latin ala lee!

this record features the great peggy lee singing to a latin-styled musical backing. some of the tracks are classics from the great american songbook and broadway shows but peggy makes them her own, and with the latin style there are made even more distinctive. the rhythms, arranged and conducted by jack marhsall, are authentically afro-cuban and rarely watered down.


peggy lee - heart (from 'damn yankees')

i hear music

billie holiday was a seminal jazz singer and songwriter, and despite a voice that somewhat lacked range, she brought a deeply emotional and intimate aspect to her performances. i am posting a track from the 'remixed & reimagined' album, a record that i think overall doesn't particularly work very well, but i am a fan of how the track 'i hear music' was re-worked. for me this remix does bring the importance of the original recording to the forefront, without being lost in some overpowerful electronic/house beat. the brass and piano samples almost reply to eachother in conversation, while billie's wonderful verse is preserved with the right balance of cut-up sampling - a balance which is unfortunately absent from the rest of the soulless album leaving the listener to feel that the over-production is only detracting from the originals. nevertheless, 'i hear music' is both elegant and energetic, and would not seem out of place on one of the amazing verve remixed complilations.


listen here...



download...

billie holiday - i hear music (swingsett & takuya's mighty fine remix) [sharebee]

i get a kick out of you

ella fitzgerald is undoubtedly one of the greatest female jazz singers of all time, and through her career she won an astonishing 13 grammy awards. this particular song i'm posting is ella doing a cover of 'i get a kick out of you', which has then been remixed by the cinematic orchestra (a british-based jazz and electronic outfit). the acoustic guitar fits perfectly with ella's purity of tone, and it really feels as if this track has been tastefully brought into the 21st century.



ella fitzgerald - i get a kick out of you (cinematic orchestra remix) [sharebee]

ella fitzgerald - i get a kick out of you (cinematic orchestra remix) [mediafire]

bobby darin

bobby darin, a grammy award-winning singer and one of america's most popular big band performers, has one of those instantly recognisable voices in music. darin was unfortunately subject to severe health problems throughout his life. it is likely this is responsible for giving him such a strong drive to succeed within the limited lifetime he feared remained. he had a string of hits in the late 50's and early 60's, many of which he composed himself. his renditions of other songs were also executed to the highest quality; it is claimed even frank sinatra called darin's version of the classic 'mack the knife' the definitive version. his music has an almost nostalgic feel when listened to now, and i think to some degree it's a shame popular music of today doesn't draw more of an influence from that era. his music is always satisfying to hear and is the perfect blend of swing jazz and pop.

bobby darin - beyond the sea [mediafire]

bobby darin - beyond the sea [yousendit]