[Dixielandjazz] American Song Book

[Russ Guarino]

Thanks to all that responded to my question...

Russ

Steve Barbone wrote:

> Hi Russ:
>
> The "American Song Book", or "Great American Song Book" as it is sometimes
> called is a commonly known compilation of tunes that were written by the Tin
> Pan Alley composers and the Musical Show Composers during the hey day of
> Popular Music Tunes in the USA. Say roughly from 1920 to 1970, give or take.
>
> These are the songs by composers such as; Irving Berlin, George Gershwin,
> Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Leonard Bernstein, Hoagy Carmichael, Cy Coleman,
> Matt Dennis, Walter Donaldson, Vernon Duke, Duke Ellington, Allen Lerner,
> Frank Loesser, Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers,
> Sigmund Romberg, Arthur Schwartz, Julie Styne, James Van Heusen, Fats
> Waller, Harry Warren, Kurt Weill, Vincent Youmans and Victor Young. Plus I
> would include songs by a few of the more current composers (even if some are
> not Americans) such as; The Beatles, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Michel Legrand,
> Bert Bacharach, Stevie Wonder et al.
>
> No doubt I've left some out, but these are, IMO, the main composers whose
> tunes make up what we call "The Great American Song Book".
>
> I am very fortunate in that Barbone Street employs a guitarist, bassist, and
> trombonist who know these tunes (about 1500 of them at least) without
> resorting to having to find the written music for them. Thus we are
> comfortable in any wedding setting and or other gig where the audience might
> request such tunes. MANY can be and are played as Dixieland.
>
> These are also the tunes that the "Society Bands" of Lester Lanin, Meyer
> Davis, Howard Lanin and the others played at all the High Society Soirees
> back in the halcyon days of debutantes and those wonderful coming out
> parties and weddings.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>
> Russ Guarino at russg at redshift.com wrote:
>
> > I'm not familiar with the "American Song Book"  Is this a gig book or a
> > commonly known list of tunes?
>
> >> Steve Barbone wrote: (Snipped for brevity)
>
> >> We actually did this one, last Feb, as a quintet, American Songbook, 5
> >> hours, $500 a man. Played soft, romantic jazz, love songs, adding some
> >> Dixieland. Bride and attendees loved our "West Coast Jazz" sound. Now, nine
> >> months later, they still write to tell us that guests are still talking
> >> about how great the music was.
>
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