Kenny Clarke

I Found A New Baby (also: I've Found A New Baby) is one of my favourite Jazz standards and I can't stop hunting for new versions of that great song.

For this week I have chosen a version you can find on an Edgar Hayes compilation. Kenny Clarke (1914-1985), who played drums and vibes (plus piano and trombone during school) joined Edgar Hayes› Big Band 1937.

In 1938, they made an European tour and Kenny Clarke got the opportunity to lead his own recording session in Sweden. The group was named Kenny Clarke's Kvintett and they recorded four songs, one of them is our song of the week.

In my ears it sounds like Kenny Clarke is playing a xylophone with that muffled, warm sound, though some sources state he's playing vibes. Pretty weird are the vocals by James Anderson in the second part of the song. But because of that strange combination of different sounds, this version is so appealing to me.

Title: I Found A New Baby
Artist: Kenny Clarke's Kvintett
Recorded: March 8, 1938, Stockholm SE
Tempo: 234 bpm
Dance: Balboa

You can find the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist.
Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw

Do you like the «Song of the Week» series? Share your thoughts below.

Now Check Out:

• Song of the Week #3: Spooks
• Song of the Week #2: When I Get Low I Get High
• Song of the Week #1: All The Cats Join In