“Transforming ho-hum standards” — much is made today, and deservedly so, of the Great American Songbook, but back in the mid-twentieth century those songs, not yet known by that name, were getting a little shopworn. The pop singers and erstwhile big band singers were challenging the upstart rock and roll with songs like “Ricochet Romance” and “Cross Over the Bridge,” and nothing very exciting was coming out of Tin Pan Alley. It was left to two very different groups to breathe new life into the old standards — modern jazzers and doowoppers.
Wow! This is the only time I have heard "Summertime" and "Little Girl Blue" referred to as "ho-hum standards. I surely first heard those songs almost 70 years ago. All these decades later they remain, well, not "ho-hum." Sorry, Marc. We have to disagree on this one. Those songs were, and remain, great music.
Hi Wayne. Yes, of course, by definition they are great. But even greatness has a batting order. I wouldn't exactly put them at the top of my list. "Summertime" is sluggish (and the livin' in the summer really ain't that easy). And "Little Girl Blue" is kitschy and first appeared in a music about an elephant. I have nothing against elephants. I simply love how Gary and Jim handled them. They knew they were ho-hum and found ways to make them truly dynamic and exciting. But here's the thing. Music is subjective. You're entitled to love them and I'm entitled to find them ho-hum. Everything about jazz is personal taste, and that's why we enjoy it so much. Most of all, thank you for your comment.
“Transforming ho-hum standards” — much is made today, and deservedly so, of the Great American Songbook, but back in the mid-twentieth century those songs, not yet known by that name, were getting a little shopworn. The pop singers and erstwhile big band singers were challenging the upstart rock and roll with songs like “Ricochet Romance” and “Cross Over the Bridge,” and nothing very exciting was coming out of Tin Pan Alley. It was left to two very different groups to breathe new life into the old standards — modern jazzers and doowoppers.
Amen, Tad.
Wow! This is the only time I have heard "Summertime" and "Little Girl Blue" referred to as "ho-hum standards. I surely first heard those songs almost 70 years ago. All these decades later they remain, well, not "ho-hum." Sorry, Marc. We have to disagree on this one. Those songs were, and remain, great music.
Hi Wayne. Yes, of course, by definition they are great. But even greatness has a batting order. I wouldn't exactly put them at the top of my list. "Summertime" is sluggish (and the livin' in the summer really ain't that easy). And "Little Girl Blue" is kitschy and first appeared in a music about an elephant. I have nothing against elephants. I simply love how Gary and Jim handled them. They knew they were ho-hum and found ways to make them truly dynamic and exciting. But here's the thing. Music is subjective. You're entitled to love them and I'm entitled to find them ho-hum. Everything about jazz is personal taste, and that's why we enjoy it so much. Most of all, thank you for your comment.