August 2015
Song of the Day: Pick Yourself Up
The song of the day for Wednesday, October 16, 2024, is ” Pick Yourself Up.”
About Today
The Year of Tony Bennett is very happy to wish Bill Charlap a fond Happy Birthday. He was born on October 15, 1966, in New York. He is one of the great jazz pianists of this generation. His father, Moose Charlap, was a Broadway composer who wrote Peter Pan, among other musicals. His mother is Sandy Stewart, a noted cabaret artist; she and Bill did several albums together: Love Is Here To Stay (2004) and Something To Remember (2011). His wife, Renee Rosnes, is a world-class jazz pianist and is a founding member of ARTEMIS, an all-women jazz ensemble.
Bill Charlap worked with Tony Bennett for many years, starting with his 2006 studio recording of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” the second studio recording of that song and was released on Duets: An American Classic. He was the musical director, pianist, and arranger for the 2011The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Renee Rosnes also played dual piano wth Bill in this album. He served in the same role for the 2015 Love Is Here to Stay, the duet album with Bennett and Diana Krall.
Happy Birthday to the Bill Charlap!
About This Song
“Pick Yourself Up” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 film Swing Time, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (see videos later in this post). It was used in the early part of the film when Astaire pretends to not be able to dance and asks for Ginger Rogers as his dance instructor just so he can dance with her. This song has been widely recorded, including those by Nat King Cole, Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Diana Krall.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “Pick Yourself Up” in 2015 for his album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, with an arrangement by Bill Charlap. The Bill Charlap Trio (Charlap on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums accompanies Bennett on this recording.
” Pick Yourself Up,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.
We’ve got some great videos for you today. First up is the dance numbers from Swing Time:
Swing Time, part 1
Swing Time, part 2
“Pick Yourself Up” – All-Star Jazz Collab for the Actors Fund
This video was released on June 25, 2020, to help raise donations for The Actors Fund, helping actors and musicians who could not work due to the Covid-19 shutdowns. I love this video and I love the cause.
Song of the Day: Do It Again
The song of the day for September 26, 2024, is “Do It Again.”
About Today
Today we are celebrating the birth of the great George Gershwin, born on September 26, 1989, in Brooklyn, NY. He See Gershwin.com to learn more about his work.
About This Song
“Do It Again” was written in 1922 by George Gershwin and Buddy DeSylva. Gershwin was in a meeting with his publisher, Max Dreyfus, when DeSylva walked in and said “Let’s write a hit!” Gershwin started composing on the spot. DeSylva listened for a few minutes and then sang “Oh, do it again.” Gershwin played the song at parties when it was heard by Irene Bordoni, who wanted to perform it in her show The French Doll. It’s been widely recorded, including a wonderful Judy Garland recording from her 1961 concert at Carnegie Hall, released on Judy at Carnegie Hall.
About This Version
Tony Bennett and Diana Krall recorded “Do It Again” for their 2018 album Love Is Here To Stay. The Bill Charlap Trio backed the singers on this album and Charlap wrote the arrangement.
“Do It Again,” as well as Love Is Here To Stay, is available on Apple Music.
Song of the Day: They Didn’t Believe Me
The song of the day for Sunday, August 11, 2024, is “They Didn’t Believe Me.”
About This Song
“They Didn’t Believe Me” was written by Jerome Kern and Herber Reynolds for the 1914 musical The Girl From Utah. The song became a standard, including it being reused in the 1949 movie The Midnight Kiss, in a duet with Mario Lanza and Kathryn Grayson. It has been widely recorded by singers, including Frank Sinatra, Dinah Washington, and Bing Crosby. Instrumental recordings include those by Marian McPartland, Charlie Parker, and Stan Kenton.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “They Didn’t Believe Me” with The Bill Charlap Trio for his 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Bill Charlp wrote the arrangement.
“They Didn’t Believe Me,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.
Song of the Day: I’m Old Fashioned
The song of the day for Monday, May 6. 2024, is “I’m Old Fashioned.”
About This Song
“I’m Old Fashioned” was written by Jerome Kern and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film You Were Never Lovelier, starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth. Astaire recorded the song first, in 1942 with John Scott Trotter and his orchestra. Other significant recordings include those by Blossom Dearie, Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, John Coltrane, and Susannah McCorkle.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “I’m Old Fashioned” with The Bill Charlap Trio in 2015 for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Charlap wrote the arrangement as well as leading the trio on piano. The trio also featured Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums.
“I’m Old Fashioned,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.
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