That Tatum burns on this version of “Undecided” should come as no surprise. Caught a year before his first recording as a leader, Benson already displays a deep blues feeling and remarkable technique.Īrt Tatum The Tatum Group Masterpieces, Vol. For many people, though, the primary significance of this recording lies in the glimpse it offers of a twenty year old guitarist by the name of George Benson. Organist McDuff was at the top of his game at the time of this burning live performance. Stephane Grappelli also takes a wonderful solo, and this was among the last collaborations between these two artists. His soloing is assured and brilliantly creative.
The brilliant guitarist Reinhardt revisits “Undecided” a third and final time on record, ten years after his first recording of the tune.
Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians (1951, instrumental, #28)Ĭhart information used by permission from Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954Ĭlick on any CD for more details at ĭjango Reinhardt Django in Rome 1949-1950. Ray Anthony and His Orchestra (1951, Gloria Craig and the Skyliners, vocal, #10). Surprisingly, in 1951 it almost hit #1 in the charts: “Undecided” was a popular jazz vehicle throughout the 1940s and ‘50s. Kirby’s band was hard hit by World War II enlistments, and Shavers left in 1945 to join Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra. The Kirby band’s greatest success followed the record’s success, and soon the group was appearing in white tuxedos at such posh venues as New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. John Kirby and His Onyx Club Boys (1939, instrumental, #19) (the only recording by Kirby to hit the charts). Chick Webb’s Orchestra (1939, Ella Fitzgerald, vocal, #8). The tune was recorded by a number of groups in the year following its initial release. The tune suited Ella Fitzgerald’s early style perfectly, as though Robin had her in mind when writing the lyrics. Robin’s lyrics work cleverly around the tune’s repeated melody, telling the story of an on-again, off-again relationship. Sid Robin wrote lyrics for the melody, basing them on a tempo that was half of what Shavers had intended. Shavers’ brief wired response was “UNDECIDED,” which they mistakenly took to be the title. Receiving the untitled composition the publishers wired Shavers for the name. Shavers also began composing originals, one of which was sent off to his publisher. Shavers, a big band veteran and arranger, began whipping the musicians into a tightly integrated ensemble, playing arrangements of everything from popular songs to interpretations of classics. The group basically existed as a jam band until November, 1937, when trumpeter Charlie Shavers joined. #Charlie last name wilson piano chords movie
Swinging violinist Stuff Smith’s group packed the club during 1936 and early 1937, only leaving the gig for a Hollywood movie appearance.īassist John Kirby, a veteran of the bands of Chick Webb and Fletcher Henderson, assembled a small group to take Smith’s place at the Onyx. One of these diminutive venues was the Onyx Club on New York’s 52nd Street which came to be known as “Swing Street” for its many small jazz clubs. But a significant number of nightclubs required smaller ensembles, especially in cities like New York and Chicago. The 1930s and ‘40s were dominated by big swing and dance bands capable of filling the many large ballrooms across America. “For a tune that became a hot, swing era specialty, the John Kirby Band’s version from 1938 premiered trumpeter Charlie Shavers’ tune in a rather subdued manner.”
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