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Saluting Harold Arlen

By Russell Perry | Jazz at 100
January 26, 2021
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Born Hyman Arluck on February 15, 1905, Harold Arlen was one of the most important composers of the Great American songbook. Arlen's first collaboration with lyricist Ted Koehler, "Get Happy," became his first hit in 1930 and ever since his tunes have been covered by jazz artists. In 2000, his collaboration with Yip Harburg, "Over the Rainbow," from The Wizard of Oz, was deemed the Number One Song of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts. Instrumental artists and vocalists still find Arlen's songbook compelling and there are many current examples of inspired performances. A birthday salute to Harold Arlen in this hour of Jazz at 100 today!

Playlist

Host Intro 0:00
Chick Corea -Bobby McFerrin duo "I've Got the World On A String" from The Musician (Concord Music Group) 2:51
Dianne Reeves "Stormy Weather" from Beautiful Life (Concord Music Group) 8:33
Host speaks 16:32
Houston Person Quintet "Let's Fall in Love" from Nice 'n' Easy (High Note) 18:42
Catherine Russell Quartet "As Long As I Live" from Inside This Heart of Mine (World Village) 22:32
Mary Stallings Sextet "Ill Wind" from Songs Were Made To Sing (BFM Jazz) 26:03
Host speaks 33:14
Tierney Sutton Band "If I Only Had a Brain" from Screenplay (BFM Jazz) 35:25
Joey Alexander solo "Over the Rainbow" from My Favorite Things (Motema) 41:20
Host speaks 45:46
Jane Ira Bloom Quartet "Out Of This World" from Sixteen Sunsets (Out-Line) 46:38
Cassandra Wilson Quintet "A Sleepin' Bee" from Loverly (Blue Note) 52:54
Host Outro 57:26

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