WELCOME TO THE FIRST #BOTB OF 2025.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Also the name of today's featured song.
HISTORY
"Happy New Year" is a single composed by pianist and band leader Gordon Jenkins in 1949. It was popularized by Judy Garland in 1957, who included it on her studio album "Alone".
[Reference only. NOT eligible for voting!]
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MAYNARD FERGUSON AND CHRIS CONNOR
Singer Chris Connor and trumpeter Maynard Ferguson first met as members of Stan Kenton's Orchestra in 1953. They later recorded two albums together.
"Happy New Year" is from their 1961 release, "Double Exposure".
VS
JONAS LINDEBORG/SARA NORDENBERG/ANDREAZ HEDEN In June 2022, three Swedish musicians, trumpeter Jonas Lindeborg, vocalist Sara Nordenberg and pianist Andreaz Heden, recorded "Happy New Year" as a tribute to Judy Garland's 100th birthday.
VOTE NOW!
Please state your preference in comments below and why you chose it.
Voting remains open until 11:59 pm, Jan. 7th, after which I will count the votes, add mine and publish the results.
These are the other BOTB regulars and semi-regulars. Please cruise on by their sites and, if they have a post up, vote on their selections as well: [Check back – there’s no set posting time]
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Happy New Year Debbie!
ReplyDeleteCasting my vote today for the trio.
-Mary
Now I feel totally depressed. I cannot recall ever having heard this piece of music. Maybe I did and wanted to forget the experience because it was so depressing. Actually it's a pretty cool work and both versions are quite good. However in the final analysis I like the vocals of the first version best and prefer that expansive orchestration. Both are beautiful and haunting.
ReplyDeleteGive my vote to Ferguson and Friends.
Lee
VOTE = THE SWEDES
ReplyDeleteLike Lee, I had not heard this piece, and it was pretty sad, for sure. I liked Sara's voice and the way the engineer/mixer layered/echoed Jonas' trumpet to create that mournful ambience. ~Ed.
Number one. Vocals and horns over piano.
ReplyDeleteJudy Garland's version is the best but these cover artists do a fabulous job. Both renditions really made me feel blue listening to each. I think it's because they're much slower than the original. Anywho, one really did it better in my opinion than the other and that's MAYNARD FERGUSON AND CHRIS CONNOR, so please give my vote to contenders #1! Happy New Year, dear Debbie! xo
ReplyDeleteFabulous version by the Swedish trio! They get my vote. Arlee has a point though, the song sounds kind of sad for such a joyous occasion - like how some folks sing "Happy Birthday" like a funeral march ;-)
ReplyDeleteNothing beats the magnificent Garland but she's not up. I am giving this to the Swedes who inched out the first group by a hair.
ReplyDeleteDEBBIE D'DOGLADY ~
ReplyDeleteI tend to confuse Chet Baker with Gerry Mulligan. But, to make a long story short...
Chris Connor sounds to me like Chet Baker singing 'My Funny Valentine'. And, no, I don't consider that to be a "good" thing. Although it could probably get me to sleep faster than 30 mg. of Temazepam does.
I'm definitely voting for The Blonde-Headed Swedes!
Judge Al Bondigas was in the room while I was listening, and he said that he was making a rulin' for "The second woman". (Translation: A rulin' for The Blonde-Headed Swedes.)
~ Dr. Stephen