23/08/2009
Paying tribute to tenor giant Lester Young, Russell Davies plays a mix of old and new songs, from Billie Holiday and Fred Astaire to Jessica Molaskey, Todd Gordon and Paul West.
The ghost of tenor-sax giant Lester Young looms large over this week's programme on the occasion of his centenary. We hear him, the eminence grise behind two classic Billie Holiday tracks. We also hear him with Jimmy Rushing and a Basie small group; and with Una Mae Carlisle in an extraordinarily titled Fred Fisher song from 1941, Blitzkrieg Baby (You Can't Bomb Me)!
Then, on a new release celebrating Johnny Mercer by Scottish singer Todd Gordon, Todd suggests Mercer as the only direct Scottish link to American Songbook Royalty. This has Russell hunting - and finding plenty of other contenders: Hoagy Carmichael (whom we hear), Cole Porter; maybe even Harry Woods. And what about Haven Gillespie, whose Breezing Along With The Breeze we hear breezily sung by Jessica Molaskey? Finally a new one from Paul West rounds off the subject - and the show - Miss You, Mr Mercer.
Last on
Music Played
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Billie Holiday
A Sailboat In The Moonlight
鈥楲ady Day鈥� Complete Billie Holiday Columbias 鈥�33-鈥�44
- Columbia Legacy.
- CXK 85470.
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Frank Sinatra
Gone With The Wind
鈥淔rank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely鈥�
- Capitol.
- CDP 7 48471-2.
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Jones-Smith Incorporated
Boogie Woogie
鈥淐ount Basie & His Small Groups 鈥� The Fives鈥�
- Giants Of Jazz.
- CD 53296.
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Una Mae Carlisle
Blitzkrieg Baby (You Can't Bomb Me)
The Complete Una Mae Carlisle & John Kirby 1940-42
- RCA Jazz Tribune.
- ND 89484.
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Billie Holiday
When A Woman Loves A Man
鈥楲ady Day鈥� Complete Billie Holiday Columbias 鈥�33-鈥�44
- Columbia Legacy.
- CXK 85470.
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Todd Gordon
Tangerine
Todd Gordon: Moon River To The Days Of Wine & Roses 鈥� The Genius Of Johnny Mercer
- Audacious Records.
- ARTG-10051.
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Hoagy Carmichael
Little Old Lady
Hoagy Carmichael In Person 1925-55 (10 CD Box)
- Avid.
- AMBX 150.
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Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire - I've Got A Shooting Box In Scotland
Fred Astaire 鈥� The Complete London Sessions
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michael roberts
I Know It's Not Meant For Me
Cleared For B鈥檆ast By The Cole Porter Estate
- None - Special Recording.
- PING 01.
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Kay Starr
Side By Side
Kay Starr 鈥� The Ultimate Collection (3 CD Set)
- EMI Gold.
- 390 0462.
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Jessica Molaskey
Breezin' Along With The Breeze
Jessica Molaskey 鈥� A Kiss To Build A Dream On
- Arbors Records.
- ARCD 19384.
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Paul West
Miss You, Mister Mercer
Paul West 鈥� Being Along
- OA2 Records.
- 2004-03-16.
Broadcast
- Sun 23 Aug 2009 21:00麻豆社 Radio 2