Jazz for aficionados

Frogman, sorry, due to the time difference, I was in bed already...

Re Yenne...Funny, while I was listening and posting I remember thinking 'is this really jazz' because the way she played it.....and yes. with your words, when looking to her again, I would agree....

Re Kessel, for me, he played it kind of ’too hard’ (is it my expectation that prevents me in hearing it in another context, I could not say) but I prefer version of Joe Pass more, of all posted here.

Two different versions by Art Pepper

https://youtu.be/Kwlcgkhuxv4

https://youtu.be/RK4WlatYV38

Here is one with Chet and Paul Desmond...not my favourite, they are ’too busy’ to me....

https://youtu.be/Gsz3mrnIBd0

Schubert, ’hands’ of a piano player...

https://youtu.be/mADxQjfxL54

Very nice exchange of ideas and clips of the different versions of the beautiful tune “The Autumn Leaves”. Thanks to all for your thoughts and contributions. Great versions of the tune. As points of interest which may put the song in a more complete context:

Usually attributed to the American song writer Johnny Mercer whose songs feature prominently in the Great American Songbook, Mercer only wrote the English lyrics to the song. The song was written by the Hungarian composer Joseph Kosma with lyrics (in French) by collaborator Jacques Prevert for the film “Les Portes de la Nuit” (Gates of the Night, 1945).

Speaking of song titles and their meaning: the original title of the song was “Les Feuilles Mortes”. The title translates to “The Dead Leaves”. To me, a subtle but interesting distinction in the feeling (meaning) that this title suggests compared to the English title. This feeling, IMO, is reinforced by the feeling conveyed in this scene from the film. This was the first time that the tune is heard in the film. Not exactly light and joyful:

https://youtu.be/L1XJWNewsbA

First commercial recording of the song (with the seldom heard introduction):

https://youtu.be/mGWv8lTTcTY

Of course, there are many different ways to interpret a song and Marija points out how Yenee reimagines the original feeling of the tune, but I think there is value in understanding the composer’s original intent; if not necessarily always having to honor it.

Speaking of technical matters (the uninterested can stop reading 😡): aside from being a great melody, the main reason that the song became so popular with Jazz players is that the harmonic chord progression of the song is a series of what is called a “II V I”. Notice the distinctive movement of the first four notes of the melody and how often that motif of four notes is repeated in the song. Every time that those four notes are heard, the underlying harmonic movement is a II V I. That sequence is the “meat and potatoes” of harmony in Jazz and just plain fun to improvise over. It is like flour, yeast and water to a baker; it all starts there.

Mary_jo, the subject of our conversation was the title of the song "If I should Find You Again", and my interpretation of the title, and your reaction is to my interpretation of that title.

While I live in the past you don't. Would you say that is an accurate summation so far?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE88Q15AprM



It's not my fault that I couldn't forget her.



      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkBOXMRIud4


That's what she told me many years ago, and sometime I still see the shadow of her smile.

While exploring "Autumn Leaves," couldn't pass up sharing this Ben Webster/Oscar Peterson gig from '72:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5IaMdhVBFo