A short series of blissful interludes, courtesy of James P. Johnson and Henry Creamer (1930). First, Bobby Hackett floating over an orchestra “conducted” by Jackie Gleason:
Ruby Braff, cornet; Dick Hyman, Baldwin organ — with a closing chorus of great majesty:
and for the historians among us, where it all started, with thanks to Red McKenzie, Coleman Hawkins, Pee Wee Russell, and Glenn Miller (note that the label of the Bluebird reissue credits the song to “McKenzie-Kruppa”: when asked, did one of them tell the recording supervisor that the composition, ONE HOUR, was theirs?):
and the 1930 recording by McKinney’s Cotton Pickers, with vocal refrain by one of my favorite singers, George Thomas:
Eva Taylor’s very tender version:
Near the end of Vic Dickenson’s life, he created this touching performance — holding up TWO fingers:
And — at the end because nothing could follow it — Louis, explicated by our very own Ricky Riccardi here.
Who knew that the state of yearning, of wanting a complete love and not yet attaining it, could be the source of such healing music?
May your happiness increase!
JAZZ LIVES 