Stan Getz & Mary Lou Williams in Concert (1978)

This week two classic jazz tunes during a Summer concert. First “My Blue Heaven,” composed in 1924 by New Yorker Walter Donaldson (1893-1947). The second tune on this video clip is “Lush Life” which was composed a decade later by Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967).

“My Blue Heaven” and “Lush Life” were performed by pianist Mary Lou Williams, tenor saxophonist Stan Getz, bassist Ronnie Boykins and drummer J.C. Heard. This concert took place at the JVC Grande Parade du Jazz, which was held at the Jardins des Arènes et Jardins de Cimiez, Nice, France. There, between Thursday July 6, and Sunday July 16, 1978, jazz promoter George Wein presented his Newport Jazz program to the best visited jazz festival in Europe.

Apparently Donaldson wrote the tune “My Blue Heaven” one afternoon at the Friars Club in New York “while waiting for my turn at the billiard table.” The lyrics, adapted for the Donaldson’s music, were written by Chicagoan George A. Whiting (1884-1943). In 1928, Crooner Gene Austin’s record of the song became such a big hit that it sold over 5 million copies, making this one of the best selling records ever.

As far as “Lush Life” is concerned, pianist/composer Billy Strayhorn worked on the piece sporadically over a period of several years. Between 1933 and 1936 this Ohio-born young man wrote the music as well as the lyrics and it became a standard jazz classic in the repertoire of Duke Ellington and his Orchestra, as well as for many other jazz performers.