Nancy Wilson—”On Green Dolphin Street”
From time to time a song composed for a play or film becomes a jazz classic. One of those songs was “On Green Dolphin Street,” originally written for the MGM movie based on Elizabeth Goudge's 1944 novel "Green Dolphin Street."
The melody was written by Bronislaw Kaper (1902-1983), who emigrated from Poland to the U.S.A. and became a film composer. The lyricist was Pennsylvania-born Ned Washington (1901-1976).
This recording is by The George Shearing Quintet with Nancy Wilson, from their 1961 album “The Swingin’s Mutual.”
This exciting combination of the vocals of one of the day’s most pleasing young vocalists -- Miss Nancy Wilson was 23 years old at the time -- and the Shearing finesse was recorded at the Capitol Studios in New York City on July 5, 1960. The quintet was led by British pianist/composer George Shearing (1919-2011), with Eddie Costa, vibes; Dick Garcia, guitar; George Duvivier, bass; and Walter Bolden, drums.
This agreeable musical combination was brought together in the recording studio by producer Dave Cavanaugh, who really cared for what the artists wanted. His co-producer was Tom Morgan.
According to the liner notes the album came about because “of a rare thing called mutual admiration, growing out of some impromptu fun sessions ... when George and his group were appearing at New York's Basin Street East -- Nancy sat in and they took off.”
The album demonstrates that ‘swinging’ is a feeling, not a tempo or volume level. Whether up-tempo or down, the numbers on this album swing.
Singer Nancy Wilson, who was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, in February 1937, has learned what many never learn: lyrics are meant to be illuminated. The songs she does gain a new dimension through her phrasing conception and her enjoyment of the lyrics.
Nancy Wilson’s singing career began in 1952, at age 15, when she already was given a Columbus, Ohio, TV show called “Skyline Melody.” The show was aired twice weekly after the news on WTVN from the State’s capitol. Nancy started working every club in Ohio, and this was soon followed by an increase of her popularity, outside the State and abroad, which matched her fast rise as a recording artist.
During the six decades and over 50 albums that followed, Nancy’s singing style has always been alternately quietly fiery, marvelously vibrant, impishly humorous and equally versatile in each mood.
Nancy Wilson once said about her style: “When I think of me and the humor I use in my songs, much relates to Dinah [Washington]’s approach. She was of the song, talk-singing the story—and having a ball. It’s one thing to sing. It’s another thing to have fun doing it.”
Describing Nancy Wilson’s singing on “The Swingin’s Mutual” album, George Shearing said: “The six vocals Nancy does in this album are even better than what I’ve come to expect of her ... and that’s an awful lot.
Because she’s young, you could say she’ll be great some day. But the exciting fact is she’s great ... right now! So great, that it was a kick-and-a-half arranging for her, making sure this album would exploit her fine talent to the fullest. Nancy not only makes the jazz scene; she makes it come wonderfully alive.”
Nancy Wilson said about her collaboration with Shearing: “I gained a tremendous sense of freedom working with George. I mean, his sense of humor -- you'll notice it in some of these numbers -- makes me relax. And he’s so flattering ... he wrote these arrangements to show me off.”
All throughout her long career Nancy Wilson didn’t want to be in show business, she just wanted to sing great lyrics. She has repeatedly said that “If the material doesn’t have feeling and warmth, I don’t want to do it."
Nancy Wilson, who still is looking great at 81, never let anybody tell her what to do and went her own way. After a awesome singing career of 60 years the three-time Grammy Award winner stopped performing in September 2011, appropriately in Columbus, Ohio, where it had all begun.
Nancy Wilson said that “a lot of the recognition I earned was due to touring the Midwest” with Rusty Bryant’s band. “It was my graduation from the College of Hard Knocks and the schedule was so demanding it would have been hard not to learn.”
Nancy Wilson believes that is how young people with talent should learn the craft. “There is no such thing as a big break. Without the small ones no good things would have happened to me.”
