[Dixielandjazz] Summertime

[Robert Ringwald]

alevy at alevy.com wrote:

Bob Ringwald wrote: I learned to hate the song "Summertime."  It is probably the #1 song that bad girl singers want to sing.  
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Rehearsing with some big bands there were always girl "singers" that requested
either Summertime or Cry Me A River, or Stormy Weather.
I learned to dislike all three until they were performed by some great artist.

* worst - Patrice Munsel (Metropolitan Opera Singer) appeared on a tv show
I believe it was the "Bell Telephone Hour" and had the guts to sing 
"Lullaby Of Birdland." I guess you had to be there.

* best - If you never heard Eileen Farrell, (Metropolitan Opera Singer)
sing jazz, pop, or blues you are missing a lot.
She switches gears flawlessly and is right on the money.
and... she sings opera too ;}
Cheers,
Al
Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Conductor, Teacher and Music Prep.
Please visit me at
http://alevy.com



Speaking of Opera singers, somewhere there is a marvelous recording of Louis Armstrong trying to get Lotte Lenya (Hopefully spelled correctly) to phrase correctly on "Mac The Knife."  It is a classic.  Does anyone have it and could send me a MP3?  Or does anyone know where to find it on the Internet?  

I found a reference to it on google which pointed me at NPR.  But the URL couldn't be brought up.  

--Bob Ringwald