During the late ‘70s, while Art was working on his last comeback, Jack Sheldon offered him a regular weekend gig at a club in Monterey, right up the coast. The other regular band members were Dolo Coker and Blue Mitchell. I don’t remember who the drummer was or even if there was a drummer. Dolo played keyboard and Jack mostly sang, told jokes, played electronic organ from time to time. No trumpet. He was working in a TV sitcom at the time and said the trumpet deformed his lip. In the photo you can see Jack singing his own composition, “Fuck You Very Much,” with Blue and Art joining in on the chorus.A few years later Art’s career was in the ascendant, and he was making a bunch of one-offs as-a-sideman-only for a Japanese label: Yupiteru, later Atlas records. Art was permitted to choose the tunes he wanted to play and which musicians he would play them with. For one of these sessions he chose Jack, and Art begged him to sing “Historia del un Amor” as he had done, regularly, in Monterey. Art loved the way Jack sang. Me, too. (He sang “You Don’t Know Me” better than anyone except, of course, Ray Charles.) Unfortunately, the Japanese did not want to include Jack’s singing. But they didn’t erase it. Here it is. Jack’s voice, Art’s sax, and just a teeny bit of Jack’s trumpet. Forgive the audio quality. Got it from a very old cassette. (Also, Milcho Leviev, p; Tony Dumas, b; Carl Burnett, d.)
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I was kind of expecting it to be a bit corny, but no - great singing! And Art's playing is poignant and passionate too. Thanks so much for this.
ReplyDeleteThank you Laurie. Beautiful tune.
ReplyDeleteIt was August of 74....I was all of 18 & my mom & I were in Monterey for the weekend. I was looking for live jazz & read that the Jack Sheldon Jazz Band was playing. We went to hear them & Jack invited me up to the stage to play with the band! A great memory! Can't remember the place, either, The Shutters or The Shadows. In the band were Art Blue Mitchel & Dolo Coker, for sure, as well as Art Pepper. I think there may have been one more, perhaps a bass player or a drummer. What a lucky girl I was to have that opportunity!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was the Shutters. I have a snapshot of the marquee somewhere. You were a lucky girl!
DeleteYes, the Shutters, I saw this group. Jack was gracious in that he let Art and Blue have their heads on some tunes, and they really let loose with some pure jazz. My brother Robert was staying with us, and were were so lucky to find this. He and I were enthralled, completely. So fun to find this post. Thank you.
DeleteThank you for posting this. Brings back great memories. I love learning that Art liked Jack Sheldon's singing. I don't remember the names any of the tunes from night so long ago, but just the idea I may have heard Jack sing this song and Art and Blue back him up thrills me. Thanks again.
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