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Michael Buble
“Always on my Mind”

Willie Nelson popularized this song, but this version is amazing. It’s so clean and penetrating. Enjoy.

Frank Sinatra
“I’ve Got The World on a String”

When I do these “weekly genre” things, I usually end them on Saturdays. That gives me sunday to do something off the wall and give me time to think on a new genre for next week.

Today we end the Pop Jazz Standards with Sinatra. Really folks, who else could end it? I can’t say anything about Sinatra that hasn’t been said already. He was an innovator and a master interpreter of classic music of his time.

Mel Torme
“Too Close for Comfort”

Many people don’t know this, but Mel wrote “The Christmas Song” (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…).
That alone should attest for writing abilities.

Be wise, be fair, be sure.

Julie London
“My heart belongs to daddy”

Something tells me she isn’t really singing about her daddy. Anyway, this is a classic. This CD is a pretty good overview of her career. What makes these classics are the arrangements — They’re just as classic.

Harry Connick Jr.
“A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square”

I first stumbled across this song while in college. An amazing pianist I knew (Andrew Armond) showed me this CD and said we’d be playing this song at a luau. We played this song that same night. I had to listen to it about 20 times first, and my solo didn’t sound nearly as cool as this one (not to mention I was playing an alto sax, instead of a tenor sax).

I am still reminded of my college days when I hear this song. I love it.

Ella Fitzgerald
“Whatever Lola Wants”

Some call her the greatest female jazz singer ever. Ella’s career spanned 7 decades, and she recorded prolifically. Amazon has at least 3 pages of CDs of her recordings. There are plenty more songs from her on other CDs.

This is a classic. It was a tossup between Sarah Vaughn and Ella. Ella won out.

Michael Buble
“Feeling Good”

This week — Jazz (popular) standards. Michael Buble gets to lead the charge because he’s the modern day Sinatra. He’s got the big crooner voice, and the loudtastic band behind him.

If you buy this CD (and I strongly suggest you do), take note of “Quando, Quando, Quando”. You’ll be delightfully surprised by Nelly Furtado’s vocal quality in the song.

Ray Charles
“This Little Girl of Mine”

Ray Charles was amazing. He did wonders for musicians during his time. The movie “Ray” brought to light many of the struggles Ray had as an artist. One of which was the opposition he faced when he started mixing gospel (mostly negro spirituals) with his music. This track “This little girl of mine” is very similar in parts to a song called “This little light of mine” (I’m gonna let it shine). It highlights the very simple method ray used to inject music of the time with a bit of soul - a bit of Ray’s own upbringing - into his music. It was a simple mixing, but it changed music forever.

Ray’s contribution to music is without measure.

Music
“Just a Gigolo”

This song was immortalized by David Lee Roth. I’m sure you remember the video.
Louis Prima paved the way, though. He wrote this song half a century ago.

There’s more…

He recorded for Capitol, acted in a movie or two, even owned a golf course. Prima’s genius is infectious: lounge, swing, and Dixieland all fuse together into medleys that are fun, dance-worthy, and upbeat. Prima’s duets with Keely Smith are the obvious highlights here: “That Ol’ Black Magic,” “Hey Boy! Hey Girl!,” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” are essential Prima tracks. Sure, the cheese factor occasionally runs high, but it is a fun trip. –Jason Verlinde

Cab Calloway
“Minnie the Moocher”

Good old Cab. This is fun music for sure. He was an extraordinary scat singer, as well as a band leader at the Cotton Club, in New York City.

I’ve always liked this song.