The Costello Jazz Show, Part 1 [Mondo Jazz 168-1]

Jazz is one of the most recurrent motifs in the multi-layered quilt that Elvis Costello's discography is; and one of those which make that eclectic patchwork both cohesive and uniquely appealing.  The son of a jazz trumpeter and singer with a passion for the American jazz of the 40s and of a record seller with ears wide open, it's perhaps not surprising that he recorded a rendition of "My Funny Valentine" as early as the late '70s, while he was in the middle of his punk rock phase. This week we celebrate the British singer song-writer's birthday with an exploration of his jazz roots, branches and leaves.  At the top of the hour a remembrance of another genre-defying artist with a deep appreciation for jazz, the late Charlie Watts. The playlist also features Charlie Watts; Metropole Orkest; Diana Krall; Charles Lloyd; Burt Bacharach, Bill Frisell; Zeno De Rossi; The Charles Mingus Orchestra; Hal Willner; Barb Jungr; Tony Bennett; Chet Baker. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13950767/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Shipbuilding"). Photo credit: Paul Moore