Anyone remember George Shearing? .. The only jazz musician I ever saw live. At a little nightclub called The Frog and Nightgown in Raleigh, NC, 1970.. Also my first experience with brown-bagging. A very strange practice indeed. What instrument did he play?
I hail from Jazz country, namely, New Orleans so jazz isn’t any stranger to me. I loved the old guys and orchestras mentioned but they were kind of a mixed bag between Swing, Jazz and easy listening. Now, the artists that I really like are those that have brought the newer type of Jazz to the forefront and in most cases, can’t be confused with any other type of music because it’s all jazz but bridges on easy listening as opposed to what I call “tea room” Jazz. Artists like Stanley Jordan, Earl Klug, George Benson, Marsalis, Johnny Bashman, Jimmy Smith, Spira Gira and even Wes Montgomery have all broken the mold and are hard acts to follow.
The Frog and Nightgown ? Me heart leapt when I saw that - thought you'd visited here ! Used to sing in a pub called The Frog and Nightgown - such an unusual name - thought it was a one off
@Patsy Faye : That's so interesting. Are you a singer!!? I found this ...which probably explains the name choice: "Peter Ingram — a scientist from England recruited to work in the newly formed Research Triangle Park (near Raleigh, NC) — opened the Frog and Nightgown, a jazz club, in 1968, and his wife Robin managed it. Don Dixon, a house bassist at the club who later gained fame as co-producer of REM’s first album, Murmur, says ‘It took a native Brit like Peter to not know that a jazz club wouldn’t work in 1968.’" source Was it this one?
Nancy - you are totally amazing ! Didn't think I'd ever see that pub again ! (a little bit o tear now) Thank you so much My Paul can't believe his eyes either I liked to get up and give a song but I also loved to write songs - just as a hobby. The main reason for going there was to hear the Frank Sinatra sing-a- like - he was truly amazing and that bus above would pull up and he would walk outside, still singing, up to the bus to finish his song to the audience on the bus - Ah - good times ………. Thank you again for my trip down memory lane xx @Nancy Hart
I am so surprised at that quote Nancy - so wrong. Jazz was extremely popular in the 60s and beyond - jazz clubs and venues galore One of the most popular was Ronnie Scots - all the big names played there and Pizza on the ……….. Blast ! forgotten the last bit
I am happy to see that once Lon opened the floodgates, more Jazz enthusiasts began responding! But Lon is right...there are many categories and eras of Jazz. It started in NewOrlens, then migrated upriver to Chicago, where it became more energetic and became Dixieland, then grew into Swing after arrangers got into the act, like Fletcher Henderson. Then came the Swing-oriented Big Bands, like Miller, Goodman, Shaw, Basie, Ellington and others. Then came Kenton, with his "progressive" movements in large symphonic style compositions, using extreme dynamics and tone colors. My favorite of Stan's works is "Concerto To End All Concertos"! Then came the "Cool School", with exponents such as Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Thelonious Monk, and frenetic "Be-Bop" stylists, such as Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. I have and listen to all eras of Jazz, from the "Two-Step" boys to the "Flatted Fifth" crowd. Keep those replies and historic memories coming! "Take it from the chorus and modulate to B-Flat at the Bridge..." Hal
Are you saying Frank Sinatra himself sang at your Frog and Nightgown? Well what does Don Dixon know anyway! .It was a very popular place at the time in Raleigh also, but I think it closed soon after I left there in 1975.
Sure, I remember George Shearing! He was a blind Englishman who played modern jazz piano...very sophisticated, but with the exploratory feeling of Modern Jazz. His BBC radio program started with the announcer saying "You're hearing George Shearing!" Hal
I wish No - he sang Frank songs and sounded so like him, the passengers on the bus knew he would come out to them, it was well known - you have made my day ! I did sing with a band for a while
And your point is? I see that you are yelling a lot but you’re not saying anything in particular that I do not know. Dern Lon, I was raised on the stuff and at one time I was also recorded live at LaBrasserie. (Dixieland). You see, I have met and in a few cases had drinks or dinner or served drinks or dinner with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey and his brother Johnny, Louis Armstrong, and many more. I just listed some of my preferences and the types of jazz musicians I prefer. I had two successful restaurants in the Quarter and Fats Domino and his son would often come in and play. Granted, Fats wasn’t touted as being a Jazz musician but the street knew him well and what he could do with the keys. Note: The “street” is a common word in New Orleans for those living and working in the French Quarter. Trying to tell me what Jazz is is like telling Einstein that 1+1=2.
@Bobby Cole - just read your earlier post and above - to say I'm impressed is an understatement - Go Bobby go !