Tag Archives: Jazz in the City

BIGGER THAN LIFE….AFTER LIFE: JOHNNY HARTMAN, EVA CASSIDY AND ETTA JAMES

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Bigger than life…after life.  

Johnny Hartman

A number of singers didn’t get the recognition they deserved in their lifetime for one reason or another. Johnny Hartman, the quintessential romantic balladeer, earned critical acclaim early in his career, but he wasn’t well known. He recorded a brilliant album with John Coltrane–“John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman”–in the mid-sixties, but it wasn’t until 1995, twelve years after his death that his reputation grew considerably. When the film “Bridges of Madison Country” was released in 1995, four of Hartman’s songs were featured. You might remember the scene in which Merryl Streep and Clint Eastwood danced in the kitchen.  They danced to Hartman singing “I See Your Face Before Me.”  Here it is…“I See Your Face Before Me.” 

Eva Cassidy

Eva Cassidy is another. Her recordings of a number of American Songbook classics are sublime. But Eva, who died of cancer in her thirties, received little recognition during her lifetime. Now, many of her recordings have become modern day standards. Here’s one of my favorites…Autumn Leaves. If you haven’t heard Eva sing this tune, you are in for a treat…beautifully sung with intense longing. 

 

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Etta James

And then there’s Etta James. A few of her songs were hits during her lifetime, including “At Last,” but she is only now getting the recognition she deserves. Listen and watch here  “I’d Rather Go Blind,” as Etta performs with Doctor John.  Etta was, in my opinion, an  underrated talent. No more. 

There’s a reason I feature Hartman, Cassidy’s “Autumn Leaves” and James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind” in two of my shows, “Jazz in the City” and “Crossing Boroughs.”  They’re fabulous. 

 

 

 

CELEBRATING our TWENTY-FIFTH PERFORMANCE of “JAZZ IN THE CITY”

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Once a month for the past two years, the David Raleigh Quartet and I have taken our audience on a journey…a musical journey, incorporating story and song. Our performance at the Duplex, in Greenwich Village, this past Thursday was our twenty-fifth performance of “Jazz in the City.” In addition to the Duplex, the show has been performed in New York City at The Cell, Lehman College, The American Irish Historical Society and the Triad.  

The show features the stories and songs of the artists and composers who for the past 375 years have paid homage to city they call home. Many of their songs were popularized in New York’s venues like the Village Vanguard where Miles, Mingus and Monk performed and venues that are long gone, such as Cafe Society where Billy Holiday debuted “Strange Fruit.” And then there are the stories and songs that I associate with New York through ancestral, familial and personal recollections.

I grew up listening to music of the sixties: The Ronettes, from uptown, the Crystals, from Jamaica, Queens, where I was born, Dion and Belmonts from the Bronx and the New York stylings of the Drifters. But there were always two radios on in my house: One in my room and the other wherever my mother was. My mother listened to WNEW, a station that showcased the tunes of Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer and George Gershwin.  Thus, I learned about and came to love the wonderful and enduring music of the “American Songbook.”

And how fortunate am I to be performing with four incredible musicians, David Raleigh, Tony Carfora, Danny Weller and Daniel Glass. What a wonderful experience. You can come out and share the experience at our next show at THE DUPLEX , in Greenwich Village in NYC on June 21, 7pm. For tickets and additional information CLICK HERE. 

Photos by Mitch Traphagen.

Danny Weller and Daniel Glass

 

David Raleigh, Tony Carfora and Danny Weller

 

David Raleigh, Tony Carfora and Danny Weller

 

Charles R. Hale

 

David Raleigh

 

Danny Weller

Tony Carfora and Danny Weller

CHARLES R. HALE in “JAZZ IN THE CITY” AT LEHMAN COLLEGE

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Charles R. Hale | David Raleigh

Join David Raleigh and me at Lehman College this Thursday, November 29th, 12:30pm, for our 26th presentation of Jazz in the City: The New York Connection, a show that has been performed at The Cell, The Triad, The Duplex Cabaret and Piano Bar, The American Irish Historical Societyand Lehman College.

Jazz and the City features the stories and songs of the artists and composers who for the past 375 years have paid homage to city they call home. Many of their songs were popularized in New York’s venues such as the Village Vanguard where Miles, Mingus and Monk performed and venues that are long gone and Cafe Society where Billy Holiday debuted “Strange Fruit.” And then there are the stories and songs that I associate with New York through ancestral, familial and personal recollections.

And how fortunate am I to be performing with four incredible musicians, David, Tony Carfora, Danny Weller and Daniel Glass.