[Dixielandjazz] The Nearness of You

[Graham Martin]

Nancy said:

"[.... but it's so much easier to narrow it down by asking all of you for your favourite recording of this tune. I'd prefer one that includes vocals since lyrics don't get much more romantic than this. Still, the melody is a good one for jazz instrumental, so include those suggestions, too.]"

Hi Nancy,

It is a great tune and I have been interested to see the recommendations. I have a few, perhaps you have not heard:

1. By the fast developing young Aussie protégée of James Morrison - Emma Pask. On the " Three Minds" three-CD set - the one called "Cool".

2. A somewhat bluesy version of the tune by Etta James, from her CD "Time After Time".

3. A great instrumental by Woody Herman with a wonderful melody-based solo by Bill Harris - Hey, I'm a trombone player!

4. Two instrumental versions by the Gerry Mulligan Quartet - one with Chet Baker on trumpet and the later recording with Bob Brookmeyer on valve trombone (No repeated nonsense about valve trombones PU-LEASE! The offenders know who.). Superb but perhaps a bit too 'cool' for some.

5. My favourite vocal version is by Mel Torme from 1964 on the CD called "16 Most Requested Songs" - I don't know the original LP it came from. Mel also recorded it in 1991, in a 'two-tune' medley of tunes, with Cleo Laine singing "I May Be Wrong" over the top of his 'Nearness' lines. Rather clever!

The tune was first introduced by Glenn Miller.

I think the reason it is popular as an instrumental is that it has a nice sequence - especially the chromatically descending chords over bars 5 to 8.

||F / / / |Cm7 / F7sus / |Bb / / / |Bbdim7 / / / |Am / Ab7 / |Gm7 / C7 / |Am / Ab7 / |Gm7 / C7 ||

There are other approaches to the progression.

And if you ever want to hear a jazz soloist resolving his solo lines perfectly over this tune, you could do no better than the Charlie Parker version.

Plus Hoagy Carmichael just happens to be my favourite songwriter.

Each to his own - of course.

Best,

Grah 

Graham Martin
COOCHIEMUDLO ISLAND
Queensland, AUSTRALIA

E-mail: grahmartin at bigpond.com
Website: http://tromjazz.netfirms.com/