Blogs about hot jazz, eighteenth century hits, big bands, Baroque opera, pre-bop, early music and more pop of yestercentury. Also writes for All About Jazz, The Boston Musical Intelligencer and Early Music America. Perpetual music student.
Thank you for reading!
Credit where credit is due…
That adorably thought-provoking cartoon that I am lucky to share with readers is the work of Matteo Bertelli, and can be found here.
Hello,
I am working on a jazz documentary and I would like to contact you via email directly.
Thank you,
Valeria Rios
rios.orangethenblue@gmail.com
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- BOB ZURKE INSPIRES THEOLONIOUS MONK -
It has been well documented that Monk was inspired by Mary Lou William’s “Walkin’ And Swingin’” – “Rhythm-a-ning” – and John Kirby’s “Pastel Blue” – “Blue Monk”.
Thanks to your blog, this morning, I discovered that Bob Zurke’s performance of “Tea For Two”, with the Bob Crosby Band in 1938, is the genesis of Monk’s still-unique version of the same tune. Recorded in New York, March 10, 1938 for Decca.
Zurke’s spectacular reharmonization begins at 2:39 -
In Chicago, on January 18, 1940, Zurke returned to Youman’s theme, recording it with his own big band – Bob Zurke and his Delta Rhythm Band. At 2:17, there begins an even more extensive, i.e. full chorus reharmonization. Monk could have heard this version as it was issued on Victor & was probably widely distributed.
The 1940 version has been reissued on HEP CD – and is available on iTunes.
I would love to hear the version Squirrel Ashcraft recorded in Chicago, 1938 – a duo of Zurke and Joe Rushton on clarinet.
Zurke was also mentioned “Jelly Roll” Morton as a favorite contemporary player. As told to historian Alan Lomax on May 23, 1938, “There’s only a very few jazz pianists, if there’s any, that as I state today. So far as the present time, musicians as pianists, I don’t know of but only one that have a tendency to be on the right track, and that’s Bob Zurke of Bob Crosby Band. Far as the rest of ‘em, all I can see is ragtime pianists in a very fine form.”"
Bob Zurke died on February 16, 1944, just weeks after his 32nd birthday.
Cheers,
Andrew
I’ve been looking for that duo recording too, also to hear Rushton on clarinet. The line from Zurke to Monk, wow…
Fascinating connections, Andrew! Thanks for sharing them here, and for reading!