Tuesday, June 25, 2002

wnbc.com - Will Friedwald's Stardust Melodies - Richard Rodgers

"''My Funny Valentine,'' Friedwald says, is the closest thing to an American art song. ''It's in major and it's in minor, it's slow and it's fast, it's a romantic song with a comic twist. (When one considers Lorenz Hart's omnidirectional sexual preferences and the apparent androgyny of Chet Baker, the artist who sang it most over the years, perhaps we could describe it as sexually ambiguous as well.)''"

[Later...Will will be on the show this Thursday night! He'll be talking about My Funny Valentine and other Rodgers stuff. Hoo ray again! I'm also talking to Don Sickler tomorrow, hopefully about being on the show Thursday, who also recommended that I try and round up Bill Charlap. I better work on putting the rest of the show together!!]
11:59:58 AM    comment []  Google It!  


Howard Mandel on Richard Rodgers on The New Jazz Thing!

Howard Mandel, Jazz Writer, has written back regarding my request for Richard Rodgers contributions and has said he'd like to be on the show this Thursday! Hoo ray!!

On Rodgers...

"...he was simply a great melodicist, whose tunes are simple enough to make a lasting impression, and so strongly structured as to allow for broad variation without being diminished in any way."

On Rodgers tunes by others...

"besides Trane's My Favorite Things -- and Betty Carter's extraordinary version on Inside Betty Carter, and "Thou Swell" and "I Could Write a Book" -- and Miles D's "Surrey with the Fringe on Top"

11:40:23 AM    comment []  Google It!  

Request for Contributors to Richard Rodgers Centennial Celebration on The New Jazz Thing!

Here's what I'm sending to folks I know and don't to see if we can get some pros to tell us what they think about Richard Rodgers:

My name is Vince Outlaw and I program and host a show on Jazz 88 in San Diego called The New Jazz Thing! It's 3 hours of the latest releases, new re-issues, and news of interest to Jazz listeners. But I'm hoping to deviate a bit, this Thursday, June 27, 2002.

I'm programming a show of Richard Rodgers compositions, done by Jazz musicians. The primary focus will be on playing definitive Jazz versions of Rodgers compositions (easy ones include Trane's 'My Favorite Things' or Peggy Lee's 'Lover'). I'm also looking to people who love Rodgers to help with suggestions and quotes about Rodgers and his compositions in general and specific (favorite tunes or versions), which I'll be reading (or even having live guests) on the air during the show.

I'd really appreciate it if you would be able to answer a couple of questions:

Do you have any favorite or recommended versions of Rodgers compositions?

Why is the music of Richard Rodgers so special and enduring?

Would you be available sometime between 6 and 9 pm PT this coming Thursday, June 27, 2002 for a live on-air appearance on the show to talk about Rodgers?

Thanks for your time,

VO

Vince Outlaw (outlawv@aol.com) The New Jazz Thing (http://KSDS-FM.org/NewJazzThing) Live Thursdays 6-9 pm on Jazz 88.3 FM in San Diego

If anyone knows anyone with an opinion on Richard Rodgers and Jazz, please send them my way! (outlawv@aol.com)
11:34:56 AM    comment []  Google It!  


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