Jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard celebrates the music of composer Jimmy McHugh on his new album "Let's Get Lost." The album features four of today's finest vocalists, Dianne Reeves, Diana Krall, Cassandra Wilson and Jane Monheit singing McHugh's best-known hits.
It's no small feat to have Diana Krall and Terence Blanchard perform on the same song, especially if that song is by the late American popular songwriter Jimmy McHugh. "Let's Get Lost" was written for the 1943 film "Happy Go Lucky" starring Mary Martin.
Songwriter Hall of Famer Jimmy McHugh wrote some of the most enduring pieces of popular music. He began writing songs for the Cotton Club in New York. His longtime musical partnership with Dorothy Fields began in 1927, and included a string of hits for Broadway and Hollywood. Dianne Reeves sings Jimmy McHugh's "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me," from Terence Blanchard's latest album "Let's Get Lost."
Blanchard was recently awarded Down Beat Magazine's coveted "Triple Crown" for Artist, Album and Trumpeter of the Year. Blanchard was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana 39 years ago. He worked with Lionel Hampton, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, and Donald Harrison before launching into a series of film scores for director Spike Lee.
Even though he has more than five film soundtracks finished and ready for release, Blanchard still maintains his identity as a jazz musician. "Nothing can beat being a jazz musician, playing a club or a concert," he says. When I stood next to saxophonist Sonny Rollins and listened to him play, that was it for me."
Singer Cassandra Wilson sings the Jimmy McHugh-Dorothy Fields classic "Sunny Side Of The Street." It appeared in the 1930 Broadway show "The International Revue."
Backing Wilson are Edward Simon on piano, Derek Nievergelt on bass, Eric Harland on drums and Terence Blanchard on trumpet. The quintet is featuring songs from Blanchard's new album on its current tour which includes two shows at the Village Vanguard in New York City.
On "Let's Get Lost", vocalist Jane Monheit sings "I Can't Give You Anything But Love."