[Dixielandjazz] The D of D version of Blue Prelude

[jim at kashprod.com]

Roger wrote with the details of the Freddie Assunto recording I referred to
in my original post.  The date of the 1955 issue works, as I would have
learned the song from that recording in 1959.  I remember the house I was
living in at the time in Seal Beach, California!

I also followed someone else's lead to YouTube to hear the live performance
of the song.  I had forgotten that it was played as a dirge.  We play it as
a normal, but sad, ballad.  I still have the sound & phrasing of the
original recording in my head, though.  Those that blast the Dukes for being
a clown band, etc., though, should eat their words when they listen to this,
as there is an honest to goodness good trombonist playing on that recording.


The original aim of my post was to stir up a discussion on whether or not
others consider some lyrics to having some meaning in how we play melodies
and improvise some songs.  That didn't happen, but it was nice, anyway, to
see all the responses on djml.

Although the Peggy Lee recording was good, I don't understand how the group
came up with that rhythm & tempo after hearing the lyrics.  Doesn't really
fit at all.  Seems to fit more the period in which the recording was made,
rather than the actual lyrics, which are timeless.  Don't particularly like
the dirge effect, either.  A down & out blues tempo & feel fit better.

Jim