The legendary Jimmy Rowles had a stellar reputation within the jazz community, having worked with Charlie Parker, Ben Webster (a lifelong friend), Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Benny Carter, Lester Young, Benny Goodman and Harry Edison. Woody Herman once introduced him at Carnegie Hall as, “one of the hippest guys who ever lived” and Oscar Peterson considered him to be a “quiet innovator”.
Norman Granz invited him to take over when Tommy Flanagan left Ella Fitzgerald. He also worked with Carmen McRae who once described him as “the guy every girl singer in her right mind would like to work with”. Billie Holiday was his favourite singer and Donald Clarke’s Holiday biography Wishing On The Moon has numerous anecdotes about their lengthy collaboration.
Others who benefited from his subtle promptings included Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan, Julie London, Diana Krall and Kay Starr. He was even once called in by the studios to coach Marilyn Monroe. He would have been a fascinating subject for a biography and there has certainly been talk. Despite the best efforts of Stacy, his daughter, nothing came come of it. She died in 2009.
Jimmy’s idiosyncratic approach to rhythm and harmony produced a piano style that was almost unclassifiable. His encyclopaedic knowledge of popular song included the well-known Lady Be Good and Serenade In Blue but in stops along the way here he reveals overlooked gems such as The Day You Came Along, I Wouldn’t Change You For The World and Remember Me. A particular highlight is All The Things You Are, which he performs as a clever paraphrase without ever playing the melody. Fresh Sound has included four rare bonus tracks from the period.
Discography
(1) All The Things You Are; The Day You Came Along; So Far So Good; I Wouldn’t Change You For The World; You Are Too Beautiful; Serenade In Blue; Let’s Fall In Love; Remember Me; Lady Be Good; Chloe; Topsy; Let’s Fall In Love (alt); (2) We’ll Be Together Again; (3) Sonny Speaks; (4) That Ole Devil Called Love; The Blues (60.39)
Rowles (p) all tracks with:
(1) Red Mitchell (b); Art Mardigan (d). Hollywood, 13 December 1954.
(2) Al Hendrickson (elg); Joe Mondragon (b); Nick Fatool (d). Hollywood, 13 September 1956.
(3) Ben Tucker (b); Mel Lewis (d). Hollywood, 11 December 1956.
(4) himself, solo, Hollywood, 1957.
Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 1149
