HUMMING A TUNE

I woke up this morning singing the song; “Laura”. You know, “the face in the misty light”. I wasn’t singing it out loud but sort of humming it. Why Laura? I do not know. Love the tune though.

This brought to mind, as you will notice in my scribblings there will be consistent reminders of the phrase; “brought to mind”. Anyway, many years ago someone told me that he never had a song on his mind. He knew no lyrics let alone a melody! How sad. I found this strange, but perhaps I am strange!

I’m a lover of the Great American Song Book. These were tunes penned in the early to mid twentieth century. Most were written for Broadway musicals, and movies. Certainly you are familiar with many of the composers and the songs they wrote.

Among my favorites are Jimmy Van Heusen’s work in collaboration with lyricists Johnny Burke and Sammy Cahn. Together they produced great songs such as; All the Way, Swinging on a Star and Come Fly with Me. Cole Porter definitely is my all time favorite. Why not, he is responsible for; Anything Goes, Just One of Those Things, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Night and Day. I could go on and on. He penned almost one thousand songs. What a prolific talent!

These songs in the pop and jazz worlds normally referred to as “standards” made up the musical repertoire of the big bands of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. They were recorded by the leading singers of the day, such as; Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, etc.

The beboppers (jazz musicians of a wonderful different kind) of that era quickly recognized the intrinsic musical possibilities of the chord changes of these compositions. They would improvise on the chords, and produce a dramatic, profound individual melody unlike the original sound. For example; Charlie Parker's “Ornithology” is based on How High the Moon chords, and Dizzy Gillespie’s Groovin High on “Whispering”

The freedom to explore and improvise was seized upon by all jazz musicians of the day. Many of these tunes became known as jazz standards, Played over and over by jazz influenced artists were tunes such as: Body and Soul, Round Midnight, After You’ve Gone, and Indiana.

Being the romantic led me to the fascination of love lyrics. Are there any other kind? Of course contemporary composers do appeal to the appropriate generation but I am attached to those that wrote the "Great American Songbook. Not only the lyrics but the accompanying musical scores. How can any tender heart not be aroused by Jerome Kern's; "All the Things You Are"? Just a few notes from Charlie Parker's improvisation of Kern's "Things" called; "Bird Of Paradise" should delight many music lovers from any generation.

Many people over the years have told me they like all kind of music.I guess they were informing me that their appreciation of music was more involved and broad in scope in contrast with my concentration on a specific genre. That's fine and understandable. Each decade has produced an identifiable popular musical style. My ears are in tune with those sounds experienced during my most impressionable years, those of my youth. I am certain that is the case with most followers of popular music.

There exists ample evidence; The Great American Songbook has endured the test of time!

By the way, I am not a musician, nor a music critic, just an aficionado. My appreciation and respect for those talents that create wonderful music regardless of genre is boundless!

This started with having a song on my mind. I could never imagine going through life void of the company of a song, as my friend of long ago sadly confessed he was. Here is hoping you are always; “humming a tune”. I know I am, like right now: "All or nothing at all, half a love never appealed to me." Soon!