[Dixielandjazz] More on Fred Astaire - "Jazz Singer?"

[Steve barbone]

Check out the recording he made in a collaboration with Norman Granz. The
band was as hip as it got for those days. "The Astaire Story" (not sure if
that's the correct title - Ask Bill Haesler)

Oscar Peterson, Charlie Shavers, Flip Phillips, Barney Kessell, Ray Brown
and Al Stoller were in that band.

Astaire may or may not have been a jazz singer depending on your ears, but
his time, as I hear it, was surely better than many who say they are jazz
singers. And he knew how to sell a song.

He also made a recording circa 1940 with Benny Goodman's group which then
included Charlie Christian and Lionel Hampton.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone