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Topic: Harlem Nocturne...orig. recording? |
Eric Stumpf
From:
Newbury, NH 03255
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Posted 16 May 2002 4:14 am |
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| I just love this beautiful tune and it pops up on a lot of 50's and 60's jazz albums. I even have a recording of it played on resophonic guitar by Stacy Phillips which is fantastic! Can anyone tell me who wrote the tune and what particular recording or early recordings of it influenced so many artists to cut it themselves? |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 16 May 2002 4:48 am
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The first recording I ever heard of it was in the 50's by Earl Bostic. It's a beautiful tune for sure. I play it on guitar but have never attempted it on steel. Maybe I'll try it out this weekend.
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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney tuning.
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P Gleespen
From:
Toledo, OH USA
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Posted 16 May 2002 5:27 am
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Hi Eric,
Here's what I found on allmusic.com:
In 1940 Earl Hagen composed "Harlem Nocturne" for a local radio show, and within a year it was the theme song for bandleader Randy Brooks; saxophonist Herbie Fields popularized the song a decade later, and it has subsequently been recorded by everyone from Stan Kenton to King Curtis to Esquivel.
Earl Hagen is one of my fav film-music composers.
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Patrick Gleespen[This message was edited by P Gleespen on 16 May 2002 at 06:31 AM.] |
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Eric Stumpf
From:
Newbury, NH 03255
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Posted 16 May 2002 10:54 am
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| I thank you folks for the info. I didn't know the tune went back to 1940 but I did know Esquivel recorded it, among others. Anybody have a favorite recording of this strange, haunting number featuring steel (other than Alvino Rey on Esquivel's version)? |
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Jeremy Steele
From:
Princeton, NJ USA
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Posted 16 May 2002 11:22 am
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| Don't know about steel, but Danny Gatton does a SCREAMING version on his "Cruisin' Deuces" album...it burns the turntable, or deck, or whatever...check it out. |
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Dr. Hugh Jeffreys
From:
Southaven, MS, USA
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Posted 16 May 2002 2:23 pm
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| Right! Earle Hagen wrote it. Hagen is from the big band era; he played sax with Benny Goodman. Harlem Nocturne was popularized by Art Pepper, Stan Kenton's lead alto man. Hagen also wrote the scores for I SPY, which he made into a textbook with CD's; it is used in many universities that teach film underscoring. Also Hagen wrote the thematic material for the Andy Griffith Show, and whistled the theme himself. I have the lead sheet for Harlem Nocturne if anyone wants it faxed to them. Hugh |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 16 May 2002 3:05 pm
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| Joe Goldmark recorded the tune on one of his early LPs. I think it's included on the CD of material culled from tose early records. |
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Russ Wever
From:
Kansas City
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Posted 16 May 2002 3:46 pm
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You'll also find it as a steel guitar instrumental on a Johnny Cox album on Scottys 'Midland' label called 'Two Of A Kind' in which Johnny shares billing with Wayne Cox.
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Robert
From:
Chicago
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Posted 16 May 2002 6:19 pm
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| Fellow Greek Johnny (Veliotes) Otis and his band did a version. Johnny Otis: what a storied life that guy has led. [This message was edited by Robert on 16 May 2002 at 07:20 PM.] |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 16 May 2002 7:53 pm
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My Friend Ray Byrd (no relation to Jerry), in Merritt Island, Florida, does a great rendition of "Harlem Nocturne" on a 10 string E6 tuning. I recorded a cassette of it when wintering in Fl. I'm sure he won't mind if I play it for you. But how do I get a cassette tune in the computer?...al  |
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