On The Sixtieth Anniversary Of Her Death-Lady Day-Billie Holiday- She Took Our Pain Away Despite Her Own Pains- *For Sax Man Johnny Hodge's 112th Birthday-Blowing The High White Note-Tenor Sax Man Blow Me That High White Note- Johnny Hodges Is In The House

Click on the headline to link to a "YouTube" film clip of Johnny Hodges blowing that high white note.

CD Review

Johnny Hodges Story:1929-1946, Johnny Hodges and a list of classic jazz greats, The Jazz Archives Collection Number 114, 1990

I never tire of telling the tale of how “Lady Day”, Billie Holiday was my entry point into the world of jazz, or rather that bluesy form of jazz that got meshed together in her voice, even that old-drug-addled voice that took its toll in more than one way. Well, Lady Day did not sing unaccompanied, at least not much, and so I would hear some sax man or trumpeter or drummer behind here and say who the heck is that blowing those high white notes. And when it came to the sax, more often than not, it would be Johnny Hodges giving body to the lyrics.

And then when I got really interested in Duke Ellington around the time of the centenary of his birth I kept saying who the heck is that blowing those same high white notes and guess what. Ya, Johnny. What more needs to be said, except to give a few of the highs of this compilation done by the excellent Jazz Archives people. Give a listen to Ellington’s “In A Mellotone”, “Hodges’ “Grievin’, and “Don’t Be That Way”. Then you ‘ll kick yourself like I do for not being OLD enough to have been able to be in some New York Jazz café and hear this stuff live. Wow.

On The Sixtieth Anniversary Of Her Death-Lady Day-Billie Holiday- She Took Our Pain Away Despite Her Own Pains- In Defense Of Whimsy, Part Three - The Music Of Dory Previn

Click on the headline to link to a "YouTube" film clip of Dory Previn performing some material that she did on the Carnegie Hall CD.

CD Review

Dory Previn: Live At Carnegie Hall, Dory Previn, BGO Records, 1973

In a recent CD review of the music of Priscilla Herdman I wrote the following paragraph that can serve as a lead in to this review of Dory Previn’s work:

“Every once in a while I run into a CD or DVD that, for lack of a better term, is just plain whimsical. This detour started a couple of years back with a review of film about Miss (Ms). Beatrice Potter and her artistic talent, especially of illustrations for children’s books. And, in that spirit, we will just let it go at that. The CD under review, Star Dreamer, by singer/songwriter Priscilla Herdman, in any case fits that description. I have described her work previously in a review of her 1998 CD, “Moondreamer” and the sense of that review can fit here: ’’

So here, once again we have a performer who doesn’t fit neatly into one of my folk rock, rock, rockabilly, blues, jazz categories but who nevertheless drew my attention once I got onto her lyrics. And that is where one goes here-to the lyrics. There is some powerful, personal stuff about dysfunctional family (especially fathers-she is searing on this subject), love, war (of course in this period, 1973), aging. You know, all the subjects of the folk rainbow except her performance live at Carnegie Hall has more the quality of an intimate cabaret act.

Be forewarned some of these songs are not for the faint-hearted. Here, though, is what you NEED to listen to: “Scared To Be Alone (if you can bear it),” “Esther’s First Communion,” “The Veteran’s Big Parade,” and to be whimsical, “Moon Rock”, done from the perspective of the moon.

The Veterans Big Parade Lyrics
by Dory Previn

In the veterans big parade
Marched the businessmen’s brigade
While behind the high school band
The ladies fife and drum corps played
In the veterans big parade
The flag flew high and free

Down they marched to Fourth and Main
Our soldiers died but not in vain
God was with us
That’s for sure
He proved it cause
It didn’t rain
Balloons batons you wanted to cry
The best day in July

At the veterans cemetery
Then the services were said
There the Mayor’s first assistant
Wiped his glasses
Put them on
And red

We’re gathered here
Dear friends today
To show our brave boys
Where they lay
We are with them all the way
And I think it’s safe to say
They are not
Alone
They are not
Alone

All the widows proudly smiled
(Except for one with an infant child)
Picnic time was then announced
And all the little kids went wild
Picnic blankets then were spread
And the beer flowed fast and free
There were clams and corn on the cob
To feed the celebrating mob
(Once in a while
I don’t know why
The infant child
Began to sob)
Other than that is was New Year’s Eve
Till it was time to leave

Then a fine Hawaiian band
Played and sang
Aloha oh
And their voices drifted low
Between the crosses
Painted white
Row on row on row

Aloha oh
And so goodbye
Till next year boys
Next July
We are with you
All the way
And I think
It’s safe to say
You are not
Alone
You are not
Alone
You are not
Alone