The first snowfall of the season is on the ground. This was the morning view from an upstairs bedroom.
That gives me a reason, though none is required, to bring you the original recording of “Snowfall” by Claude Thornhill and his orchestra. Thornhill composed and arranged the song. The recording is from 1941, shortly after he formed his band. The photo montage looks as if it could be from the same period.
For a brief history and discography of Claude Thornhill, go here. “Snowfall” and several of the pieces arranged by Gil Evans that led to what we now call the birth of the cool are on this CD. Note that the list price is astronomical but the used copies are bargains.
The nonagenarian pianist presented de Barros with every biographer’s hope, unrestricted access to his subject’s personal papers and nearly unrestricted access to her private thoughts. He made the most of it, turning exhaustive research and hundreds of hours of interviews into a true story with the sweep of a novel. From the early discovery of McPartland’s musical gift through her wartime service, her ecstatic and stormy marriage to Jimmy McPartland, her growth as a pianist, her deep affair with Joe Morello, and the radio show that made her a national figure, she has had a fascinating life. It makes a splendid read.
Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band had three fewer musicians than most big jazz outfits. Its size permitted precision, flexibility and subtlety, yet the band had the power of sprung steel. In this concert from a half century ago, the CJB is as fresh as yesterday. Arrangements by Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn and Johnny Mandel set standards to which big band writers still aspire. Bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis inspired Mulligan, Brookmeyer, Conte Candoli, Gene Quill and Zoot Sims to some of the best soloing of their careers. This beautifully produced issue of the complete concert is a basic repertoire item.
Very pretty—music and photography (including yours). I have a vague memory of hearing “Snowfall” when I was a child—late 1950s. Maybe on Lawrence Welk, or perhaps it was used in a movie.
This is one of the prettiest theme songs from that era. Some of the photos are from the forties, but the one of the whole band (in front of that amazing sea shell) was taken while I was on the band in 1953, at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans. I posted a copy of it on my website, along with the names of the guys in the band. (In the biography section, page 2, at http://www.billcrowbass.com )
The bass line on Snowfall, running through tenths in the key of D-flat (no open strings), really helped me improve my fingering system.
Glad to find others that admire that tune and its moods. There are many excellent renditions, and one that deserves particular notice is the one by Singers Unlimited that coincidentally came up on my iPod shortly after reading your article. Keep up the good work, and thanks for it. Happy Christmas.
wow- I wish I would have seen this post the other day when the snow was falling. That was arresting and beautiful and nostalgic.