Yet Another "Stella"

Now here’s another version of “Stella by Starlight”, this time by Clint Strong, who’s recorded with some famous country and jazz artists.

Sorry for the tune overdose, but I think that learning this song’s progression in the context of jazz improvisation is essential to the development and improvement of one’s playing.  Besides, the progression is really fun to play on the guitar.

Luciano Zadro’s Take on Victor Young’s "Stella by Starlight"

Maybe I’m going out of my mind, but I think Victor Young’s song “Stella by Starlight” was about Olympic sprinter Stella Walsh, who dominated the scene (limelight, starlight, not too bright, covert) in the 1930s and 1940s.  Walsh died of a stray bullet in 1980, and when autopsied, she — or he — was found to have male genitals and both male and female chromosomes.

Well, it’s the Olympic season and the fact that I can’t watch clips of my favorite sport on YouTube really brings me the blues.  Anyway, in the spirit of the 2008 Olympics (which has become really greedy), here’s Luciano Zadro’s take on the song “Stella by Starlight.”  Is Stella THE “Stella”?  Well, if Victor Young was gay, then there’s the connection.  Hahaha.

Getting back to Zadro’s version, I’d want to play like that.

Peter Kienle Playing "Stella by Starlight"

This is really awesome playing by Peter Kienle, who was born in Germany but now lives in the United States.  Check this out.

Adam Rogers Soloing

Adam Rogers, who like Wayne Krantz toured with Chris Potter, is featured on this video while touring in Mexico with the late great Michael Brecker.  Observe Adam’s picking hand.  Despite his unorthodox position, I guess he made it work for him.

Listen to Adam’s smooth flowing lines that sound legato despite all that picking.   I don’t think I’m going to change my picking style because of this though.  I simply can’t play the guitar that way.

Here’s another one of Adam’s videos, this time apparently taken by someone in the audience.  Dang, those are lines I’d like to play.  They sound sophisticated, intelligent and scholastic in a positive way.  Anyway, this is a song called “Phyrigia.”

If you can’t get enough of Mr. Rogers’ post bop music — I want to listen to more — you can listen to his concert at the Village Vanguard in New York here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89621136.

When you get there (after reading the article, I presume), click on the link that says:  Adam Rogers Quintet in Concert.  It’s beside the red icon depicting a loudspeaker.  You won’t miss it.

Finally, here’s his Web site:

http://www.adamrogersmusic.com/live/. 

Wayne Krantz Live

Here’s Wayne Krantz playing the song “Is Something I Don’t Understand Yet” with Lincoln Goines on bass and Zach Danziger on drums in Leverkusen, Germany, way back in 1993.

Check out this funky piece. 

Here’s another video, this time with Chris Potter’s band.  Check out Wayne’s lines here.  He really takes it way out there, and as such, I guess it’s going to take some time before I figure out what he’s doing.  Ugh!