Blue Lou

[Christiern]

Now, now, Chuck, let's not start that!

[Jim Alfredson]

Got to go with the Tatum choice. I can only hear this one as 'his' tune.

Art Tatum?! Does he play actually play the melody or loop around it at 400mph?

Remember, I need this to learn the tune itself.

[Soul Stream]

I suggest the Hal Leanord version for learning.

Actually Jim, Jimmy Smith does a version on the Lonesome Road CD. Great version too.

Edited January 14, 2005 by Soul Stream

[Alexander Hawkins]

QUOTE (Red @ Jan 14 2005, 06:57 AM)

Got to go with the Tatum choice. I can only hear this one as 'his' tune. 

Art Tatum?!  Does he play actually play the melody or loop around it at 400mph? 

Remember, I need this to learn the tune itself. 

Oh...Fair cop, then.

[Soul Stream]

Up for Jim, didn't know if he saw my mention of a Jimmy Smith version on "Lonesome Road."

[mikeos]

Wardell Gray, Hollywood/Pasadena, April 1947. Actually two versions. I prefer the live. That's it. Question settled. You're welcome.

Absolutely, no contest. One of my all-time favourites. Two versions of the live recording available too, one of them with 3 minutes chopped out, originally to fit a 78 record. Most of Wardell's second solo missing, so beware.

[mikeos]

My favorite recorded performance of "Blue Lou" is the one from Gene Norman's April 1947 Just Jazz concert. Wardell Gray, Howard McGhee, Erroll Garner, et al. Terrific performance by Gray. I used to have it on a Vogue 78, and I believe I wore it out.

I can still hum the entire Wardell solo.