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Paul Lindemeyer
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100 Years From Today
The American popular songbook is such a deep rich thing that a lot of it is still unexplored. I hope this album will remind people of songs that many musicians know, but that aren't played as often as they should be.
I've avoided the over-familiar and thrown in a few obscure jewels from my favorite source of ideas—my record collection—and a couple of originals we enjoy playing. We might do much the same sort of program in our regular trio and quartet gigs.
Most of these songs come from the 1930s, a time I have a deep affinity for. But rather than redoing a period sound, we try to carry them forward in the rich tradition of chamber jazz. With a little wandering off the beaten path now and then, the tradition need never get old.
Paul Lindemeyer soprano sax 3,6,9 / alto sax 5,10 / tenor sax 1,4,7,11 / clarinet 2,6,8,12 / vocals 4,6,8,11 / Chris Flory guitar / Theo Wilson bass / Fred Stoll drums
The Selections
1. I remember you
Victor Schertzinger, Johnny Mercer
Newest standard in the set–1943. In case you don't know who Schertzinger was, he wrote "Tangerine." I think this is better.
2. I wished on the moon
Ralph Rainger, Dorothy Parker
Associated with two singers–Bing Crosby and Billie Holiday–it's a pretty melody on its own, in that pleasant never-never land between medium and medium ballad.
3. Tia Juana
Raymond Scott
The man who wrote goofball cartoon jazz novelties also used to craft sleek art deco melodies for radio. This was once a tango, but we do it straight latin. Fred really makes this, even though everybody solos but him.
4. You hit the spot
Harry Revel, Mack Gordon
This one's overdue for revival. The changes are great to blow on, and the lyric takes the old shall-I-compare-thee-to-a-summer's-day imagery and updates it to the easy 1936 vernacular. It need be updated no further.
5. The lamp is low
Peter DeRose, Bert Shefter, Mitchell Parish
A crib from Ravel's "Pavane." Irving Berlin said everything's stolen–they key is knowing what to steal. I associate this one with Wesla Whitfield, the singer with the alto saxophone voice.
6. Stars
Kaye Lois Parker, Ted Koehler
Elegant, haunting, and as mysterious as its writer–a forgotten singer who published a few strange tunes, then vanished. Goodman and Ellington recorded it in the early '30s but it never got released–too modern.
7. Connfidentially
Paul Lindemeyer
My thank you to C.G. Conn Ltd., who put out a damn fine saxophone years ago. This particular tenor is a 1925 model familiarly known as the "Chu Berry," because he played one.
8. 100 years from today
Victor Young, Ned Washington
An anthem for this post-everything, live-for-today world (so what if it was written in 1933). Jack Teagarden used to sing this with the kind of cool that made you feel the heat behind. It's that kind of song.
9. Oscar C
Paul Lindemeyer
Theo named his cat for two bass players, Oscar Pettiford and Paul "PC" Chambers. The soprano sax/bass unison is good cat music, with that nosing-around kind of feel.
10. If I should lose you
Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin
Rainger's music is sophisticated and approachable at the same time, and that's not easy to do. Hank Mobley had a wonderful record of this years ago on tenor. On alto it calls for a more ballad feel.
11. Oh! you crazy moon
Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
Van Heusen was the singer's songwriter–and no, he didn't write this for Sinatra, despite his making it a hit. You hear two Chris Florys at once here, one playing those tasty minimalist obbligati, the other chonking away 4 to a bar.
12. Close your eyes
Bernice Petkčre
The kind of ballad–Cole Porter wrote a lot of them–that just begs to be an up solo vehicle. Perfect for closing up a gig. Or an album.
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Paul Lindemeyer
Paul Lindemeyer, saxophonist, clarinetist, and vocalist, is originally from Ames, Iowa. He first became interested in jazz after hearing the Benny Goo...