From the Studio #26 – Tea for Two – Vincent Youmans’ ingenious tune with clever words by Irving Caesar has been interpreted by many. I like, among others, a well-arranged version by Don Redman’s Orchestra from the thirties. The changes are a bit too difficult to (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Studio #25 – Go Back Where You Stayed Last Night – This tune with a long title also has a very long sequence with the same tonic chord, which can be a challenge when you make an instrumental version like I attempted. The song was written by (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Studio #24 – On the Sunny Side of the Street – This is a real standard tune. Louis Armstrong’s different versions have given the song depth, and another favorite is Lionel Hampton’s 1939 recording with the opening chorus by Johnny Hodges on alto sax (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Studio #23 – These Foolish Things – I don’t think that this song needs to be as sad as it happens to sound in my present version. Apart from classic versions by Bing Crosby, Al Bowly, and Billie Holiday, my best memory of the tune is from the film Daddy Longlegs (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Studio #22 – Little Girl – I was a bit ambitious and put in some saxophone work and a bit of my trombone when I recorded this. I think that the tune deserves it. I have many favorites among the 1920s pop songs and also from my early memories. As a teenager (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Studio #21 – Try a little Tenderness – Yes, I know that it’s not completely true what is said in the lyrics. But it’s well meant, and the basic message is good—to try a little tenderness. Otis Redding made a fine soul version of this song, as did Aretha Franklin (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Studio #20 – Guilty – An improvising musician has his own style depending on what he has heard, his progress on his instrument, and what goes on in his mind. What comes out also depends on the situation. On a gig, there are other musicians and an audience that (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Studio #19 – Livin’ High – It’s a nice tune that Clarence Williams recorded a couple of times. As the illustration, shows it’s about spending money, and the text is funny. There are three themes musically speaking, with a verse, a chorus and a so called “patter.” (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Studio #18 – Just a Gigolo – The tune is known to the world from Louis Prima’s show version, but since I heard a touching recording by Bing Crosby first, I much prefer that serious attitude. This very sad song with a bittersweet melody has Austrian origin (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Studio #17 – Many Happy Returns of the Day – My one-man band plays a full arrangement of a celebration song, but as you see below or hear on the recording, it’s not a happy one. Trombone and cornet are the main instruments, and the mutes come to good use (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Studio #16 – Loveless Love – This is also named Careless Love and was composed by W.C. Handy. It’s one of those tunes that is always good to play, simple and basic, and inspiring to the soloist. Many have recorded it. My favorite is Bessie Smith’s version with (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Studio #15 – Glad Rag Doll – Today I play a couple of choruses on a nice tune composed by Jack Yellen, with lyrics by Dan Dougherty and Milton Ager. I do not sing, so you will not hear the lyrics but they are quite sad. Glad Rag Doll means a girl dressed in (…) read more and listenread more and listen