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.
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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