Today you can wake up with some soothing music. This rendition of “It Never Entered My Mind” is a duet featuring two of the greatest saxophonists in jazz history: Ben Webster (who soloed on “Cottontail” yesterday, and was nicknamed “Frog”) and Coleman Hawkins, also known as “Hawk” or “Bean”). To my mind, it’s up there with the best jazz ballads ever. It was recorded in 1957, when both men were near the end of their careers, but you wouldn’t know it from their playing. The incomparable Oscar Peterson is on piano.
If you really know your jazz saxophone, you should be able to pick out the parts where the players change. Hint: Hawkins always played in a brassier way than Webster. And when you can barely hear the sax for the breathing, it’s Webster. (They never play at the same time.) I’m certain that much of this is pure improvisation.
The song is by Rodgers and Hart, performed on Broadway in 1940, and it had words. They’re not needed here.
Kate Bush would have loved these guys.
Her tribute to a saxaphone player…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_XwYSf7ZJ0
…an inspirational, magical genius of a song.
“The Saxophone Song”
You’ll find me in a Berlin bar,
In a corner brooding.
You know that I go very quiet
When I’m listening to you.
There’s something very special indeed,
In all the places where I’ve seen you shine.
There’s something very real in how I feel.
It’s in me.
It’s in me.
And you know it’s for real.
Tuning in on your saxophone.
The candle burning over your shoulder
Is throwing shadows on your saxophone.
A surly lady in tremor.
The stars that climb from her bowels.
Those stars make towers on vowels.
You’ll never know that you had all of me.
You’ll never know the poetry you’ve stirred in me.
Of all the stars I’ve seen that shine so brightly.
I’ve never known or felt in myself so rightly.
It’s in me.
It’s in me.
And you know it’s for real.
Tuning in on your saxophone.
Perfect ballad, perfect performer. Thank you for my wake up call.
Great music, Jerry. Your content keeps me subscribed, but I’m a dog guy- silky or curly are low allergy for me. (allergic to cats!)
This one is magical. When I play electrical guitar this is the kind of sound I try to emulate…much because its trying to be like the human voice and I think in Ben’s case its exceeding.
What a wonderful way to start the day!
I love that this video has photos from Milt Hinton, “The Judge,” who, if not the best upright bass player of his era, was at least the most famous. Milt played with everyone.
I love this version, and also the ones by Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis, both of which can be directly traced back to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJaxxlo09L4
Hawkins in Paris, 1937, with Django Reinhardt on rhythm guitar. Along with his immense skill as a soloist, Django was the greatest rhythm player ever.
Here’s the Hot Club version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2bthat1U3A
After a fantastic solo, listen to the rhythm work he puts down under Grappelli, especially in the second chorus. He uses his guitar as a string section, putting a swell underneath that sounds like a full orchestra, then as a horn section with hits. Django is the guitar player’s guitar player, and influenced everyone from Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery to Jerry Garcia and Willie Nelson.
Magnificent! Thanks for posting that, Jerry.