Love the song Tenderly? Composed by Walter Gross with lyrics by Jack Lawrence and published in 1946, the ballad was first recorded by Dick Farney, the Brazilian singer and pianist in June 1947. Sarah Vaughan was next in July. Then came everyone else as the song became a standard, starting with a string of big bands in the late 1940s and then small jazz groups in the 1950s.
The longest version of Tenderly (22 1/2 minute) and easily one of the most dynamic instrumentals of the song appeared on Decca's Jazz Studio 1. Recorded in 1953, it's half ballad and half rip-roaring jam session, and it took up an entire side.
The combo featured Joe Newman (tp), Bennie Green (tb), Frank Foster and Paul Quinichette (ts), Hank Jones (p), Johnny Smith (g), Eddie Jones (b) and Kenny Clarke (d)...
Here's the complete recording of Tenderly, without ad interruptions. Dig Johnny Smith's sublime opener and closer...
Other Perfection tracks in this ongoing series...
- Paul Desmond and Jim Hall: Any Other Time, go here.
- John Coltrane: You Say You Care, go here.
- Quincy Jones: Funk Junction, go here.
- Art Farmer's Work of Art, go here.
- Miles Davis: A Gal in Calico, go here.
- Gene Krupa: Mulligan Stew, go here.
- Dave Brubeck: The Duke, go here.
- Horace Silver: The Back Beat, go here.
- Horace Parlan: Up & Down, go here.
- Dexter Gordon: Society Red, go here.
- Barney Kessel: You Go to My Head, go here.
- Count Basie: Corner Pocket, go here.
- Herbie Mann: Manteca, go here.
- Donald Byrd: Bronze Dance, go here.
- George Shearing: I'll Be Around, go here.
- Ammons & Stitt: You Talk That Talk, go here.
- Count Basie: Blues in My Heart, go here.
- Moonlight in Vermont, go here.
- Johnny Griffin / Matthew Gee, Here, go here.
- Jimmy Smith / Stanely Turrentine: When I'I Grow Too Old to Dream, go here.
- Chet Baker, Estate, go here.
