Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Fred Astaire's Greatest Jazz Recording, "The Astaire Story," Returns As Deluxe 2CD Set For 65th Anniversary Via Verve Records/UMe

In 1952, the famous dancer, singer and film star Fred Astaire teamed up with the brilliant pianist Oscar Peterson and an all-star jazz sextet to record jazz versions of many of the songs that he helped introduce and make famous in the 1930s and '40s. The original program, The Astaire Story, was an innovative three LP set comprised of 38 selections including three features for Astaire's tap-dancing and the rousing instrumental "Jam Session." In celebration of its 65th anniversary, the album will be released October 20 via Verve Records/UMe as an expanded 2CD version and digital collection boasting 41 tracks including a previously unreleased alternate version of "I Won't Dance," one of Astaire's trademark numbers (recorded with Peterson three years later) and three examples of Astaire's famed dancing. The album is presented in a novel way and has been reassembled to give it the shape of a soundtrack. The two "Blues" serve as bookends while the "Jam Session" is featured as an intermission.  Throughout, Astaire talks a little and sings a lot. 

While Astaire had made recordings as early as the 1920s, usually performing with studio orchestras, The Astaire Story is unique in that he is joined by a freewheeling combo comprised of Peterson, tenor-saxophonist Flip Phillips, trumpeter Charlie Shavers, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Alvin Stoller. The musicians, drawn from producer Norman Granz's Jazz At The Philharmonic, perfectly complement Astaire's vocals and the music swings throughout.

Astaire, who passed away 30 years ago in 1987, performed on Broadway as early as 1917 and had his big breakthrough in 1924 when he and his sister Adele were featured in "Lady, Be Good," the first Broadway musical by George and Ira Gershwin.  A household name ever since he began starring in movie musicals with Ginger Rogers (starting with 1934's "The Gay Divorcee"), Astaire was the epitome of class in his dancing, singing and acting. While his dancing gained the biggest acclaim, he was a personable singer who perfectly placed his notes, always swinging. Such composers as George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern and Cole Porter loved to have him introduce their songs in the movies because, while sticking to the lyrics and the melody, he uplifted every tune that he interpreted with his phrasing and classy personality.

The Astaire Story has the 53-year old Astaire, at the peak of his powers, singing such songs as "Puttin'On The Ritz" (which has some rhythmic interplay with drummer Stoller), "The Continental," "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off," "'S Wonderful," "Cheek To Cheek," "Dancing In The Dark," "Top Hat, White Coat And Tails" (which concludes with Astaire's heated dancing), "I Won't Dance," an uptempo "No Strings" that features Peterson taking a celeste solo, and "A Foggy Day." He also reminisces a bit about some of the numbers. 19 of the tunes are from Astaire's movies with Ginger Rogers and the program includes ten songs by Berlin and eight composed by Gershwin. A special treat is hearing Astaire perform two of his own compositions: "I'm Building Up To An Awful Letdown" and "Not My Girl." On the latter, the multi-talented Astaire takes a very credible chorus of stride piano.

With solos sprinkled throughout by Peterson, Phillips, Shavers and Kessel and inspired singing by Astaire, the performances on The Astaire Story are as irresistible as the film performances of the great dancer-singer.

The Astaire Story Track listing

DISC 1

1. Overture: The Astaire Blues
2. Isn't This A Lovely Day
3. Puttin' On The Ritz
4. I Used To Be Color Blind                                                            
5. The Continental                                                                                                          
6. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off                                                                              
7. Change Partners                                                                                                         
8. 'S Wonderful                                                                                                 
9. Lovely To Look At                                                                                                       
10. They All Laughed                                                                                                       
11. Cheek To Cheek                                                                                                       
12. Steppin' Out With My Baby                                                                  
13. The Way You Look Tonight                                                   
14. I've Got My Eyes On You                                                                                      
15. Dancing In The Dark                                                                                                
16. The Carioca                                                                                                 
17. Nice Work If You Can Get It                                                                 
18. New Sun In The Sky                                                                                                
19. I Won't Dance                                                                                                            
20. Fast Dances (ad lib)                                                                                

DISC 2

1. Intermission: Jam Session For A Dancer                                                            
2. Top Hat, White Tie And Tails                                                                  
3. No String, I'm Fancy Free                                                                                        
4. I Concentrate On You                                                                                               
5. I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket                                                               
6. A Fine Romance                                                                                                           
7. Night And Day                                                                                                             
8. Fascinating Rhythm                                                                                    
9. I Love Louisa                                                                                                 
10. They Can't Take That Away From Me                                                               
11. Medium Dances                                                                                                       
12. You're Easy To Dance With                                                                  
13. A Needle In A Haystack                                                                                         
14. So Near And Yet So Far                                                                                          
15. A Foggy Day (In London Town)                                                                           
16. Oh, Lady Be Good!                                                                                  
17. Slow Dances (ad lib)                                                                                 
18. I'm Building Up To An Awful Letdown                                                             
19. Not My Girl                                                                                                

Bonus Tracks
20. I Won't Dance                                                                                                      
21. Exit Music: The Second Astaire Blues    


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