Beato has “what makes this song great”, but your presentation here I would label “what makes the story of this great song great”. I find your presentation far more compelling. The key is your attention not only the lyrical narrative of the story but to the harmonic narrative as well. Absolutely fascinating. You’re on to something with this approach and your detailed appreciation of a great jazz standard.
@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын
Rob you nailed exactly what I was going for. Huge compliment, thank you!
@elainemarks1677 ай бұрын
Beautiful ballad. Frank murdered it. Johnny Hartman's version is the ultimate. I appreciate your musical knowledge I had it down as written in the minor key. Wonderful to hear Mr Strayhorn. You play very well.
@JoshWalshMusic7 ай бұрын
Thanks Elaine!
@derekegenti6 ай бұрын
Hartman's version is golden
@MarkTarmannPianoCheck_it_out4 ай бұрын
@@derekegenti diamond platinum silvery golden, priceless, beyond compare, untouchable. NEVER get tired of it, after 1000s of listenings. The playing abilities of the little back up lounge quartet he used on the recording also helps to make his version interesting. :)
@areirvingАй бұрын
Queen Latifah kills it too, as does Blossom Dearie.
@mintah500Ай бұрын
Your compelling presentation here, sir, is a poignant and illuminating chord-tracked storytelling of a singular life. Much appreciated!
@JoshWalshMusic26 күн бұрын
Thank you!
@anne45622 ай бұрын
I completely agree that Queen Latifah's version of Lush Life is amazing. It's the best I've found, and I've listened to many. The fact that Billy Strayhorn wrote this as a teenager blows me away. It is so sophisticated and world-weary sounding. Truly lush!
@Momoko395Ай бұрын
I’ve fell in love with this song immediately when I heard Fujii Kaze’s sang as his opening song at his first US your last month. Kaze is not power house singer but he is an incredible song writer and pianist with strong jazz background. His voice always touches my heart as well. I went to his concert at Apollo theater in New York. He performed as he told the story of Billy Strayhorn with his own seasonings and the brilliant arrangement ❤❤❤❤ hope you will have a chance to listen while many fans posted the performance in KZfaq 😊
@tonjareneehallАй бұрын
Love your channel & so many great singers have sung this incredible song with beautiful emotion. Queen Latifa, Sarah Vaughan, Lady Gaga, Samara Joy....to name a few of my personal faves. Thanks for your work!
@JoshWalshMusicАй бұрын
Thank you!
@MarkTarmannPianoCheck_it_out4 ай бұрын
You didn't say much here i haven't already thought, having lived with this song for 30plus years, having heard it done by Coltrane and Hartman 1000s of times, and having played it 1000s of times more myself, at home and on gigs. All your analysis and commentary lines up perfectly with mine. You're obviously a clever lad, like me self.. It's such a sophisticated and unpredictable work; it took me, a slow learner. years, literally, to memorize the form and changes with still occasionally getting lost at the squirelly, surprising parts, the end of the B section and the D section. Great vid and bit of deep musical and compositional education for anyone trying to understand the song, how it was composed , how staggeringly ingenious Strayhorn was, esp. on this tune, and how brilliantly the lyrics and the music work together. Bravo.
@JoshWalshMusic4 ай бұрын
Thanks Mark! One of my favorite standards.
@The70s80scollection2 ай бұрын
Have to agree, I have a few recordings of this beautifully crafted song, always loved Ella and the Duke's version and Linda Ronstadt's but Queen Latifah's is absolute perfection, the arrangement, her phrasing, that wonderfully rich voice, the stings, even that little touch of the accordion at the week in Paris, I don't play any instruments etc, but was brought up with jazz due to my parents so have a very gifted ear for music, all kinds of music, loved your analysis of Lush Life.
@thebedroomshow90107 ай бұрын
Queen Latifah’s version is also my favorite, but that’s likely because I enjoy broadway style performances of songs I like, which this is and which she is good at
@warrenwilson7836 Жыл бұрын
I really enjoyed how you tied the harmonic elements to the emotional elements of the song: a simple plaintive melody above the subtle, shifting enormity of the underlying harmony. Thanks for taking the time to analyse this and share your thoughts.
@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын
Thanks Warren.
@alltabb Жыл бұрын
Queen Latifa is actually a very good Jazz and Blues singer. She's an extremely talented individual who exceeded in multiple genres of entertainment.
@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын
100%!
@hezigler4 ай бұрын
Much more interesting than the Real Book's version of Lush Life is the one in The New Real Book. It has John Coltrane's chords. I've been working on it on and off for decades. My favorite is Johnny Hartman, with Trane, of course.
@DuncanCustomAirbrush Жыл бұрын
killer thumbnail dude! I also see people loving and appreciating your story
@rroberto102610 ай бұрын
I have always loved this song since I heard it played by Rickie Lee Jones in the early '80s. This is brilliant: I've learned the history with an explanation of how its composition presents the color of a life. Thank you.
@JoshWalshMusic10 ай бұрын
I don’t know this recording, but I’m going to check it out. Thanks for the great comment.
@lisamcmahon14629 ай бұрын
I appreciated the Queen's version.
@miltonsalmeron9008 ай бұрын
Clifford Jordan’s recording of this tune is my favorite of all time from his album SpellBound
@mach379 ай бұрын
I'd like to see your analysis of "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" - I have a thing for moody songs with dense harmonizations.
@JoshWalshMusic9 ай бұрын
Oh man that’s a good one that I had not thought of. Added to my idea list! Thank you!
@JoaoPaulo-vv5vr2 ай бұрын
Would be great of course!
@realraven2000 Жыл бұрын
My favorite interpretation of this song is by Rickie Lee Jones - on the EP "Girl at her Volcano", performed live at Perkins Palace, LA. We are lucky to have it on Spotify these days.
@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын
I don’t know that one. I’ll check it out!
@jimthompson606Ай бұрын
It took Blossom Dearie years to master it. Sammie Davis did a good job with it.
@martynramsden Жыл бұрын
Hi Josh, totally engaging post on Billy's life and music. Fascinated to listen to your story and the artists who strove to sing this beautiful harmonic song. Liked your approach to this and you've now inspired me to go and listen to more Strayhorn and recordings too. Certainly a master and a struggle for him in life - more of the same please 😁🎹👍👌
@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын
Thanks again, Martyn.
@benwinstanleymusicАй бұрын
Really excellent video, thoughtful presentation. Thank you, have a nice day
@TheDreamingDays3 ай бұрын
I was looking for more info on this song. Thank you for making this video!
@maxalthoff4526 Жыл бұрын
Excellent video Josh. The music… the story telling… the editing. It’s all very well done. You’re on your way to 100k subs.
@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын
Max! Thanks man. 100k just around the corner haha
@yannicklambrecht1634 Жыл бұрын
Wow. I think this is my favorite video you’ve made. The lyrics do reveal all the harmonic choices. Beautifully presented 👏
@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын
Aww you made my week Yannick!
@JoaoPaulo-vv5vr2 ай бұрын
Strayhorn was hors concours ❤
@frankvaleron Жыл бұрын
This would be a great idea for a series. I haven't heard a standard analysed this way before
@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын
Thanks Frank. It’s the 5th one I’ve done like this, though the first one was so terrible nobody should ever watch it (I was new lol)
@bluecrueful Жыл бұрын
A beautiful piece. The version with Trane and Johnny Hartman have the definitive version, in my opinion....this was a great analysis
@JoshWalshMusic Жыл бұрын
Oh man, that version is so good.
@chasun7 ай бұрын
Amazing video! Maybe i m old school, but ella s version is my favourite, in fact one of my fav among the diva s entire career
@raf889 Жыл бұрын
Great video thanks for helping me understand this song. The harmony is very mysterious to me, but very beautiful.
@stevesteve3507 ай бұрын
Just watched your amazingly interesting and insightful video of Lush Life, one of my favorite standards of all time. Being a huge Ronstadt fan, I've always loved her version, but found you through clicking on the version by Queen Latifa. Not sure why it popped up on my KZfaq list, but OMG! I'm simply blown away. I totally agree with you that it just may be one of, if not, the definitive version of the song. Has she been hiding her voice, or am I just out of the loop? LOL. WOW- Just stunning. Thanks for your fascinating explanation, as well. I'm not a musician, but was really struck at how intentional the musical notes, lyrics, and meaning of the song are. I guess I always understood that, but so much clearer after your presentation.
@JoshWalshMusic7 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@ThePianoMan19537 күн бұрын
I agree with your "take" on Queen Latifah's knocking this piece out of the park completely. She sings it almost down in that Sarah Vaughn range and it is just perfect. For me, the amazing full, symphonic orchestra arrangement by Mervyn Warren is also a big part of why it was instantly "my favorite" version. If you like this, you would probably like my favorite jazz vocal group, Singers Unlimited. I listen to their ongoing mix on KZfaq. As with the Queen Latifah recording, when they sing, you hear every word so clearly! Enjoy.
@nickadducimusic3 ай бұрын
Rare Silk has the best version of this song.. beautiful harmonies. For the longest time, I actually thought that Lush Life was a Rare Silk original
@JoshWalshMusic3 ай бұрын
I dont know this! Must look it up.
@nickadducimusic3 ай бұрын
@@JoshWalshMusic Let me know what you think
@ThePianoMan19537 күн бұрын
@@nickadducimusic Just listened to your recommendation (for the first time.) Really great musicians!! Of course, "the best version" is very subjective. I know you are a fine musician in your own right so I can tell you, personally, their harmonies are a bit too "outside" for my senses. Of the dozen or so recordings I've heard, I also prefer Queen Latifah, but a lot of that is that I "melt" by the amazingly, ahum.... "lush" symphonic orchestra arrangement by Mervyn Warren, complete with symphonic harps, English horns and a squeeze-box thrown into the mix. I think, if I could arrange like that, I could die happy! 🙂 That being said, I would have loved hearing it sung a Capella by Singers Unlimited from Gene Peurling's amazing arranging skill.
@Shellison1Ай бұрын
Excellent presentation, but I am a little surprised Ella's renditions were not mentioned. Very different from Queen Latifa's and perhaps actually closer to Strayhorn's quieter delivery, no belting. I am no jazz expert, so would be interested to read what others think.
@JoshWalshMusicАй бұрын
Ella’s version is incredible.
@Dante-dp6qxАй бұрын
That was my uncle...and I'm a shareholder of the music catalog
@JoshWalshMusicАй бұрын
Billy Strayhorn is your uncle?!
@Dante-dp6qxАй бұрын
@@JoshWalshMusic yup...my great uncle. My grandfather was the youngest. His name was John... Johnny Come Lately
@JoshWalshMusicАй бұрын
@@Dante-dp6qx that’s incredible. Write some songs! You got good DNA!
@Dante-dp6qxАй бұрын
@@JoshWalshMusic I'm sure I can because I wrote a personal canon of poetry.
@leadcatpress Жыл бұрын
Great video! If you have not read his biography, "Lush Life," it's worth your time. Cheers!
@rockstarjazzcat Жыл бұрын
Strayhorn’s a giant among giants! Cheers, Daniel
@rockstarjazzcat Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the analysis!
@donnaloeffler52793 ай бұрын
Ricky Lee Jones. Her version is my all time favorite. Have a listen.
@JoshWalshMusic3 ай бұрын
I haven’t heard this. Looking it up…
@ThePianoMan19537 күн бұрын
LOL I literally had to stop listening to it!
@thylordjay10 ай бұрын
Lady Gaga's version is good too 👌🏻🩶
@JoshWalshMusic10 ай бұрын
100% agree.
@ABisopht4 ай бұрын
Lady Gaga did an excellent rendition of Lush Life!
@JoshWalshMusic4 ай бұрын
Totally! I love that album with Tony Bennett.
@ABisopht4 ай бұрын
@@JoshWalshMusic I love this song. I've, now three times, tried to explain its profundity to my wife. But your single 8-minute video was perfect and now she finally gets it. Thank you!
@ThePianoMan19537 күн бұрын
@@ABisopht The lyrics are hauntingly profound and clever: "She had too many twelve-o'clock tales." And, "Romance is mush.... I'll live a lush life in some small dive." It just dawned on me that, during my travels to Asia, I have met many retired old men, who seem to share that philosophy. 🤔
@humbertoarias81126 ай бұрын
Natalie cole has the best version❤❤❤❤❤
@JoshWalshMusic6 ай бұрын
So good!
@snakefinger2 ай бұрын
Very nice ! I’ll never get enough of this song. Thank you !
@deforesttthompson92999 ай бұрын
The queen latifa take was a W take.
@gabrieleschulze76276 ай бұрын
I like Kurt Elling's version of the tune ❤
@Sn00ze Жыл бұрын
First…
@jhonjairovalencia79453 ай бұрын
Hello Josh, I have in my possession a recording of Billy Strayhorn live with his orchestra, tape dated October 10, 1981, do you know if anyone might be interested? I want to sell it
@JoshWalshMusic3 ай бұрын
Wow, that’s amazing. I don’t off hand, but I imagine some museums would love to have it if you can find a good home.
@jhonjairovalencia79453 ай бұрын
@@JoshWalshMusic Thank you very much Josh for answering me, please excuse me for being bold and taking advantage of your knowledge, can you please recommend a place in New York?
@JoshWalshMusic3 ай бұрын
@@jhonjairovalencia7945 sorry, I’m not aware of a specific place. You could call one of the music schools and ask. Many of them are affiliated or own museums.