A Nostalgic Sense Of An Era
587417
Danish tenor sax player Jan Harbeck was born in Aarhus in 1975 and attended the Academy of Music in Aalborg.  In 1999 he left Denmark for The Big Apple, where he studied at the New School with George Garzone and Eric Alexander.  Upon returning to Denmark, he began his professional career by working in big bands.  His major influences Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon and Paul Gonsalves were all big band veterans of another era.  The tunes chosen for this session were ones they could have played.

  Harbeck begins a bit outside with  If I Should Lose You by Hollywood tunesmiths Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin.  It's from the 1936 remake of the justifiably forgotten film, Rose Of The Rancho and found eternal life as a jam session standard.  The Quartet then slides into La Rosita, another 1930s popular tune.  Most jazz fans, including Harbeck, know it from the 1957 Verve album Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster.  Harbeck begins slowly, capturing its Latin sensuality before increasing the tempo to swing.  Gundes solo adds a touch of intrigue before returning the tune to Harbeck.  In a change of mood, the Quartet swings into the New Orleans favorite, Someday Youll Be Sorry, popularized by Louis Armstrong in his 1956 At The Crescendo album.  It's a bit slower than the Armstrong version and very danceable.  Eske Norrelykke takes a thoughtful bass solo.  The albums title tune, Cole Porters In The Still Of The Night from the 1937 MGM film Rosalie, was originally sung by Nelson Eddy.  Frank Sinatra did his version in the 1961 Reprise album Ring-a-Ding- Ding, arranged by Johnny Mandel.  Harbeck swings, inspired by the Mandel arrangement, while Gundes fingers just dance up and down the 88s, claiming the tune as his own.  Then Duke Ellingtons Come Sunday adds a sobering mood change to the session.  But Gundes piano, like Dukes, keeps it from getting morose.  A surprise is Petite Fleur usually associated with Sidney Bechets soprano sax and clarinet.  Harbecks tenor sax, however, captures a 1930s sense of intrigue and latent sex.  After Youve Gone is the oldest (and the smoothest) tune of the session.  It dates from 1918 and was originally sung by Marion Harris.  Its an upbeat dancers tune. Then its back to the Latin 1930s mood with Poinciana-Song Of The Trees.  Written in 1936, and a hit for Glenn Miller, it was later featured in the 1952 film, Dreamboat.  But its Ahmad Jamals version in his 1963 Argo album, Poinciana, that influenced Harbeck and Gunde.  Harbeck plays in a high register, looking for a period feel while Gunde understands Jamals use of space.  Then Harbeck takes up the bass clarinet for John Lewis classic Django from the 1956 Modern Jazz Quartet Prestige album.  Written in tribute to Django Reinhardt, his clarinet, echoed by Gundes piano, captures the sadness and gypsy mystic of the Belgian guitarist.  The Quartet ends the session on an upbeat with Bye Bye Blues.  Kresten Osgoods drum solo offers lightness to the tune and while bassist Norrelykke adds bounce.

  Its difficult not to turn a ballad album into a snooze. Harbeck escapes the trap by mixing in some Latin tunes that fascinated 1930s Hollywood and several upbeat tunes.  For example, In The Still Of The Night came straight from Sinatras Ring-A-Ding-Ding that was regarded as a non-ballad album.  But basically, In The Still Of The Night is a ballad album conveying a nostalgic sense of an era.
1435130
This was a very pleasurable read. It allowed me to revisit a bygone era and served-up much of my childhood to me, with many of its happy memories. I believe any Montrealer-in-exile would enjoy the book. (Even non-Montrealers might get a kick out of it.)
1499403
50's nostalgia has been done over and over, but Bill Bryson hits a home run with this reminiscence of his childhood years in Des Moines, Iowa.  Despite the efforts of modern novelists and Hollywood to cast a dark shadow over the decade of the 50's, it does truly seem like it was the best of times after reading this book.

Being a "late boomer", born almost a decade after Bryson, I grew up with some remnants of this world myself, and I can personally vouch for the mayhem inside those movie theatres that showed Saturday matinees for the kids.  If there's one chapter that made me laugh out loud it was the one entitled "Out and About".  The theatres, the amusement park, the restaurants, the Iowa State Fair, hanging around a downtown full of stores, all of these places had stories which Bryson delights in sharing with us.

The author describes Iowa as an idyllic place; smack dab in the middle of the country, with deep topsoil, huge stalks of corn, and frugal yet welcoming people who didn't worry too much about things they couldn't control.  The world was a much bigger place then, and food items which seem pretty basic to us, such as "pasta, rice, cream cheese, sour cream, garlic, mayonnaise, onions.." etc. were somewhat exotic and to be viewed with suspicion back then.

Those of us who have received a much circulated e-mail about how things were different in our childhood, how we could be outside at all hours of the day and didn't flinch at the cuts and scrapes we acquired on a daily basis, will get more reminding by reading this book.  Even childhood mischief is portrayed somewhat benignly as Bryson looks through the haze of nostalgia; chemistry sets setting houses on fire, petty thefts of beer and candy, and dangerous practices like hanging off the back of tailgates of moving cars.  Not to mention the threat of the polio epidemic of the time, one wonders in today's age of over-supervised kids how we ever survived our own 50's and 60's childhoods.

Bryson looks at the 50's in the greater world as well, sometimes in a way that works, sometimes not.  Bryson is at his best when talking about phenomena like comic books and TV becoming so big, and about publications of all kinds predicting various Doomsday scenarios (much like today actually).  The chapter on the Red Scare doesn't fit too well into this book though, a bit of liberal preachiness creeps in that seems out of place here.

There are parts where it seems as if Bryson might be trying too hard to amuse us, but overall I enjoyed this book very much.  His affection for his sportswriter father and absent-minded yet cheery mother are quite heartwarming.  The chapter about his rural grandparent's home was drawn very nicely as well.  Bryson does the inevitable comparison between the Des Moines of his childhood and today and sees all that was lost, never to return.  Was the world a better place back then?  Bryson implies strongly that it was, and I won't disagree.

For those fans of Bryson's books, or for those who are drawn to nostalgic remembrances, you will enjoy this.
2969264
An interesting book for the nostalgia contained.  If you are over 50, you can remember the trains and the ad.
1382443
This is the collection for nostalgia buffs and those who revel in those wonderful days of yesteryear when music was memorable (AND hummable), and the lyrics were similarly crafted. Then, too, the capture of so many gifted artists is a true treasure.

This DVD set would be a great gift, especially for those who had the pleasure of experiencing the original productions.
2921088
Awesome Throwback, it's good to reflect on the past from time to time
31910
From the nostalgic cover to the evocative descriptions of life as a child and an adult, Barbara's poetry captured me and my memories of that era.  Thank you for a special journey down my memory lane.  Jane D'Augelli
775601
A nostalgic look at life in the 50's.  And a deep look at attitudes and behaviors of those growing up in the "happy days".
456431
It was like stepping back in time and reliving some very good memories. The item arrived as described and I could not b happier
667323
If  you, like me, enjoy little snippets of information about times past, you will enjoy this book. It isn't so much a history book as a slice of life view of an era which lasted into our great-grandparents' lives. And how some traditions began that last to this day. It's an easy read or you can dip into it whenever you feel like taking yourself back in time. Our romanticized view of the Victorian age doesn't stand up well to the reality of the time. Unless you were one of the "1%" you were facing a rough life. However it does make us realize the power of the Industrial Age and how much we have -and utterly take for granted (running water, anyone?) -thanks to them!
349222
A great read.  Nostalgic.  Fun.  Quirky.  Suspenseful.  A walk down memory lane for folks who grew up in the early 1960's; and a peek into that era for their kids.  Lots of references to huge moments of our time.  Thanks, Tim!
2635106
I listened to this throughout my vinyl days and I was so happy to see it here, at last.  The music is well played  but it brings back memories of a different time, one that is missed.
4266656
The authors capture the old times of my life allowing me to relive some great memories.
2893196
There are times when I get nostalgic for what use to be, and I hear great things about a movie. This was one of those times where I was curious as to how much of a story you could set in one location to keep the film budget low.
999274
A sweet story about a magical time for us baby boomers.  A good trip back to a special time in recent (?) history.
965157
I loved hearing about the past and how they lived and thought.  I helps me remember that there was a simpler time then computers.
2377920
It was a really nice read of things I didn't appreciate when i was younger reading the same stories. Very nostalgia feeling.