Let's take it a little bit easier this week. There are many, many different versions of that song, but this one here is one of my favorite.
And look at the amazing all-star personnel.
Out Of Nowhere
Personnel:
Benny Carter (as, tp & arr.)
André Ekyan (as)
Coleman Hawkins (ts)
Alix Combelle (ts & cl)
Stéphane Grappelli (p)
Django Reinhardt (g)
Eugène d'Hellemmes (b)
Tommy Benford (dm)
About The Song
The popular song “Out of Nowhere” was composed by Johnny Green (John Waldo Green, 1908-1989) with lyrics by Edward Heyman and has become a jazz standard.
In 1931, it was first recorded by Bing Crosby – his first number one hit as a solo artist.
About This Recording
A 1937 session in Paris reunited two of jazz’s top saxophonists, Benny Carter (alto) and Coleman Hawkins (tenor). The two were joined by a Franco-American rhythm section including guitarist Django Reinhardt and American drummer Tommy Benford. The group recorded four classic sides under Coleman Hawkins’ leadership, although Carter was the actual musical director.
The group’s rendition of “Out Of Nowhere” is great from the start, with an intro by Reinhardt. Carter (on trumpet) plays the first chorus, punctuated by fills from Django. The next two choruses are Hawkins at his best. It’s no wonder that tenor saxophonists shied away from recording numbers Hawkins had done; in fact, there wouldn’t be another tenor player to attempt this tune until Don Byas in 1945.
Source: jazzstandards.com
Title: Out Of Nowhere
Artist: Coleman Hawkins and his All Star Jam Band
Recorded: April 28, 1937 in Paris
Album: Crazy Rhythm (Jazz Manouche 1936-1937)
Tempo: 123 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop
You can find all the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.
Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw
Do you like the “Song of the Week” series? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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