My Funny Valentine (and a little sampology)

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In honor of Valentimes (sic) Day, here’s a few versions of a classic.  This song, a tune from the Broadway show Babes In Arms, has been covered dozens of times, mostly by jazz artists, but also pop and R&B vocalists.

The first rendition I’ll use is from cool jazz trumpeter, singer, and total mess, Chet Baker.  In addition to being impeccably coiffed, Chet had a heroin addiction that kept his career from ever really taking off, despite the fact that it lasted for around 40 years.  Still, he made several very good records, both in Gerry Mulligan’s group, and as a bandleader.  but Chet’s 1952 recording is the first time the song made it into popular consciousness, and probably the signature performance of it.  His breathy, haunting vocals sit in the quiet piano and bass arrangement.

Next comes Frank Sinatra’s version of the song on his album, Songs For Young Lovers (Capitol, 1955).  Sinatra lightens the mood a bit relative to Baker, with a fuller string arrangement, and his rich tenor vocals.  This song became a fixture of his live set for decades to come.

My favorite instrumental performance of the song is by the Miles Davis quintet off their album Cookin’ (Prestige, 1955).  The song is as unique for the situation under which it was recorded as the song itself.  Cookin’ was one of four albums recorded in two days by the group, so that they could get out of their contract.  There were very few second takes, and as such, the songs are very raw expressions of cohesion between the very talented players.  This particular one featured only Miles, drummer Philly Joe Jones, bassist Paul Chambers, and pianist Red Garland.  John Coltrane, present on other recordings on the dates, sat this particular track out.  Miles’ sparse, distant solo does an excellent job of capturing the irony of the song.

Fast forwarding to the 1990′s, Chaka Khan did an excellent job with the song on the Waiting To Exhale original soundtrack.  A Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds production, it has a nice 1990′s R&B ballad feel to it, and Chaka puts it down on vocals.

Finally, there is Etta James.  I was not able to find much info about this recording or where it came from.  It has a Joe Pass-like acoustic guitar backing it.  Also, you’ve probably noticed from the line, “Make me smile with my heart,” that this song was sampled in Kanye West’s Addiction.

There are a zillion versions of this song out there, though, and if you have a favorite I haven’t mentioned, let me know.  Hope everyone had a great V-Day!

R.I.P. Freddie Hubbard

In a sad day for jazz fans, trumpeter, Freddie Hubbard passed away this morning in Los Angeles.  He suffered a heart attack in November and passed away in the hospital.  He was 70.  

Never quite as big a name as contemporaries like Miles Davis, Hubbard was nevertheless an important contributor to a variety of jazz styles spanning several decades.  His full, bright tone played centrally on important albums like Eric Dolphy’s Out To Lunch, John Coltrane’s Olé Coltrane, Herbie Hancock’s Maiden Voyage, and Ornette Coleman’s Free Jazz.

In the 1970′s he became a bandleader and recorded several very good soul-jazz albums on CTI, among them Red Clay, and one of my favorite albums of all time, Sky Dive. He slowed down later in his career, but he continued performing into the 2000′s.  

Freddie Hubbard was an extremely talented and influential musician, and even if you are not aware of him, chances are that if you’ve heard many of the most important and commonly played jazz records of the 60′s, you’ve heard him.  I encourage jazz fans to take a look at his catalog, both as a side man, and as a band leader.

Peace to him and his family.

I leave you with one of my favorites:

Obit from his hometown newspaper, the Indianapolis Star.