I recently rediscovered this recording of my late dad playing jazz piano.

[femmedem]

Last edited Sun Sep 18, 2022, 02:12 PM - Edit history (1)

It's a joyfully inventive mashup of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Brubeck's Take 5.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CimtYu6DDvF/

Finding it again brought back such great memories. In addition to being a fine musician, he was a staunch Democrat. Back in 2008 he suffered a cardiac arrest, and when he came out of a medically-induced coma but couldn't yet talk he wrote three questions:

1. What happened?
2. What day is it?
3. Who won?

When Mom figured out he was asking who'd won the presidential election, she answered, "Obama" and he raised his arms in glee.

[ms liberty]

1. He was good! And what a great story! So awesome that you have these recordings. n/t

[femmedem]

3. Thanks! DU sent him lots of well-wishes after his cardiac arrest.

The recording means the world to me. This song is in a collection he recorded for my sister and me in the year and a half after he came so close to dying. He titled it, aptly, "Because You Asked."

[lark]

2. How nice and breezy!

Thank you for sharing this joyous music. Your dad definitely seemed very special!

[femmedem]

4. Thanks for listening, lark! It makes me happy to share this music he left behind. n/t

[7wo7rees]

5. Thanks so very much for sharing. It is lovely. n/t

Ms7wo7rees

[femmedem]

7. You're welcome! Thanks for listening! n/t

[FM123]

6. Wow!

Just beautiful. What a wonderful way to start my morning!

[femmedem]

8. Aww, thanks.

When I was growing up, his music was my norm so I didn't realize how special his talent was.

I'm glad you enjoyed it so much!

[2naSalit]

9. He was really good!

I like his smooth transitions, serious talent.

[femmedem]

10. I'm so glad you like it, 2naSalit.

It's sweet to be able to share his music with my DU community.

[femmedem]

11. For anyone who wants more, here's his version of My Romance, another favorite of mine.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CilSEG-jh6-/

[XanaDUer2]

12. Kick nt

[femmedem]

13. Thanks, XanaDUer2! n/t

[TexLaProgressive]

14. I'm a jazz lover, and I just love this piece by your Dad.

His smiling face is as wonderful as his music. And his sense of humor fills his performance. Thanks for sharing.

[femmedem]

15. Thanks for appreciating his humor and for commenting! That woody woodpecker laugh cracks me up.

He told some great shaggy dog stories, too.

[ProfessorGAC]

16. Quite Skilled

And, I'm a jazz piano player by training!
I really like the repeated references to other songs to that Take Five feel.
Very good.

[femmedem]

18. I love the way he throws in snippets of those other songs, too.

Thanks! It's good to hear from someone who's a trained musician that he was really good--that I don't just hear it that way because I'm his daughter.

He learned from his father who played Dixieland jazz. Family lore says grandpa began playing professionally when he was fourteen, hiding behind the upright piano to dodge child labor laws. (As an adult, he worked as an accountant to support his family but continued to gig with his jazz buddies on the side.)

[ProfessorGAC]

20. I Relate To Them

Although I had a job in the sciences, I gigged a couple thousand times in my life.
I understand why your dad & grandpa did what they did.

[femmedem]

21. My father studied physics at University of Chicago. You have a lot in common!

But unlike you, he didn't keep up with science--he actually dropped out of college--and became a computer programmer instead.

Here's another one of his recordings--My Romance. A totally different mood. In public, at least, he was funny--loved a good pun--and never sentimental. So it's always surprised me that this music could come out of him. https://www.instagram.com/p/CilSEG-jh6-/

[Mr.Bill]

17. I've heard those two songs merged before,

but not done nearly as well as this. Bravo!

[femmedem]

19. Thanks! Now I'll have to find them merged and hear someone else's version!

I remember hearing him play them together when I was a teen, but never knew if he was delighting in recreating something he'd heard or if it was something he'd come up with.