NEW SONGS - (More) New Lounge, Jazz & Swing Numbers

Ever seeking to add variety to my sets, I have learned some new songs – some to see (or is that hear?) their debut at my stand-in slot at Tides Bar in St David’s Hotel, Cardiff Bay, and others that I can use in various functions I undertake whenever an element of something smooth or swingin' is required.

New songs added to my repertoire this time are:

It Had To Be You [1924]

Not so much a new song as a re-boot.  I've had a fairly light jazz quintet arrangement of this Gus Kahn & Isham Jones song in my repertoire for a while, as per the Tony Bennett arrangement, complete with a recitative prelude that you can hear part of in the media player on my main website.  All well and good, but I always felt the opening lacked the immediacy of more commonly known arrangements.

Harry Connick Jr.

Many of the widely available backing tracks have sounded, to me,  just a little bit too…bontempi organ (if that makes sense) and synthesised and getting a quality custom track made would have set me back a few hundred pounds due to the complex nature of a big-band arrangement.  And I refuse to use pub-singer quality midi-tracks – my clients deserve better than that!  (Or, as my wife say, I’m being a Diva!)

So a brilliant arrangement of the big band version made most famous by Harry Connick Jr (as featured in the movie When Harry Met Sally) has eluded me for a while. 

Finally, my quest is won, with a fantastic arrangement very similar to the Harry Connick Jr version from a studio based over in France – all-live instrumentation and a great swinging vibe.  It has a simpler instrumentation than HC Jr’s, but I think this adds a realistic live feel (“verrisimilitude”, if you will, for any Oxford Professors reading this) and leaves some great breathing space and anticipation as the song swells to it huge brass climax.  (Oo-er misses!)

Look out for a recording including me on vocals coming this way soon!

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore [1942]

"I'll have what she's having...."

This fantastic Duke Ellington number has been a favourite of mine for a number of years – most listeners will again know it from the ‘When Harry Met Sally’ soundtrack.  I had been performing a lounge version of this while with my former quintet (Broadway & Fifth) but since moving on I had again struggled to find a high quality version to support solo work.  Once again to my new Gallic musicians came up trumps, and this number is now available within my swing shows.

Particularly this arrangement caught my ear because of a rising repetition of the closing few chords of the refrain, which has allowed me to add my own interpretation to the version I perform.  I pride myself on adding these unique elements because  I feel this adds an air of exclusivity to my performances.  Rather than a presenting a facsimile of another artist’s interpretation (as required of tribute artists) I feel I can help keep these wonderful songs as living, breathing pieces, where possible.  I hope this doesn’t sound pretentious!

This Masquerade [1972]

Gorgeous George

 Although originally released in ’72, George Benson brought this song into the wider public consciousness on his “Breezin’” album six years later.  Benson’s arrangement has soft infectiousness, which along with the lyric, draws you into a tale of heartache and regret, a man struggling to reconcile is feelings for his partner with a deep sadness he feels.

Not a song I would choose to sing at a wedding!  Perfect however for background music in lounge bars or at events not themed around romance! 

The number demands the vocal have a restrained, soulful yearning vocal quality that teeters on the edge breaking into rawness: it’s an introspective song I really enjoy getting “inside” of – although an absolute challenge to improvise the vocal melody to coincide with the quick and intricate guitar instrumental. 

So, a mixed bag of new songs this time.  Upcoming weddings require I learn some new - slightly more contemporary – ballads, so please watch this space for new song reviews over the coming weeks!

Take care…and have fun

Jon Paul

NEW SONGS - Dinner & Jazz Numbers Added

Some of my regular followers will know I have begun to act as ad hoc “understudy” to the resident Friday-night singer at Tides Bar & Restaurant within the fabulous five-star St David’s Hotel in Cardiff Bay.

St David's Hotel, exterior

The show here requires a subtle touch, and I often open the proceedings with a selection of classic lounge and dinner jazz, which goes down very well for diners and easing-in relaxing hotel guests.  It’s a real pleasure to sing those American Songbook standards  - and has given me opportunity to expand my repertoire in order to keep the sets fresh and interesting.  (For me and the waiting staff, anyway!)

In the past few weeks I’ve therefore added a few new classic tunes and arrangements – these are of course now available within the wedding and events work I undertake for private clients and give me an enormous sense of pleasure to sing.

The new songs I have added this time are:

East of The Sun (And West of The Moon) [1934]





 This is a beautiful song – full of optimism and a sense of contentment: ‘up’ without being ‘hot’ and the arrangement I use also has a wonderful bass instrumental which is perfect for introducing myself and welcoming guests.  Perfect when acting as host/MC during cocktail hours at weddings!

Despite being the song I’ve used to lull my youngest to sleep for the past 4 years, it took me some time to find a fantastic backing recording of the version I really loved – namely Diana Krall’s from 1999.  I love the way her piano hook opens and hangs with a real sense of anticipation before the vocals starts.  The same hook also closes the arrangement, and in my interpretation I also lightly scat the same hook melody as a postlude – all very Tony Bennett, even if I do say so myself!

I Could Write A Book [1940]

"See dots.  See dots run. Run, dots, run!"

This vintage classic features in the score of Rogers & Hart’s ‘Pal Joey’, which later featured Frank Sinatra in the 1957 film version.  It’s also been covered by Ella Fitzgerald and Harry Connick Jr – although my favourite arrangement is absolutely that by the irreplaceable Cleo Laine.

With much risk of sounding all gushing, this part of the lyrics really touch me :

          "And the simple secret of the plot;
          Is just to tell them that I love you, a lot.
          Then the world discovers as my book ends;
          How to make two lovers of friends."

The sentiment reminds me of falling in love with my wonderful wife Helen – who is every day, more, my best friend.  I only hope I convey this feeling each time in the way the song is sung! 
[Blimme I’m an old softie romantic!<sniff>]  ;-)

Quando Quando Quando [1962]

This 60s bossa nova classic is perhaps best known for a very full-on arrangement by Englebert Humperdinck …no…Zaphod Beeblebrox…no – go back one: Englebert Humperdinck. 

Buble & Furtado

(Excuse my digression – a reference there for other Eddie Izzard fans.)


However, 2005 saw Michael Buble duet with Nelly Furtado on a lush and cool arrangement that I have begun to use as a solo piece.  [Although Ms Furtado is welcome to join me martini style – any time, any place any where.  ;-)  ]

I love the sense of longing in the lyrics, but the forward momentum of the latin rhythm helps add a little energy to segue from the slightly more wistful jazz numbers in my sets. 
[And it makes clients drink a wee bit faster too, which bar managers seem to like ;-)  ]  

The American and jazz Songbooks is just so full of many fabulous numbers – I will be adding more new numbers of over the next few weeks: so please watch this space!

Take care…and have fun.

Jon Paul

Jon Paul performs a range of classic and vintage numbers, and swing classics, as well as contemporary ballads and numbers for dancing the into the wee hours.  He is available for dinner-dances, cocktail hours and corporate events and will adapt all his sets to suit the needs of each client.