Let us again praise Billy Strayhorn. He hasn’t been tangibly on the planet since 1967, but does a day go past without a Strayhorn melody being offered up, reverently, somewhere — even if it is in the jukebox of the imagination?
Here are some of Swee’ Pea’s lovely melodies played in real life by a quintet of sensitive creators: John DiMartino, piano; Dan Block, reeds; Andy Brown, guitar; Nicki Parrott, string bass; Pete Siers, drums, at the Cleveland Classic Jazz Party last September.
U.M.M.G. (for “Upper Manhattan Medical Group”):
RAIN CHECK (which starts late: we in the trade call this “videographer error,” or battery death and resurrection. My apologies.):
CHELSEA BRIDGE, gorgeously:
and of course, that TRAIN, which still will take you to Harlem, even though the price has substantially increased since 1941, when it was (pre-token) five cents:
These musicians know the common language so deeply and beautifully: bless Nancy Hancock Griffith for her work with the Cleveland Classic Jazz Party, now, alas, only a lovely memory.
May your happiness increase!
JAZZ LIVES 
What a lovely set!Don’t remember hearing these the first time around but I wish I had them on record;Ben would have flipped on Dan’s “Chelsea Bridge” solo.Thanks for posting them.
Dear Zoot, the reason you don’t remember them is that this is their first posting. So your memory is intact, as is your taste.
Dear Michael I hope your cold is better! Dan PS in this weather something cold is welcome😉
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