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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #102: Rosetta

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Sometimes, I know exactly which song I would like to feature next and I write down the post in a short time.

But at times, I only know a certain criteria the song should have – e.g. a slower tempo – but can't decide which song. Then I change and change again and eventually, I have spent an hour or more, only to pick a song.

This week, the latter was the case. However, I have found one deep in my library and here is a new song for you: comfortable tempo, groovy, quite long actually :).

Rosetta

The song is called “Rosetta” and was performed and recorded by Al Casey in the 1970s.

African American Albert Aloysius Casey, better known as Al Casey (Sept. 15, 1915 – Sept. 11, 2005), learned first the violin, then shortly ukulele, but after he moved to New York in 1930, he switched to guitar.

Al Casey is best known for his collaboration with Fats Waller. In 1934, he got his first professional job with Waller and he worked with him until Waller's death in 1943. During that time, Casey played with Fats Waller's Rhythm on more than 200 records.

While his association with Waller, Casey played with Teddy Wilson's Big Band from 1939 – 1940 and recorded with Billie Holiday, among others.

Shortly after Waller's passing, Casey switched from acoustic to electric guitar, leading his own trio and being considered one of the best guitarists after Charlie Christian‘s death.

In 1957, Casey joined R&B saxophonist King Curtis‘ band and played for four years with him. In the 1970s he recorded with Helen Humes and Jay McShann, and in the 1980s with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band.

Even in the 1990s he was still active as musician.


DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #102: "Rosetta" by Al Casey (1973)Title: Rosetta
Artist: Al Casey
Recorded: 1973
Album: Jumpin' with Al
Tempo: 136 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop



Click the link to download the song at
iTunes CH/EU – iTunes US – A'zon.de – A'zon.com – A'zon.co.uk – eMusic

not an eMusic member yet? Get $10/€10 credit with Your 7 Day FREE Trial!


What do you think about 1970s swing? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“.
You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.

Related Posts:

Song of the Week #101: “Gift For The Club” by Buck Clayton
Song of the Week #100: “Livery Stable Blues” by Original Dixieland Jass Band
Song of the Week #99: “Oh I'm Evil” by Una Mae Carlisle
Song of the Week #98: “Wednesday Night Hop” by Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds of Joy
Song of the Week #97: “Some Of These Days” by Mario “Harp” Lorenzi

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #99: Oh I’m Evil

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Una Mae Carlisle (26.12.1915 – 7.11.1956) was “discovered” by Fats Waller when she was seventeen. He heard her entertaining in Cincinatti, where she used to be a live and radio performer and he invited her to play on his radio show at WLW radio station.

Una Mae Carlisle Oh I'm EvilShe was very influenced by him and her boogie woogie/stride piano style was similar to his. She also took over the inclusion of comedy elements in her sets, like Waller used to do.

In 1936, Una Mae left the US to tour Europe. She spent the next three years mostly in London and Paris to perform and record. She became highly successful in England, Germany and France.

Back in the US, she continued her collaborations with Fats Waller, providing the vocal on the 1939 recording of “I Can't Give You Anything but Love.”.

In the early 1940s, she started to make recordings under her own name for Bluebird with top sidemen such as Lester Young, Benny Carter, and John Kirby.

After her contract with Bluebird expired, she started a long relationship with producer and manager Joe Davis, an early associate of Fats Waller.

John knew how to make use of her talent as a successful songwriter and organized sessions for her with excellent musicians, such as trumpet and violin player Ray Nance, who just left Duke Ellington's orchestra, Budd Johnson on tenor sax and drummer Shadow Wilson.

John Davis also published sheet music of her compositions and took them into session he produced by other artists. Cab Calloway and Peggy Lee were among the artist who covered her songs.

In the late 1940s, Una Mae had her own radio and television programs. Her final recordings were for Columbia records in the early 1950's, featuring Don Redman.

Because of recurring illness, she retired in 1952 und died in 1956 at age 41.

Oh I'm Evil

“Oh I'm Evil” is my favourite song performed by Una Mae Carlisle. It's a fantastic tune to dance or just to listen to!


DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #99: "Oh I'm Evil" by Una Mae Carlisle | Shuffle ProjectsTitle: Oh I'm Evil
Artist: Una Mae Carlisle
Recorded: May 1, 1941
Album: Ladies Sing Jazz Vol. 3
Tempo: 156 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop



Click the link to download the song at
iTunes CH/EU – iTunes US – A'zon.de – A'zon.com – A'zon.co.uk – eMusic

not an eMusic member yet? Get $10/€10 credit with Your 7 Day FREE Trial!


What do you think about “Oh I'm Evil”? Let us know in the comment section below!

Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“.
You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.

Related Posts:

Song of the Week #98: “Wednesday Night Hop” by Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds of Joy
Song of the Week #97: “Some Of These Days” by Mario ‘Harp' Lorenzi
Song of the Week #96: “Flaming Reeds and Screaming Brass” by Jimmie Lunceford
Song of the Week #95: “Four Or Five Times” by Jimmie Noone
Song of the Week #94: “Petite Fleur” by Sidney Bechet

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #88: Honeysuckle Rose

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Another very influential jazz pianist I haven't written about so far, was Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller (21.05.1904 – 15.12.1943). He was a master of stride piano, but also organist, composer, singer and funny entertainer.

Waller's father was a Baptist lay preacher and his mother played piano and organ. He started to play piano at age six. When he was ten, he learned playing organ in his father's church. Five years later, he composed his first rag called “Squeeze Me“.

In 1922 he made his first record for Okeh at age 18. After that he backed various blues singers, worked as pianist and organist at rent parties, in movie theatre and clubs.

Waller was very productive and he wrote hundreds of songs, many of them with co-writer Andy Razaf.

Honeysuckle Rose is one of these, it was written in 1929. Our song of the week is the version recorded in 1934. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame – a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honour recordings that are at least 25 years old and that have “qualitative or historical significance”.


DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #88: "Honeysuckle Rose" by Fats WallerTitle: Honeysuckle Rose
Artist: Fats Waller & His Rhythm
Recorded: 1934
Album: A Handful Of Keys
Tempo: 156 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop



Click the link to prelisten and/or buy the song (mp3/mp4a) at
iTunes EU — iTunes US — Amazon.de — Amazon.com — eMusic*


Which version of Honeysuckle Rose by any artist is your favourite one? Let us know in the comment section below!


Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“.

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Related Posts:

Song of the Week #87: “Troubled” by Frankie Trumbauer
Song of the Week #86: “Postcard To Fere” by Erich Nussbaum
Song of the Week #85: “Summit Ridge Drive” by Artie Shaw & His Gramercy Five
Song of the Week #84: “Root Hog Or Die” by The Harlem Hamfats
Song of the Week #83: “Queer Notions” by Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra

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