Jazz Articles about Andre Previn

Shelly Manne & His Friends: Modern Jazz Performances Of Songs From My Fair Lady

by Richard J Salvucci
September 20, 2023

The musical My Fair Lady (1956) is a story from another age. All things considered, it is probably best that a contemporary audience may not know the lyrics to the songs, let alone the tunes. The tale involves the efforts of an insufferable Henry Higgins to teach a Cockney lass, Eliza Doolittle, how to properly pronounce the Queen's English, BBC style. Alas, Higgins succeeds too well, only to render the fey Doolittle attractive to a rival suitor of some means. ...

Andre Previn and his pals Shelly Manne & Red Mitchell: West Side Story

by Richard J Salvucci
July 9, 2023

André Previn was always something of a mystery to jazz critics and listeners. By common consent, he had astonishing instrumental technique. On the other hand, a lot of listeners were sure they could hear everyone but Previn in his playing. Along with Shelly Manne, he sold a lot of records and probably made a good deal of money doing so. That alone would have been a problem for some--commercial success and jazz are not supposed to be compatible--but then Previn ...

Groundhog Day

by H William Stine
March 31, 2019

Explain to me again why we created a holiday to honor an ugly, destructive rodent and a misguided superstition while continuing to discredit the value of scientific facts in our lives? I based my Groundhog Day celebration on the classic movie and this rule: if you hear a song once this week, you're going to hear it at least twice. (Okay, I did start the show with one Groundhog Day song.) Playlist Cody Owen Stine “Paris Mismatch" ...

Wild Women Don't Get the Blues - Happy birthday to Ida Cox

by Mary Foster Conklin
March 30, 2019

This broadcast on the first Sunday of Women's History Month included new releases from Jenna Mammina, Lioness and Claudia Acuna with birthday shout outs to Ida Cox, baritone saxophonist Claire Daly, vocalists Roseanna Vitro, Sara Gazarek, Sara Serpa, and pianist Kirk Nurock among others, plus a sampling of who's playing around town and tributes to Andre Previn. Playlist Tardo Hammer “Little Man, You've Had a Busy Day" from Tardo's Tempo (Sharp Nine) 00:00 Jenna & the Charmers “Free ...

Andre Previn: Four Classic Albums

by David Rickert
November 23, 2011

Andre PrevinFour Classic AlbumsAvid Group 2011 Andre Previn may not be as well known as fellow West Coast pianists Vince Guaraldi and Dave Brubeck, but he nevertheless created a respectable body of work, mostly as a trio with drummer Shelly Manne, with whom he created a series of recordings where they swapped the leader role back and forth. This compilation collects four of Previn's sessions from the West Coast heyday of ...

Andre Previn/David Finck: We Got It Good and That Ain't Bad

by Dave Nathan
September 1, 2000

Andre Previn - or more accurately, Sir Andre, given the knighthood bestowed upon him by Queen Elizabeth in 1996 - is one of the very few pianists who moves back and forth between jazz and classical music with ease. Others of note are Keith Jarrett and, to a lesser extent, Mel Powell. There has been considerable debate whether a classical musician can successfully make this transition given the restraints on improvisation in the classical genre. It depends, I suppose, on ...

Andr: We Got It Good And That Ain

by Jim Santella
August 1, 2000

André Previn’s piano brings us theme and variations on songs associated with composer Duke Ellington. Bassist David Finck provides subtle accompaniment and lyrical interludes.

The pieces themselves are like old friends. And here they’re treated with respect. So sit down, my friends, and tell me how you’ve been lately.

The titles from Ellington’s blues-based songs represent lyrics by themselves. The ideas live through those melodies. “I got it bad." “Do nothin’ till you hear from me." “It don’t mean a ...