[Dixielandjazz] Jazz Standards, Sweet Georgia Brown

[Graham Martin]

Hi Bill,

I am really mystified about the, "There has to be at least one made between
1925 and 2014." Really, there are many great swinging versions even in my
collection of recordings, although perhaps my "knockout rendition" criteria
if different to yours. And maybe I am not even expecting that? However, I
did say earlier on this topic that I thought SGB somehow suited the trombone
for improvisation. As evidence may I tender a submission from George
Chisholm, which is on YouTube:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tF6WRKN1Lk

And if you are still not convinced, try Kenny Ball, Bob Barnard (Party
2000), Acker Bilk, Eddie Condon, Bing Crosby, Wild Bill Davison, Firehouse
Five, Stan Getz, Lawson Haggard, James Morrison, Anita O'Day (Newport Live),
Kid Ory, Venuti & Lang, Ben Webster, Alex Welsh, Jimmy Noone, Red Nichols,
Don Burrows or Nat Cole, all of which I have on my racks. Mind you, I do not
think they are all on YouTube but I bet you would have most of them anyway.
Personally, I cannot stand the ads on YouTube these days and I prefer to
listen to my own record collection. I am really glad I started a proper
filing system many, many years back. But I know your filing is better.

Best,

Grah

Graham Martin
REDLAND BAY, Qld. AUSTRALIA

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Haesler [mailto:bhaesler at bigpond.net.au] 
Sent: Thursday, 16 October 2014 9:07 AM
To: Dingo; Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Jazz Standards, Sweet Georgia Brown

Dingo wrote [in part]:
> ...one of my favourite versions can be found @:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSZNlfISNvU
> It's fast and bubbling over with adrenalin but, to my ear, and from memory
of my LP copy, this presentation of it is too fast.

Dear John,
It does sound slightly 'speeded up' musically, as opposed to just being a
fast tempo.
So, following your reply to Bob Ringwald, I checked it out.
The YouTube clip of the EP you provided is timed at 8m:34s.
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSZNlfISNvU
Googling the Mercury/Clef/Verve LP revealed that the original timing was
9.35.
I then found this YouTube taken from the Verve LP: 
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLMZMrUPM2M
I put both of them in my iTunes Library and an ear comparison tells me that
you are right.
That EP is faster.
Well remembered dear friend.
However, so far as its jazz content is concerned, apart from the Mel Powell
piano solo, this mouldy fig found the others too long and lacking invention.
Not to be outdone, I tried to recall a definitive hot jazz rendition of
"Sweet Georgie Brown", starting with the first one in March 1925 recorded by
its co-composer Ben Bernie and his Roosevelt Orchestra.
By dipping into the 1600 versions listed in Tom Lord's 'Jazz Discography' I
came across good recordings by Cab Calloway, the California Ramblers, Isham
Jones, Art Hodes and Harry James (all on YouTube).
But didn't come across a real knockout rendition.
There has to be at least one made between 1925 and 2014.
Very kind regards,
Bill.