Author: seabreeze
Date: 2017-09-14 03:31
Some versions of "HIGH SOCIETY" worth transcribing:
I like Monty Sunshine's too. There are so many versions!
MATTY MATTLOCK
My favorite is Matty Mattlock's with the Paul Weston orchestra, a very polished, "uptown" concert version that is part of Weston's "Crescent City Suite." Neither too fast nor too slow. Just right!
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=paul+weston+high+society.
ED HALL
Ed Hall's 1943 take is bouncy and fun throughout, and well-worth the long wait till 2:37 when it finally begins. Hall's tone is full of bite and sparkly edge, showing that there is no one traditional New Orleans sound.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=High+Society+Edmund+Hall+Blue+Note_Jazz+1943.
PETE FOUNTAIN
Pete Fountain in the 1950s, still playing very traditional New Orleans style with his distinctive Fazola based sound.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pete+fountain+high+society+basin+street+six.
JOE DARENSBOURG
Joe Darensbourg is another old-time New Orleans clarinetist (born in Baton Rouge and soon migrated to N.O). Here's his "High Society" with Kid Ory. This one has the most "marching up Rampart St" outdoorsy improvised jazz feel to it. All Darensbourg had to do was pull out his clarinet, start playing, and as he walked, doors along the street would open, players would spill out, and before you knew it, a band was playing beside him.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Kid+Ory+Creole+Jazz+Band+High+Society+1945.
HENRY CUESTA
Henry Cuesta with Jack Teagarden and Don Goldie. Goldie and Teagarden both pick up the spirit and virtuosity of this fast paced version; Goldie even plays some of the clarinet solo on the trumpet for a few bars before going his way. Cuesta's is probably the most rapid, though still well-executed version I have heard of the famous solo. Even so, I prefer slower performances that bring out more variety in the melodic line and reflect the march and ragtime origins of the tune.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Jack+Teagarden+Jazz+Maverick+High+Society.
Markos, here's a little something extra from Paul Weston's "Crescent City Suite." Not High Society or clarinet but lush, slinky alto sax playing from one of the best studio men ever--Ted Nash, playing "Storyville." What a sound! I wish the whole suite were on YouTube. Mattlock also does a great job on "Bayou St. John," another section of the Crescent City Suite.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Paul+Weston+Storyville.
OMER SIMEON
Finally, I want to add a sixth High Society performance--this one by Omer Simeon with the Wilber de Paris Band. Not only does Simeon do some melodic embellishments that are very march-like and tuneful (think John Phillip Sousa), but the band arrangement is my favorite. They combine a two beat drum pattern with a four beat walking bass and the orchestration is fresh and ear-catching. Very creative in its use of the harmonica and call and response patterns--a joyful performance that makes me happy.
If I had to pick just one overall version of "High Society" for both band and clarinet--this would be it. This is traditional New Orleans jazz with a hard swing. If anything could wake the dead and make them dance, it would be this.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Wilber+de+Paris+and+new+orleans+jazz+1958+high+society.
Dan Shusta,
You can add the names Joe Darensbourg and Henry Cuesta to the ever-growing list.
Post Edited (2017-09-18 01:50)
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