Jazz programme, Winter term 2010

Programme:

Based on songs by Harold Arlen and includes

'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' (H Arlen/E.Y. Harburg) - Eternally linked with the 1939 film 'The Wizard of Oz' believe it or not this classic song sung by Judy Garland nearly did not appear in the film. MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer thought the song "slowed down the picture". Re-inveted with utter brilliance by Eva Cassidy the song which was initially recorded on July 18, 1992 bizarely becoming a hit 5 years after her death in 2001 after a broadcast of a live 1994 recording which was videotaped by her friend Bryan McCulley. (see: http://evacassidy.org/eva/otr.htm)
'Any Place I Hang my Hat' (H Arlen/J Mercer) - from the original 1946 broadway musical and film 'St. Louis Woman'' this languid song was sung by a female character of easy virtue the style of which is not dissimilar to their classic 'One for My Baby'. Sung by Barabara Streisand, Rosemary Clooney and by Mercer himself.
'Come Rain or Shine' (H Arlen/J Mercer) - another from 'St. Louis Woman', one of its best songs coming out of a single evening's work in October 1945. Although never a 'hit' as such it's a popular standard regularly performed and recorded by artists from Dr. John & Dianne Reeves to Eric Clapton and Danny Gokey who sang a version on Season 8 of American Idol.
'Get Happy' (H Arlen/T Koehler) - written with his first collaborator, a "noisy song," Arlen's first hit in 1929 became a stepping stone from singing to songwriting leading to one of the main outlets for his compositions in the 1930s, the Cotton Club, the famous Harlem night spot in New York.

(Programme is subject to change, depending on availability of scores)