Jazz For A Lazy Sunday - Teddy Wilson

Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye, music and lyrics by Cole Porter. This rendition from circa 1945 has my favorite jazz pianist, Teddy Wilson, Red Norvo on vibes, and vocals by Maxine Sullivan, whose voice is every bit as smooth and lyrical as Ella Fitzgerald's.

Wilson, whom I've frequently mentioned, played and recorded with all the famous jazz musicians of the era, as well as leading his own band.  Once you hear Wilson's effortless elegance, you never forget it and you always hunger for more.

Grab that second cup of coffee, or settle down for lunch and set the mood with this wonderful song by Cole Porter.

Every time we say goodbye
I die a little
Every time we say goodbye
I wonder why a little
Why the Gods above me
Who must be in the know
Think so little of me
They allow you to go

When you're near
There's such an air
Of Spring about it
I can hear a lark somewhere
Begin to sing about it
There's no love song finer
But how strange the change
From major to minor
Every time we say goodbye

Benny Goodman - Memories of You

For my money, one of the most beautiful songs ever written.  The lyrics are powerfully evocative, but even as an instrumental, I hear it and memories of life and loves flow past in an unending rainbow of sentiment.

Benny Goodman's clarinet was legendary and the piano of the inimitable Teddy Wilson is beyond compare.

Here are the lyrics to Memories of You.  If you can find the vocal version by Bette Midler, you'll fall in love all over again with your memories.

Waking skies - at sunrise
Every sunset too
Seems to be - bringing me
Memories of you

Here and there - every where
Scenes that we once knew
And they all - just recall
Memories of you

(Oh) How I wish I could forget those, (those) happy yesteryears
That have left a rosary of tears

Your face beams - in my dreams
(In) Spite of all (that) I do
(And) Everything - seems to bring
Memories of you 

Jazz for a Lazy Sunday Afternoon

One of the finest jazz musicians ever, Benny Goodman's clarinet took jazz from the backstreet speakeasies to Carnegie Hall.  His 1938 Carnegie Hall concert, featuring his orchestra, trio, and quartet, is still hailed as the greatest jazz concert ever.

The Goodman Quartet featured Benny Goodman on clarinet, Gene Krupa on drums, Lionel Hampton on vibes, and my all time favorite jazz pianist, Teddy Wilson.

Goodman took the long way around to get to the top.  Born into an impoverished Russian, Jewish, immigrant family, Benny was the ninth of twelve children.  HIs got his first music lessons in a synagogue.  At the age of 16, he joined Ben Pollack's jazz orchestra.  Pollack's eye for talent led him to hire, in addition to Goodman, such future jazz greats as Jack Teagarden, Glen Miller, and Harry James, all of whom went on to form their own orchestras. 

The Goodman Quartet, featured on this recording, brought together Benny Goodman on clarinet, Gene Krupa on drums, Lionel Hampton on vibes, and my all time favorite jazz pianist, Teddy Wilson.  Very tough to beat that combo!