Podcast 212 - Up Jumped Spring

Sunday evening, Spring sneaked in and finally put an end to the most tiresome winter I can recall. Monday morning, we got an inch or so of snow. More on Wednesday. Sigh. With Mother Nature failing to cooperate, the best way to get in a spring mood is to listen to some jazz with a spring theme. With that in mind, Podcast 212 features a variety of tunes, both instrumental and vocal, with Spring in the titles. Click here to enjoy: Hank Jones - "Things Are So Pretty In The Spring" from Urbanity. We're going back to 1956 to take a track from Hank Jones' first LP and pick up one of his originals. Someof the tracks on the album were solos, and others trios with Ray Brown (bass) and Johnny Smith (guitar). Karrin Allyson - "It Might As Well Be Spring" from I Didn't Know About You. Speaking of first albums, this version of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic comes from Ms. Allyson;s 1992 debut. She adds a touch of the bossa nova to this take, foreshadowing her future love of Brazilian and French music she would tackle in later releases. Dave Brubeck - "Springtime in Central Park" from Jazz Impressions of New York. What can be said about the venerable Mr. B that hasn't already? For almost ten years his quartet released a series of "Jazz Impressions" albums, this one from 1965, The band is at its peak - Brubeck pn piano,Paul Desmond on alto saxs, Gene Wright on bass and Joe Morello on drums. Blossom Dearie - "They Say It's Spring (Edited Version)" from Blossom Dearie. She was a one of a kind singer, and here she is from her first major release in 1956, featuring her on vocals and piano, Herb Ellis on guitar and Jo Jones on drums. Arturo Sandavol - "Joy Spring" from Trumpet Evolution. The great Cuban trumpet player paid homage to his heroes and mentors on this release. Here he tackles a classic Clifford Brown tune. Dianne Reeves - "Some Other Spring" from The Grand Encounter. Arthur Herzog Jr's tune becomes another triumph for Ms. Reeves. Curtis Fuller - Title track from Up Jumped Spring. One of the great trombonists in jazz was 68 when he cut this version of the Freddie Hubbard tune, which features Brad Goode on trumpet, Karl Montzka on piano, Larry Gray on bass and Tim Davis on drums.