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Take Two Shiny Stockings |
In interview, composer Frank Foster tells the story of his tune Shiny Stockings, one his most famous charts for the Count Basie orchestra:
"“I wrote `Shiny Stockings’ in 1955 and we had a rehearsal at a place called Pep’s Bar in Philadelphia. We had just arrived in town. Everybody was sleepy, tired, hungry, and evil. Nobody felt like rehearsing. We rehearsed `Shiny Stockings’ and it sounded like a bunch of jumbled notes, just noise, and I said, `Wow, all the work I put into this, and it sounds so horrible. I know Basie will never play it.’ And then something very strange happened. He continued to play and it came together. Finally, we recorded it and, well, it’s the very best known piece that I have contributed to the Basie book.
“It embodies all the things that were important to him. It builds - it starts soft and ends with an explosion. It leaves space for the rhythm section to do whatever it’s going to do. It has that ensemble writing which the band can sink their teeth into and really make happen - and a wonderful trumpet solo by Thad Jones. One more thing: it swings."
“Years later,” Foster remembers with pride, “Basie gave me the supreme compliment. Every now and then, he’d say about a chart, `Oh, it’s very nice, kid,’ and then leave it at that. Well, he grabbed me, he said, `Junior, you know that “Shiny Stockings”? You really put one down that time.’ You couldn’t receive a better compliment from Count Basie.”
From the interview by jazz journalist Bob Bernotas who interviewed Frank Foster, saxophonist and musical director (1986-1995) of the Count Basie orchestra, in 1991. You can visit Bob’s website at www.jazzbob.com. The full text of the interview is in Bob Bernotas’ book, Reed All About It: Interviews and Master Classes with Jazz’s Leading Reed Players.
So before we play our two different 'takes' here is a video of Count Basie's Orchestra playing Shiny Stockings:
There are two sets of lyrics to Shiny Stockings, one by Ella Fitzgerald and the other by Jon Hendricks. Ella's go:
Those silk shiny stockings |
Our first take is from Joan Chamorro and the Sant Andreu Jazz Band. Here Alba Armengou sings Ella's lyrics, Jan Domenech is the pianist and saxophonist Scott Hamilton guests:
Jon Hendricks' lyrics are longer:
I walk with my baby
And I know in nothing flat
She's got something mellow
Lots of fellows whistle at
When we go for a walk
I know soon as we're out
With no shadow of doubt
She's got lots to be proud of.
I'm hip, I'm lucky to have
Someone so endowed;
A girl half as lovely would made
Lots of fellows proud
I love all of her charms
But one's really a ball:
I love those shiny stockings most of all
Jon Hendricks
In these Take Two articles we always share a different take on a tune. You can spend hours on YouTube listening to variations on the usual arrangements of Shiny Stockings - let me know if you have a favourite - but here is a different approach by the great trumpeter Avishai Cohen with his trio Triveni: Ben Street (bass) and Johnathan Blake (drums);
She's fine: yes, my baby is fine.
And she's all mine.
What a lucky guy am I?
I'm prouder than can be.
That she only digs me
'Cause anyone can see.
She's a real sensation.
Year, one thing certain I know,
I love her so.
And I'll never let her go.
I'm crazy 'bout her charms,
But one is a really ball:
I love those shiny stocking best of all.
Then shiny stockings,
Just looking thrills me,
That sight fulfills me.
My girl stays in fashion,
But she'll really arouse my passion,
When she wears those shiny stockings she wears.
What's that? I haven't included a performance of Jon Hendricks' lyrics? OK - here's Take Three then - with the amazing voice of Al Jarreau singing Shiny Stockings;
Then shiny stockings:
Just digging gets me,
That sight upsets me,
Make no bones about them
I'm no good without them,
Cause I love those shiny stockings, yes, I do.
Yes, I love those shiny stockings really, I do.
Yes, I do; truly I do---Yeah!
Al Jarreau
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