Jim Alfredson Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 Since I have a daughter named Stella, I figured I should finally learn this tune. It never grabbed me, but now that I'm learning it, I really appreciate the flow of the song and the changes. What is the definitive version in your mind? Quote
Hot Ptah Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 I really like the Miles Davis/John Coltrane version from the 1950s. Quote
Teasing the Korean Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 No one has ever come close to even touching Frank Comstock's definitive version. Quote
kh1958 Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 I really like the Miles Davis/John Coltrane version from the 1950s. I agree--the best version I've heard features the Kind of Blue edition of the Miles Davis group, it's on the CD '58 Sessions. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted January 5, 2009 Author Report Posted January 5, 2009 I've got that... have to dig it out. Quote
Teasing the Korean Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 I've got that... have to dig it out. Now get to work on finding the Comstock version. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted January 5, 2009 Author Report Posted January 5, 2009 Does it have Novachord on it? If not, I ain't buying it. Quote
Teasing the Korean Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 Does it have Novachord on it? If not, I ain't buying it. I *think* there is a novachord, along with some other electronic instruments, integrated with rhythm, woodwinds, and strings. Best version ever. Quote
Free For All Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 I really like the Miles Davis/John Coltrane version from the 1950s. I agree--the best version I've heard features the Kind of Blue edition of the Miles Davis group, it's on the CD '58 Sessions. One of my favorite moments in recorded jazz happens right at the beginning of the second chorus when Trane comes in and Jimmy & PC start to walk at that medium tempo. Sublime. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted January 5, 2009 Author Report Posted January 5, 2009 Does it have Novachord on it? If not, I ain't buying it. I *think* there is a novachord, along with some other electronic instruments, integrated with rhythm, woodwinds, and strings. Best version ever. Well, TURN IT UP, MAN!!! Quote
Quasimado Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 Chet Baker Sextet ('54) with Shank and Brookmeyer playing Mandel arrangement has a superb Chet solo - the kind that makes you sit up and think "This cat can play!" There's also a nice Bird w. Strings on Verve - kills Comstock. Q Quote
Teasing the Korean Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 There's also a nice Bird w. Strings on Verve - kills Comstock. Q Arrangements on the CP album are square, old man arrangements, not even coming close to Comstock. It's ironic that most (not all) of the "jazz guy plus strings" albums had arrangements infinitely more square than you hear on so-called "easy listening" records from this period. Quote
Shawn Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 For reference you should hear the version in the original film, there's a solo piano rendition in addition to the scored version. The movie is called "The Uninvited", starring Ray Milland. Quote
RDK Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 I agree re: the Miles/Coltrane version, but another (very different) version that I really like is by Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio (from "Live" iirc). It's also worth checking out and may even groove enough for an organ trio arrangement. Quote
Quasimado Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 There's also a nice Bird w. Strings on Verve - kills Comstock. Q Arrangements on the CP album are square, old man arrangements, not even coming close to Comstock. It's ironic that most (not all) of the "jazz guy plus strings" albums had arrangements infinitely more square than you hear on so-called "easy listening" records from this period. Nobody mentioned the arrangements ... Q Quote
Michael Weiss Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 Since I have a daughter named Stella, I figured I should finally learn this tune. Tsk tsk! Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 I really like the Miles Davis/John Coltrane version from the 1950s. I agree--the best version I've heard features the Kind of Blue edition of the Miles Davis group, it's on the CD '58 Sessions. One of my favorite moments in recorded jazz happens right at the beginning of the second chorus when Trane comes in and Jimmy & PC start to walk at that medium tempo. Sublime. Sends shivers up my spine every time. A priceless moment, especially the 'cry' when Coltrane peaks. Quote
bluesbro Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 There are two versions of Miles and Trane from the 58 sessions, IIRC. The one I prefer is the version included in the 58 sessions CD. I believe the version in the Miles/Trane box is different. Quote
BillF Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 Just been listening to the Bill Evans Trio playing it at Shelly's Manne Hole on Bebop Spoken Here on KBCS. Bernie Goldberg played a different take from the one on my 1960s LP. Strange to hear something you know so well played differently! Quote
kh1958 Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 (edited) Other nice versions of this song: Booker Ervin, on Groovin' High Chet Baker, on Chet Baker in Tokyo and on This Time the Dream's on Me Dizzy Gillespie, on Jazz in Paris, The Giant Donald Byrd and Doug Watkins, The Transition Sessions Don Patterson/Sonny Stitt, on Legends of Acid Jazz, volume 2. Gene Ammons, on Funky Illinois Jacquet, on Illinois Jacquet Joe Henderson, on The State of the Tenor Lou Blackburn, on the Complete Imperial Sessions Others by Miles Davis, on 1963 Monterey Jazz Festival, and Live at the Plugged Nickel Stan Kenton, Complete Capitol Recordings. Edited January 5, 2009 by kh1958 Quote
DukeCity Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 Lots of great suggestions so far. Not necessarily a "definitive" version, but the recording that was my introduction to this tune was on a Bud Shank album from the '70s on Concord called "Heritage". Has "Stella", "Another You", "What Is This Thing..." and other common standards. Also, when I'm learning a new standard, I usually look for some vocal versions to get a feel for the phrasing of the lyrics. As jazz vocalists go, Ella is a good choice, because she tends to stay pretty close to the original tune in the first statement of the melody." Quote
JSngry Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 If you wanna freak yourself out, make the first version you lean the changes from be the Miles/George/HerbieRonTony band's version. From either Four And More or My Funny Valentine, I forget which. Probably the latter, if memory serves, as it occasionally still does... Like the man said - if you live, you'll be HIIIIIGH!!!! And just for grins, find some "easy listening" version, just to hear them revel for days in that opening diminished chord (it's on the original sheet music, btw, I got it in an older-than-sin fake book & that's just one of countless surprises and delights to be found as far as what you think are the real changes and what in fact are the real changes...), and then go back to that half-diminished that jazz calls for, and be thankful that sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. Quote
tonym Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 I really like the Miles Davis/John Coltrane version from the 1950s. I agree--the best version I've heard features the Kind of Blue edition of the Miles Davis group, it's on the CD '58 Sessions. One of my favorite moments in recorded jazz happens right at the beginning of the second chorus when Trane comes in and Jimmy & PC start to walk at that medium tempo. Sublime. Sends shivers up my spine every time. A priceless moment, especially the 'cry' when Coltrane peaks. I get those same shivers on the My Funny Valentine album when Wayne comes in! Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted January 6, 2009 Report Posted January 6, 2009 I get those same shivers on the My Funny Valentine album when Wayne comes in! I would too. Quote
tonym Posted January 6, 2009 Report Posted January 6, 2009 yeah, yeah...with his big horn and all that... Quote
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