says you’re good, you’re good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2zOLAaYYJM&feature=related
Matti
January 28th, 2011
3:47 pm
Bosch,
Hahaha… Do you also get the feeling that Mr. Bookman is not a regular consumer of Red Bull, Mountain Dew, or Peet’s Italian Roast?
SOUTHERN ATL
January 28th, 2011
3:49 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l0Lb4i70JU
Bosch
January 28th, 2011
3:50 pm
Matti,
Indeed. While I obviously enjoy Mr. Bookman’s columns and blogs, our taste in music is on opposite ends of the spectrum. If I listened to jazz on a regular basis, I’d never get out of bed.
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 28th, 2011
3:54 pm
SOuthern ATL
Nice tune, there.
Jazz is different things to different people. When I think jazz, this sort of thing is what immediately comes to mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MntF61BvFc
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
3:55 pm
Bosch
Listen to getalife’s linkee. If Disturbed don’t wake you up, electric paddles charged to 300 won’t get you started.
Kamchak
January 28th, 2011
3:55 pm
* (I started thinking about it, and my personal nominations to round out the Top Five jazz cuts would be Ellington’s “Take the A Train,” ….
Another Strayhorn piece.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ellington and Coltrane
In a Sentimental Mood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR13ECD71xU
Joe the Plutocrat
January 28th, 2011
3:56 pm
JB, not a jazz aficianado, but I prefer the instrumentals (McCoy Tyner’s Happy Days, anything from Coltrane’s Ballads, and of course listening to Miles Davis is just plain mind altering). if Bruce Leer were a jazzman, he’d say instrumental jazz is ’singing wit out singing…” unfortunately, the Egypt blog has me dialed into the Clash/Sandinista… roger wilcon, over and out.
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
3:58 pm
HD
Did you read the comments on your 3:37?
Joe the Plutocrat
January 28th, 2011
3:59 pm
or a spelling AFICIONADO
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 28th, 2011
4:04 pm
SoCo
Just read a few of the comments. I can feel their pain.
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
4:06 pm
HD
I’m having to wipe tears from my eyes from laughing so hard. There’s some good ones, but others are funny as hell.
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 28th, 2011
4:09 pm
SoCo
Seeing somebody like Stanley makes people who play, want to just pack away the guitars and forget about it.
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 28th, 2011
4:14 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzkixTbOchE&feature=related
Dusty
January 28th, 2011
4:15 pm
Well, Jay, you finally played something smooth and sweet. Reminded me of early Frank Sinatra. Yep, you picked a good one. Amazing..
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
4:17 pm
HD
I’ve seen that comment made a few times. Here’s my favorite comments:
Trust me, All black people can do this!!! Its as easy as slam dunking a basketball.
thedarion79 2 months ago thedarion79 2 months ago
@Gamatube30 SO if I were black I could do this? I never knew it was that easy.
pudinheadwilson 3 months ago pudinheadwilson 3 months ago
That bassist looks like he’s trying to finger a fish.
JoshRom 2 months ago JoshRom 2 months ago
If this were any more insane… the planet earth would explode.
ZenDeividdo 1 year ago ZenDeividdo 1 year ago
I guess it’s like me watching Buddy Rich or Neil Peart. I stopped buying sticks after a while listening to them.
Pogo
January 28th, 2011
4:18 pm
I agree with you Bosch. A picture of woman with “very close” veins and a soundtrack that sounds like it came from some cheap Holiday Inn lounge singer. A va, va, va, boom!
Kamchak
January 28th, 2011
4:20 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx_aPXyXYjM
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 28th, 2011
4:22 pm
SoCo
Those are some funny comments. When it comes to watching and listening to talented people, it’s a fine line between being inspired and being totally discouraged.
Here’s 3 guys rehearsing for a show, that unfortunately never took place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f8E2v33r-c&feature=related
AmVet
January 28th, 2011
4:22 pm
Loved that Lou Rawls, SOATL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhccIfevjCU
Pogo
January 28th, 2011
4:22 pm
Sounds like Stoney Curtis on the Flintstones.
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
4:27 pm
Geez.. HD, where do you find stuff like that. Those guys are in a zone. One alone would be smoking hot, but damn!!!! That vid reminds me of the scene in the movie “Tap” when Gregory Hines is getting schooled by the old guys, Sammy, the Sandman, and others. That one’s going into my favs…
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 28th, 2011
4:33 pm
SoCo
That show with Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair and Tuts Washington was on PBS, many years ago. Too bad I couldn’t find a clip of the whole show, it was quite interesting to watch them work out the parts and stuff, and there was some good natured ribbing that went on between Fess and Tuts. They were rehearsing for a show but Professor Longhair died before the show took place.
Pogo
January 28th, 2011
4:36 pm
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/28/report-s-marijuana-kingpin-arrested-seniors-community/
Seems like the US Marshalls would have something better to do (like stopping terrorists coming into this country through our porous Southern border) than arrest an old man who smuggled pot into the country 31 years ago, doesn’t it? And they arrested him at a Seniors Home. They must be so proud. They arrest this old man meanwhile the Mexican and Russian mafias run rampant in this country.
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
4:38 pm
HD
After seeing that, I would love to get my hands on a copy of the whole show. I’m gonna have to research that a bit. I spend a good bit of time on percussion from around the world. I’ve always said that if I hit the lottery, one of my splurges would be to gather percussion groups from all styles from all around the world for one huge show.
Tommy Maddox
January 28th, 2011
4:38 pm
He sounds like Joe Williams.
Kamchak
January 28th, 2011
4:38 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5nVizoi_1Y
TaxPayer
January 28th, 2011
4:45 pm
How ’bout a little Bela.
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
4:49 pm
Seems like the US Marshalls would have something better to do (like stopping terrorists coming into this country through our porous Southern border) than arrest an old man who smuggled pot into the country 31 years ago, doesn’t it?
Would seem that way if you don’t understand jurisdiction and agency functions.
#1 The US Marshal Service was doing one of their job functions by apprehending a fugitive that had absconded from the judicial system.
#2 The function of stopping terrorists coming into this country through our porous Southern Border is a responsibility of US Customs and Border Protection. That task is split between CBP Officers and Border Patrol Agents.
#3 If you put US Marshals at the border to apprehend terrorists, you would need a search warrant and/or arrest warrant do do that, as they’re required by the 4th Amendment to have that needed paperwork. It’s pretty damned impossible to get a warrant issued for someone when you have no idea of when, where, or even if they’re going to try to come thru the border.
#4 The task of tracking terrorists generally falls under the FBI’s scope of authority.
#5 The FBI usually works on cases involving Mafias. Judging by the responses when they rounded up over a hundred last week, people here thought they were wasting their time.
So, if you have no idea of an agency’s jurisdiction and scope of authority, it would seem like the US Marshals would have something better to do. However, based on their actions in your link, they did exactly what the taxpayers pay them to do.
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
4:51 pm
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/26/report-muslim-cleric-arrested-border-agents/
If you’re worried about terrorists coming thru our porous Southern Border, it’s not as easy as many think it would be.
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
4:52 pm
And that’s the end of my politics stinking up the music thread today. Thank you all for your time and patience.
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 28th, 2011
4:52 pm
Pogo@4:36 pm
He seems like a dangerous criminal to me
AmVet
January 28th, 2011
4:52 pm
One of the prettiest songbirds in the wild…
Happy 43rd Sarah…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od587LPzOJ4
md
January 28th, 2011
4:53 pm
Figured this was appropriate with all the unrest continuing around the globe.
“We didn’t start the fire………………………………………”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a2SS0zqmzk
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
4:53 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6OoOhKM_yc
Kamchak
January 28th, 2011
5:05 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPpxcKNzbjs
AmVet
January 28th, 2011
5:09 pm
For the always under-appreciated Redneck Convert.
Who quietly goes about his business of adding some sanity to our insane asylum here.
Let me clue you in
It ain’t like him
To argue or pretend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNQ2FRzPCz8
Dr. Feel
January 28th, 2011
5:13 pm
This video explains it all! Poor Jane!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J04gTJvynjg
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 28th, 2011
5:13 pm
SoCo@4:53 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6OoOhKM_yc
——————————
Wasn’t that the theme song for the new movie coming out?
Right Wing Musical
Ray
January 28th, 2011
5:14 pm
A fine mellow tune, thanx Jay. You should stick to music.
Kamchak
January 28th, 2011
5:15 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNbD1JIH344
Finn McCool (Yes, Reps won, they now control a whopping 1/2 of 1/3 of the legislative body.) (Golf Clap.)
January 28th, 2011
5:19 pm
Coltrane’s “Afro Blue Impressions” live CD is pretty amazing as well.
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
5:19 pm
NoCom
Wrong… Just wrong….. But as usual, your comedic genius shines right through.
md
January 28th, 2011
5:26 pm
And this one sums up this blog……………..
Extremes???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FwqaDPyewI&feature=related
carlosgvv
January 28th, 2011
5:31 pm
Good jazz must have good jazz guitar or it is not good jazz.
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 28th, 2011
5:33 pm
I remember the old Plaayboy Club downtown and their live jazz
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 28th, 2011
5:34 pm
Playboy geesh
Kamchak
January 28th, 2011
5:34 pm
The Rippingtons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEQ9c0yHFdU
kaycee
January 28th, 2011
5:39 pm
JB, young man, I salute your discriminating taste. I wonder if you can imagine Andy Bey singing Lush Life? I’ll bet that would be a cognac-like treat.
Scout
January 28th, 2011
5:57 pm
O.K. Enough music :
“USA ‘SECRETLY BACKS UPRISING’ ”
Looks like a possible repeat of the Carter/Iran debacle.
Do we want an Islamic state controlling the Suez Canal?
That’s the stuff you go to “big war” over.
Kamchak
January 28th, 2011
6:03 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pq3uBZtWOQ
josef nix
January 28th, 2011
6:09 pm
my contribution to the jazz part…not since Django himself…imho
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvht15Ifod0&feature=related
Dr. Feel
January 28th, 2011
6:10 pm
In collaboration with Israel, and openly described as an “ally” by Tel Aviv, Egypt has shown itself to be the anvil to Israel’s hammer against the Palestinian people. In keeping the Raffah Crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip closed, thus denying badly needed humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the aftermath of Israel’s murderous 2009 assault, Mubarak has shown unspeakable callousness and willingness to collaborate with the criminal US/Israeli policy of “collective punishment” of this civilian population.
The importance of Mubarak’s Egypt to the US government can be illustrated in another way. Imagine the repercussions for Washington if the Egyptian people were to succeed in overthrowing this military state and establishing genuine democracy, one where the abundant resources of that country are used to lift the mass of the population out of grinding poverty instead of serving to enrich a corrupt elite and its masters in Washington. Imagine a country that refuses to continue to be a US garrison and staging post for criminal wars in the region. Imagine the catalytic effect for democracy across the region and likewise the demise of other US puppet regimes.
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
6:17 pm
O.K. Enough music :
“USA ‘SECRETLY BACKS UPRISING’ ”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dvkWqbmesE
josef nix
January 28th, 2011
6:21 pm
Dr Feel
It’s Friday…save it… or take it elsewhere…please…
Kamchak
January 28th, 2011
6:21 pm
Incognito
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlpQMvHoFCk
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
6:26 pm
I said I was done with politics for the night, but damn that googley.
“USA ‘SECRETLY BACKS UPRISING’” when googled goes to the Drudge Report. That headline links to a story that says… Egypt protests: America’s secret backing for rebel leaders behind uprising
Now, considering semantics, it is entirely possible to back a rebel leader without backing the whole uprising. GIven the blunt nature of the Drudge headline, one would be lead to believe the US was secretly backing the whole uprising. Reading the actual story from the Telegraph, the US backed some of the student dissidents (information known thanks to Pvt. Manning and Wikileaks).
The two are not the same. It’s a damned shame when somebody creates a headline like that to grab clicks to their website when the story does not actually back up the headline. Journalistic credibility shot to hell in one quick click.
josef nix
January 28th, 2011
6:27 pm
I’m a little late today and just catching up…some really good stuff, y’all…thanks!
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
6:27 pm
Now, I’m really done with politics tonight.
popeye
January 28th, 2011
6:28 pm
Nix….I believe our host has this statement at the top of the blog “An Atlanta blog with a little bit of opinion about a whole lot of things.” Understand?
Not just Monday or Friday!
If Dr. Feel wishes to write within reason about another topic who are you to tell him to go away?
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 28th, 2011
6:29 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWg6iB0Evj0&feature=related
Keep up the good fight!
January 28th, 2011
6:31 pm
If you can ignore one of the worse rhymes ever in a song – Why cant we be friends?
Or maybe Edwin Starr
Dr. Feel
January 28th, 2011
6:33 pm
Da Prez be gettin ready to speak!
Bruno
January 28th, 2011
6:33 pm
I started thinking about it, and my personal nominations to round out the Top Five jazz cuts
Jay–By any chance, do you have any Grey Poupon??
My Top Five Jazz list is all Grover Washington Jr. I’m still kicking my self for missing his show down in L5P back in the late 90s. The weather was bad and I talked myself out of going. A year later, he was dead.
This one goes out to the Smoooooooth Southern Comfort:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWApqG3j3ao&feature=fvst
josef nix
January 28th, 2011
6:34 pm
as for jazz, I’m still a purist curmudgeon….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vio-TjMi5_s&feature=related
Dr. Feel
January 28th, 2011
6:36 pm
Resource extraction colonialism has it’s costs.
Kamchak
January 28th, 2011
6:37 pm
I got your Grover
Take another five
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVlrG8raX_c&playnext=1&list=PL53C740D64AA4F28E
Dr. Feel
January 28th, 2011
6:39 pm
What we are seeing across the Arab world is not just the undoing of corrupt regimes. We are seeing the undoing of America’s entire foreign policy in that region. No wonder there must be deep misgiving in Washington over the recent turmoil in this key energy-producing region. For decades, US administrations have, through a cocktail of ignorance and arrogance, deluded themselves that they could get away with a mendacious contradiction. That contradiction is the espousal of democracy and peace in the Middle East while at the same time sponsoring regimes that act in every way to undermine any path to democracy and peace. And the vast majority of people in the Middle East see through this delusion. They are well aware that at the root of democratic change in the region is not just getting rid of internal corrupt rulers – it is the overthrow of Washington’s imperialist policy, which has long subjugated Arab countries to despotic rule.
Scout
January 28th, 2011
6:42 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAy4J2IaaKE&feature=related
Jay
January 28th, 2011
6:43 pm
Why yes, Young Master Bruno, I do believe I do.
Btw, did you lend an ear to “Real Compared to What,” linked above?
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 28th, 2011
6:43 pm
This guy was primarily known as a comedian but he was a pretty good drummer, too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EhaA9TO4RM
josef nix
January 28th, 2011
6:43 pm
good fight
Always time for some War…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQD70wb5fj8&feature=related
Bruno
January 28th, 2011
6:45 pm
Back at ya, Kam:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIRstLa1p_w
I’ve got this show on video ^^^^^ If you don’t have it, get it. Grover at his peak.
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 28th, 2011
6:46 pm
Jay
I think that piano intro in “Real Compared To What” got copied into a few MoTown songs, over the years.
Bruno
January 28th, 2011
6:49 pm
Btw, did you lend an ear to “Real Compared to What,” linked above?
Ooops, caught me redhanded, Brother Jay. I will listen to it in a minute, trying to get my basketball picks together before the 7:05 starting time. (BTW, we decided to let you into the Blog Brotherhood)
Bruno
January 28th, 2011
6:53 pm
When in doubt, suck up ^^^^^^^^^
SOUTHERN ATL
January 28th, 2011
6:54 pm
Hillbilly Deluxe@3:54 that was cool….back at ya!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVRXaLkCvcY&feature=related
Mick
January 28th, 2011
6:55 pm
Jay – back from paradise, from the looks of key west, I’d say the economy looks pretty strong, You’re welcome to tag along anytime you’re down this way-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kaDSY46nkY
Jazz Man
January 28th, 2011
6:55 pm
On the whimsical side:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeoT66v4EHg
Kamchak
January 28th, 2011
6:56 pm
Bruno
Grover with Bob James
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V56yeZtqQTs
Jay
January 28th, 2011
7:00 pm
the sincerest form of flattery, and all that, HD.
I just love the way that song builds and builds.
Southern Comfort (B.P.O.I.B.W.)
January 28th, 2011
7:02 pm
Bruno
Gracias bondadoso, mi hermano. I’m not all rough and rugged as the uniform would suggest. One right back at ya….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxYCD6cwU1M
HD @ 6:43
Oh no you didn’t step into my realm…
I can play in that game…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otKKwKem570&feature=fvst
The closest I’ve seen anyone come close to that one, was at the Drum Corps International Grand Championships, and even an entire drum line couldnt’ match it.
Bruno
January 28th, 2011
7:05 pm
not since Django himself
Brother jo, how could you profane the blog like that?!?!?!?!? Mentioning Django in the same breath with any other artist?!?!?!?!? Shame, shame, shame on you!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPG1OnOrhis&feature=related
josef nix
January 28th, 2011
7:09 pm
Scout
Thanks again….
http://www.playingforchange.com/episodes/38/Imagine
kayaker 71
January 28th, 2011
7:10 pm
Top five,
l. Brubeck, especially Take Five
2. Ramsey Lewis Trio with Red Holt and LD Young, especially The In Crowd
3. Dave Grusin, favorite Mountain Dance
4. Bill Evans Trio, especially My Foolish Heart
5. Anything by Old Blue Eyes
This ain't Lady Gaga
January 28th, 2011
7:11 pm
Great piano jazz with a smooth vocal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FVJdLRpXes
Bruno
January 28th, 2011
7:12 pm
SC @ 7:02–A nice tribute to Waymon Tisdale, a giant in two different fields, basketball and jazz.
Jay, question for you: You claimed a while back that you had difficulty connecting with Steely Dan on an emotional level, but somehow you can connect with these jazz artists??
Jay
January 28th, 2011
7:14 pm
all true, Bruno. Like I said, I admire the musicianship behind Steely Dan, but it comes across as sterile to me. More intellect than gut.
kayaker 71
January 28th, 2011
7:14 pm
Forgot to add a sixth, Diana Krall singing The Look of Love. Makes you stand up and take notice.
Bruno
January 28th, 2011
7:16 pm
Kam, nice little number @ 6:56. What I like about Grover is that his music is always accesible emotionally, unlike the vast majority of jazz artists I’ve heard. For years, I heard that Miles Davis’s B*tches Brew was the greatest album ever recorded. I bought it, listened to it once, and took it back for a refund.
HD–I’m trying to catch up to some of the nice numbers you put out there earlier.
SOUTHERN ATL
January 28th, 2011
7:19 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38QsNXQa_xI&feature=related
Bruno
January 28th, 2011
7:21 pm
I admire the musicianship behind Steely Dan, but it comes across as sterile to me. More intellect than gut.
I can’t explain why, but I connect deeply with Fagan’s lyrics and musical twists and turns. He captures perfectly the disaffected feeling I had as a teen. Either that or it was all the acid I was taking at the time.
Kamchak
January 28th, 2011
7:21 pm
The Rippingtons with Jeffrey Osborne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSarwd_LwiM
Soames
January 28th, 2011
7:27 pm
I’m a big Monk fan myself. It seems like the horn players get all of the attention when it comes to jazz. This man was a genius and a lot of the big name jazz players of those days didn’t like to play with him because he would lead them around rather than accompany. An interesting man. Blue Monk is my favorite tune of his but I thought I would post something different. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVP3lIoDjKk&feature=related
josef nix
January 28th, 2011
7:27 pm
Bruno
Just for you in case you haven’t been following Jimmy the Kid…!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QgYUuEapHE&feature=related