Green's Garage

Bobby "blue" Bland

2013-06-26T22:12:00.000-05:00

June 23 was a sad day for the music industry....on this day we lost Bobby "Blue" Bland. A giant in the industry, Bobby will be missed. Born Robert Calvin Brooks in Rosemark Tennessee, he moved to Memphis in 1947 and began singing with local gospel groups. After a stint in the Army in the early 1950's Bobby returned to Memphis and began establishing himself as a distinctive R&B singer. Touring with Junior Parker and others, he enjoyed some moderate success with songs like "Farther up the road", and "Little Boy Blue". Most noteworthy are early 1960's recordings especially the brilliant "Two Steps From The Blues", which is still listed by many critics as a top 10 all-time recording. As a live performer Bobby enjoyed success in the 1970's touring with great B.B. King (of which two amazing live records were released). Later in his career Bobby was experiencing a new popularity with his music being used in the movie "Lincoln Lawyer". In 2008 Bobby was honored with a tribute by Mick Hucknall (formerly of Simply Red) called "Tribute to Bobby". The Album reached 18 on the U.K. album chart.
Truly a labor of love, Hucknall succeeds in making a beautiful group of songs. Bobby passed June 23 2013 at his home in Germantown Tennessee. He was 83.
Enjoy "Cry, Cry, Cry" share with someone! http://youtu.be/sNrxz-A19WY

Lowell George

2013-05-02T19:47:00.000-05:00

April 13 would have been the 68th birthday for one of my favorite artists: Lowell George. Lowell would be most noteworthy for his contribution to the band Little Feat. Many influences truly made this band a unique blend of blues, rock and jazz with a "jam band" sensibility. His consummate musicianship over time made him the "musician's musician", lending his musical prowess as well as production skills to artists such as Robert Palmer on his solo album "Sneaking Sally Through The Alley"(1974). Songs such as "Sailin' Shoes", "Willin", "Atlanta", and many others became live staples served up to packed houses coast to coast, evidenced in the much acclaimed " Waiting for Columbus". Bandmates Bill Payne, Paul Barrere, Richie Hayward and Sam Clayton formed a genesis of the band that was to change personnel from time to time. Creative differences with Paul Barrere and Lowell's waning health caused the band to splinter around 1978. During this time Lowell was working on his solo effort "Thanks I'll Eat It Here" which was a collection of all-star session musicians and a diverse selection of songs ranging from self-penned works to Allen Toussaint's "What do you want the girl to do" to Jimmie Webb's "Himmler's Ring". In 1979 while touring to support the solo work, Lowell collapsed in his Arlington Virginia hotel room, he was only 34. The autopsy ruled cause of death heart attack, but it was widely held that Lowell's chronic weight problems coupled with drug use and the strain of touring were contributors. Lowell is well remembered for writing memorable songs, a spirited well-crafted musical and production style, and an overall zest for life. He has influenced new generations of artists with his infectious way of approaching songcraft and performance. Check out this classic performance from the BBC'c "Old Grey Whistle Test" from 1975:
http://youtu.be/qwEZlsD6UpI enjoy!

Book Review: Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke By Peter Guralnick

2013-03-31T11:57:00.000-05:00

Finally I finished this book! I don't mean that in a bad way, but in fact this book is so meticulously researched (a Peter Guralnick trademark) that it is hard to read in a short period of time. Sam Cooke had the gift of being able to "work" a song so as to create a memorable performance....Mr. Cooke was able to be a trailblazer not only in his music, but in the cause of civil rights. Mr. Guralnick works hard to lay out the story as carefully and factually as possible, interviewing all parties concerned in order to portray an accurate picture of the man and his music. The reader takes away a firm understanding that Sam Cooke was an individual of personal convictions, who in turn was able to mentor others including Bobby Womack and Lou Rawls. This is yet another book in the series of books Mr. Guralnick has written including two volumes on Elvis Presley, on artists that have shaped music and popular culture.

Blast From The Past: The Live Albums

2012-04-30T18:54:00.000-05:00

It all started when I pulled out Bob Seger's "Live Bullet" a while back and started listening.....I thought to myself "this has got to be one of the best live albums ever!". As time passed, I realised that the time when "Live Bullet" came out (1976), the national record-buying public had yet to become familiar with the hard-working regional artist. October of 1976 "Night Moves" came out and changed all that. Recorded over two consecutive nights at the legendary Cobo Hall in Detroit, "Live Bullet" featured those sold out crowds who were already familiar with Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band. In essence by this time Bob Seger was a "10 year overnight sensation". Clearly Bob is putting on a show like any other gig, but all of a sudden the world is allowed to hear just how good this guy really is....opening with Ike and Tina's "Nutbush City Limits", running strong through regional hits "Travelin' Man" and "Beautiful Loser", creating FM radio classics with "Turn The Page" and "Katmandu"...."Live Bullet" still remains in the top ten biggest selling albums of all time which means new generations continue to discover and re-discover this gem! The Video link is the opening track for the album...enjoy.

"Charlie Brown Music"

2011-12-12T23:34:00.000-06:00

This time of year one is hard-pressed to not be reminded of a certain holiday special powered by the the extraordinary music of Vince Guaraldi. Truly an unsung master of the piano Guaraldi's percussive, almost latin phrasing at the piano has inspired musicians and listeners alike for decades. The melodies never seem to age generation after generation. Guaraldi is known not only for his contribution to 1965's "A Charlie Brown Christmas", but all of the music for the Peanuts' franchise through his untimely death in 1976 at the age of 47. Before working with Charles Schultz, Guaraldi actually won a Grammy in 1962 for "Cast your Fate to The Wind", an amazing portrait of Guaraldi's style that landed him the job of the writer of "Charlie Brown's Music". Listen to "Cast Your Fate To The Wind" and enjoy!

Living Legend

2011-11-05T09:04:00.000-05:00

Booker T Jones is a true living legend that pioneered the Hammond B3 in popular soul music. He is still has the chops that he is known for in songs such as "green onions" that he recorded with Booker T and The MG's as well as songs he has written for others most noteworthy would be "born under a bad sign" he wrote for Albert King. Most recently appearing on npr music's tiny desk concerts, and live from daryl's house, Jones is shows he still has a certain charisma and humility that has made him the legend he is today! Any student of pop music owes Mr. Jones a debt of thanks since he paved the way! http://youtu.be/rh9KDzNkpSI Hit this link for his show on npr music's tiny desk concert...you will be amazed. After that, go over to Daryl's House! As always, enjoy, share, repeat!

Trombone Shorty

2011-10-14T21:27:00.001-05:00

Enclosed is a link to the most recent song by Trombone Shorty: "Do To Me". A segment of Sirus XM "Real Jazz" portrays the young artist aka Troy Andrews as a conduit of many genres and doing a damn good job! Not since the Marsalis family has an artist done more for the New Orleans sound. There is a "gumbo" of styles that incorporate New Orleans brass band with funk with hip-hop with r&b with rock and make it very tasty! I challenge the listener to partake and not feel a need to move. This music truly is the rebirth of New Orleans from the ashes of Katrina. Trombone Shorty is only one example of this movement...check it out!
Another great show is NPR's "tiny desk concert" featuring Trombone Shorty.

The New Hardest Working Band in Showbusiness

2011-08-25T21:07:00.001-05:00

New faith in the music business? well there's one new group starting a trend sure to encourage a movement...Fitz and The Tantrums. It's been a long time since there has been a new group that exhibits such heart and musical prowess as Fitz and The Tantrums. At the forefront of a "neo soul" movement, FATT was formed in L.A. in 2008 by Michael Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was so inspired after the purchase of an old Conn electric organ, he wrote "breakin' the chains of love" the same night! Soon after Fitzpatrick and co. recorded the group's first E.P. at his home in L.A. A successful trip to SXSW in 2010 got them a recording contract with Dangerbird Records, and a string of gigs opening for Flogging Molly and Maroon 5 among others. Their first full length album "pickin' up the pieces" is a groove-laden master work that makes even the faint of heart want to get up and dance! An appearance on "Live from Daryl's House" just goes to show how tight this group really works! They even have a cover of "sweet dreams (are made of these)" available on their website that just sizzles. Try to catch them live this fall as they work their way back through the States after a very successful European Tour. BTW click on the title of the post for a sample of the band's appearance on "Live at Daryl's House" Enjoy!

"Imagine" changing the world one note at a time!

2011-02-13T11:17:00.000-06:00

Take a look at a video by "playing for change"....it is a soaring version of John Lennon's "Imagine" put together as music around the world with artists in different countries adding interpretation as the song moves along...very moving and guaranteed to put a lump in your throat. I discovered the song after listening to a version of Bob Marley's "redemption song" by the same group....the group has a foundation dedicated to changing the world through music...that is by spearheading music education in communities that would not normally be able to afford schools and instruments! This is all created within the community so there is ownership of the concept...amazing..visit www.playingforchange.com for more information

Time to "Wake Up" again!

2010-12-21T10:35:00.000-06:00

As I write this I listen to what is possibly the one of the best releases of 2010 "Wake Up" by John Legend and the Roots. The best description of the work is a fresh reading of conscience-raising soul music from the 60's and 70's. The net is result is a very tight blend of funk-soul-r&b sensibility. Possibly the most important take away is that the protest song has not died, but rather it went to sleep....John Legend and the Roots set out to wake it up! Many standout tracks make this extremely listen-able..My personal favorite has to be "compared to what" and "hard times" The themes touch on class distinction, poverty, and the importance of education reform. Even more powerful is the rendition of Bill Withers' "I can't write left-handed", which is an anti-war song questioning the Vietnam conflict. Hauntingly it is easy to erase "Vietnam" and replace "Afghanistan". The key message is that we need to wake up and be our own agents of change....that is where change starts. Only then can we begin to grow as a society..... please check it out and pass it on!

Book Review

2010-12-10T22:50:00.000-06:00

A little late in coming all the same, but I finally had a chance to read 2007's autobiography by Eric Clapton, simply titled "Clapton". This book is a brilliantly written testimonial about one man's struggle to maintain conviction and integrity to play the kind of music that he truly believes. You can almost hear Clapton's voice telling the reader the story of his life and the struggle against the demons that haunted him....The book transitions in sections from "The early years" through each musical segment along the way. In addition, as each segment progressed, I took it upon myself to listen to the music of that particular segment. For example, when he spoke of Derek and the Dominos, I listened to "Layla and other Love Songs" As a result there was an entirely new dimension to the story. Clapton is a very humble storyteller in that he completely acknowledges all of his influences, and speaks in complete reverence of all who have helped him along the way. Clapton speaks fondly of his relationship with George Harrison and how it evolved from acquaintance to collaborator, his admiration of Jimi Hendrix as a pure performer that lived and breathed his craft. The early years saw the courage of non compromise keeping the spirit of the music vs "selling out" in the name of hit records. That thread seems to follow through the entire book...Most importantly there is testimonial to beating the demons of addiction and helping others to realise their potential. An amazing read even without stopping to listen to the music, enjoy the ride!

The Union

2010-12-05T13:07:00.001-06:00

The Union is an amazing combination not only of the talents of Elton John and Leon Russell, but the producing magic of T-Bone Burnett, Bernie Taupin and a cast of many talented guest musicians. Clearly a labor of love, Union is literally a beautiful tapestry of music that re-unites two old friends not just for a mutual admiration effort but a synergy of talent. The sound is very Spartan and simple weaving two pianos into a sound that works...no frills. Elton speaks in the liner notes of this being an effort that he has always wanted to accomplish....the only thing he had to do was to pick up the phone and call! What an amazing assemblage of talent that includes Neil Young and Dennis Wilson doing back-up vocal duties. T-Bone Burnett...need I say more? His contribution is clear with his reputation for getting artist's most heartfelt contributions combined with simplicity of production. The songs hawk back to the story-telling days of Elton John's "Tumbleweed Connection" or "Honky Chateau". Truly one of the best releases of 2010. Here's to hoping it brings the same amount of joy to you and yours!

Long Live Music

2010-10-24T00:23:00.000-05:00

After an enlightening conversation Friday concerning music and its staying power across generations, I have determined that for every generation there comes an infinite number of contributions to the musical landscape, but only a select few transcend many generations. What contributes to this? I think the answer is that there are certain "threads" that make up our culture....and composers that are successful are those that best adapt "threads" of the past with the "threads" of the present to create a fabric that sums up our culture. Case in point: New generations of music fans continue to "discover" the Beatles! we are a society that shares stories in the form of music, art, and literature. Those who are able to properly introduce music, art, and literature are able to keep it alive. That's why efforts by long-standing musicians, artists and authors experience new life. Parents, siblings, teachers, and others serve as "conduit" as well as contemporary artists simply by acknowledging the debt of influence to predecessors. Even in this attention-deficit driven society that we live, others should share and discuss that which influences them.....seek to understand what motivates an artist, musician, or author. It is this way we can better understand ourselves. If I am interested in a particular genre of music or art, I research what was going on at the time, what motivations were present, and how it all inter-relates with contemporaries of that time. Then I can start to visualize and understand. One genre is only part of the puzzle, so appreciation of all genres will complete the puzzle. This is why culture adapts and survives across generations...think about it!

Thank You Solomon Burke

2010-10-12T14:25:00.001-05:00

Sunday 10/10/10 the world lost one of the founding fathers of soul music: Solomon Burke passed away Sunday in the Netherlands at the age of 70. Born in Philadelphia he chose the church and gospel as a career path....rubbing elbows on occasion with Dr. Martin Luther King. The late sixties saw Burke signing with Atlantic Records to pursue a more secular path. He composed and recorded many songs now considered "standards" one of which was made famous in "The Blues Brothers": "Someone to Love ". Burke remained active right up until his death recording and performing....one particular effort released in 2006, was a collaboration with Buddy Miller and others including Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Patty Griffin that represented a return to country roots, called "Nashville". This was a very impressive array of songs and personnel that exposed Mr. Burke to a whole new audience. He will be missed by all. Enjoy "Cry to Me"

Happy Birthday John

2010-10-09T11:35:00.000-05:00

Search Amazon.com for john lennonToday would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday...It's hard to imagine that he has been gone so long! The world has such an outpouring of love and admiration for a man who could quite possibly be one of the best songwriters and performers of the twentieth century. Perhaps George Harrison said it best in the song "all those years ago" when he said "...you point the way to truth when you say all you need is love". The most vocal member of the Beatles, he always said what was on his mind despite consequences personally or professionally. It's easy to wax poetic about what the world would be like were it not for Marc David Chapman, but John would not want the world to get stuck on woulda coulda and shoulda...but rather will do and can do! Let's spend this day and every day after working towards peace....."its easy if you try"

Go Gene Go by the Howling Diablos

2010-10-01T11:03:00.000-05:00

check out this very cool sendup by the Diablos' paying homage to the great Gene Krupa! very slick!

A brighter artist for a brighter world

2010-09-15T11:03:00.000-05:00

Heres what is perhaps the most amazing artist that has been heard by so few...Ben Harper has the vibe and the message that should be more widely broadcast, but again thanks to youtube we can bare witness! Even though this particular song is from 2003, it is still very fresh and vital....I recommend also "Better Way" and "Diamonds on the Inside" Ben will do the rest! Remember two things: Enjoy and Share!
Thanks

Nobody In Detroit by the Howling Diablos

2010-09-12T12:16:00.000-05:00

Here's exactly what I'm talking about! "Nobody in Detroit" is a clear example why these guys should have a larger audience. Also I recommend "Junkyard Jesus" and "Carwash". Support our local music scene! Thanks

Local Heroes

2010-09-12T12:08:00.000-05:00

Heres to local heroes...the hard-working bands that are legends in their "neighbourhood" , yet seldom are shared with the rest of the world! Luckily in our day of electronic media, more musicians can share through youtube and other social networking outlets. Case in point is Detroit legends The Howling Diablos. For decades frontman "Tino" Gross has built a name for himself in the greater Michigan/Detroit area with a strong following of loyal fans. The Diablos incorporate a bluesy funk sound that is the real deal. I first became familiar with the Diablos when my wife's aunt called years ago and said that we should watch PBS' American Masters because her cousin (Tino) was going to be part of a documentary about Sun Records (Good Rockin' Tonight)....To our delight we saw a great performance of Malcolm Yelvington's rockabilly standard "Drinkin' Wine Spo-dee- o-dee" featuring the Diablos with Kid Rock! At the time I thought this was pretty cool...but I did little else at the time to seek out their story and their sound. Recently my wife's aunt passed away and my wife spoke to Tino to offer condolences and I looked into what cousin Tino had been up to! It seems that the band has toured with national acts as diverse as George Clinton to Alice Cooper to Ben Harper! They have released several EPs and live offerings as well as full-length offerings. Judge for yourself...there are some artists that deserve to be heard by more and these guys are a prime example. Look them up on youtube and visit their website www.howlingdiablos.com.

Whats in The Changer

2010-06-26T20:07:00.000-05:00

Well it's official... We have an infestation of Beatles here at the Garage..Libby has decided to learn the entire (it seems like) Beatles song list...So consequently I am revisiting the music of the fab four and their various Post-Beatle projects. I must say the music is every bit as fresh as it was back in the day! It's hard to pinpoint my favorites, so I end up ripping every disc she collects to my hard drive. Lennon-McCartney has proven to be another enduring song writing team to be placed in the archives with the likes of Rogers and Hammerstien, Comden and Green, Leiber and Stoller, Holland- Dozier- Holland and many others. Anybody who has not recently given a listen to any Beatles music should make plans to revisit these tasty audio jewels...I'm not going to tell you which because everyone has a favorite. Listen to those deep cuts that aren't in rotation on the radio..you'll see what I'm talking about. You-Tube has wide array of videos of favorites...spend some time surfing! Watch "Hard Day's Night" , "Help", and "Yellow Submarine"....bask in the genius. Generations are hearing this all for the first time! Let's use this as an opportunity to share and cherish this body of work!

The Great Voices

2010-04-20T10:59:00.000-05:00

Kudos to NPR for their year-long series 50 great voices! Anyone who even moderately appreciates music should check this out and continue to listen weekly for the next "voice". The exercise started with a request for nominees to create a series of 50 great voices of all time...As expected, thus far each voice has crossed generation and culture to the heart of the series... the voice.
The first of the series was Iggy Pop, which already told me that this was going to be a non biased exploration of music. Successive artists have spanned many cultures and genre with a common thread: appreciation for the beauty of the voice. What an education it has been thus far...the episodes I have missed I catch on the web site npr.org in the music tab under the heading 50 great voices. A most recent instalment has been about Nat King Cole and the soothing quality of his voice. Explore the website and there is a tab about the nominees, and I must say there is most always agreement with the choices! I look forward to next week with anticipation..... Visit the website and listen to all of the installments thus far..You'll thank me later

Huckster or Visionary?

2010-04-14T11:35:00.000-05:00

April 8th saw the passing of what many consider the PT Barnum of our century... Malcolm Mclaren. Mclaren is long thought of as the "godfather of punk", managing the most of the influential acts of the time most notably the Sex Pistols. Before the time of the Sex Pistols, he managed the New York Dolls, which is long thought of as the frontrunners of modern punk music, with their outrageous stage presence and costumes (encouraged by Mclaren). It was during his management of the Dolls that he first saw the Neon Boys (which included Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell later of Television). In 1975 Mclaren returned to London and opened a clothing store called "SEX" specialising in clothing of a particularly shocking nature. It was from this springboard he put together the Sex Pistols, and became their manager. Never wanting to be behind the curve, Mclaren always moved to new and interesting ideas in music, fashion and art. Adam and the Ants as well as Bow Wow Wow were part of his "stable". Mclaren also dabbled as an artist in early Hip Hop with singles "Buffalo Girls" and "Double Dutch" (both widely sampled later by rap artists). Mclaren is also said to have consulted early in the career of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, who turned down his offer of management. Long hailed as an opportunist, Mclaren blazed many inroads to popular music and culture.....he was 68. See also: "the great rock n roll swindle" and "the filth and the fury"(excellent documentaries about the Sex Pistols)

Dying Breed

2010-04-09T11:24:00.000-05:00

The other day I was working my way through YouTube's music area and it kind of made me sad...I remember as a teenager, especially when I first moved to the DFW area (about 1976), there was something called AOR (album oriented radio for the youngsters). It was a beautiful thing because it appealed to a wide range of music and not just the popular singles, but deeper unheard cuts off a particular band's album. So in other words music was not programmed in neat little "compartments" based on what demographic it fits. It was through this format I expanded my appreciation of all music...for example on any given day, Jackson Browne may be followed by Eric Clapton, followed by Gino Vanelli, followed the Allman Brothers followed by Little Feat followed by Stanley Clarke, followed by Led Zepplin....I think you get the idea. I know you are thinking "why that's one of our classic rock stations!" This is where there is a difference: the classic rock stations of today typically rotate the same list of songs over and over with little or no attention to variety, while AOR would see to it that one would not hear the same song twice in one day! Trust me I would often times listen the whole day especially during summers and weekends. Has the radio industry become so pressured by the music industry that the bottom line is about quantity rather than quality? Is it about burning something out to make room for another "next big thing"? I think so...I rarely listen to much radio outside of our two NPR-based stations, or the independent Texas Music station KHYI. The rest of the time, especially in the car, I will listen to CD's where I have the option of digitally "building" my own radio station. Maybe this is something we can all do with our mp3 players, but in my day (yikes I've become my father) it was more of a community playlist, than one we don't share with others..

How the Artist Pictured the Artists

2010-03-25T12:02:00.000-05:00

Recently the music world has lost yet another true pioneer of images...I'm talking about Jim Marshall. So well known are his images of Jazz and Rock royalty, they are part of the way we view these artists. Each of his photos seemed to capture the "soul" of a particular artist, particularly in a time before the mass media of MTV and the Internet when an artist's image was what represented him or her. Marshall was born in Chicago in 1936, but grew up in San Francisco's Fillmore District. He caught the photo bug at a young age and knew than that was his calling. Jim bought his first camera in 1959 and soon began taking pictures of Jazz heroes that appeared in the Bay Area (including the likes of John Coltrane and Miles Davis). Soon Jim ended up moving moving to New York to be in the center of the Jazz scene. By the mid 60's he was back in the Bay Area taking pictures of the groundswell of activity taking place there. Known for his candidness, artists respected his eye and frequently would hire him as their official photographer. He worked much in this same role till his death, leaving behind a popular legacy that has stood the test of time.

I think that Jim has done the best in describing his drive: " Too much bullshit is written about photographs and music. Let the music move you, whether to a frenzy or to a peaceful place. Let it be what you want to hear-not what others say is popular. Let the photograph be one you remember-not for its technique but for its soul. Let it become part of your life-a part of your past to help shape your future. But most of all, let the music and the photograph be something you love and will always enjoy." I have uploaded two important photos, but the best way to see more is to visit www.marshallphoto.com , you will be amazed. Who better to chronicle popular music...these memories will live forever!

Desert Island 2

2010-03-22T17:01:00.000-05:00

Well here it is finally! another instalment in the series of "Desert Island Music" that i have recently undertaken....this instalment is about Jazz and the way it influences the way I listen to music.

Vince Guaraldi's Grammy-winning song "Cast your fate to the wind"(1963) is the song that started it all for the composer better known for his work with most of the "Peanuts" television and movie soundtracks. This song has a lilting quality that shows how underrated and under-appreciated that Vince Gauraldi was in terms of his contribution to the musical mix. I encourage all who are not familiar with the song to give it a listen.
What desert island list would not be complete without mention of Django Reinhardt? especially my favourite "Minor Swing" This song showcases Django's brilliant mastery of the guitar...this is a man who had to re-learn how to play the guitar when he suffered a nearly disfiguring injury rescuing family members from a fire! Yet he is able to make it sound like a beautiful rhythm with little or no effort. Many contemporary artists mention him as a major influence.
Louis Armstrong is another favourite on the list...it was hard to decide on a particular song, but I think " St. James Infirmary" is on that encompasses the the feel of his roots within the New Orleans Jazz scene. It has the feel of a New Orleans street funeral march, but it gives Mr. Armstrong ample room to "stretch out" smooth and slow. BTW a recent cover of this song by the White Stripes is very noteworthy.
Big Band Swing Jazz is so important to my music appreciation and Chick Webb is one of the greats...known in the day as the victor of many "cutting contests" and a fixture of the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem....his signature song is "stompin' at the Savoy" authorship is attributed to Edgar Simpson (Webb's saxophonist) , but it is Benny Goodman that had the most commercial success with the song. Goodman was known to frequent the Savoy after hours to take in the scene, and frequently competed with Webb's band.
Another Big Band Swing contributor is Count Basie, and my favourite of his songs is "one o' clock jump" Basie shows his skills as both a band leader and as a smokin' keyboard player (the video on youtube has Basie in a six piece that really moves the music like a big band) Another noteworthy version of this song would be by the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Charlie Parker is known as one of the founders of "Bop" Jazz, beyond his years in the interpretations of "tapestries" of notes...the best example of this is probably "Ko-Ko" (1947), which was originally recorded with Dizzy Gillispie (see "Salt Peanuts" also 1947), another founding father of "Bop" Jazz. Ko-Ko is a free-flow of notes that are strung together like beads that move all around the room. Truly a joy to listen to these master craftsmen blending with each other. Unfortunately the demons of several addictions claimed Charlie Parker's life just as his sound was coming into its own.
John Coltrane was another of the most influential tenor sax players of his generation and several following his...where Charlie Parker is energetic and almost manic sounding, Coltrane manages to establish a fluidity, and the best example of this is probably "Blue Trane" (1957). Runners-up are most likely "Love Supreme" and his opulent cover of the Rogers and Hamerstein "Favourite Things" (1961).
Duke Ellington rounds out the list with his own brand of Big Band Swing, and a good example of this would be "Take The A Train", especially when Ella Fitzgerald is on vocals. Ellington's arrangements have influenced artists such as Dave Brubeck and Wynton Marsailis. Runners up would be "Caravan" or possibly "Mood Indigo" Just go to YouTube and watch "Sir Duke" go to work! You will be amazed.

Okay...now that you have some of my favourites...let me know what yours are and why....for example does a particular song stand in mind because a friend or relative listened to it and thereby created a favourite for you? Happy Listening