It was probably during the first year of my 14 year solo piano engagement at the Radisson Milford Hotel, that I received a special gift. For some reason a particular security agency was contracted to provide services at the hotel. One of the officers seemed to be enjoying my piano playing and mentioned that he had a couple of piano CDs at home. The following week he returned with two recordings by Harry Connick, Jr. He asked me to listen to them and tell him what I thought.
After bringing the CDs with me each week to return to him, I finally gave up and left them home. I never saw him again because apparently he was assigned to another property by the company. Several months later he stopped in at the hotel for a social visit, and he told me to keep the CDs. I was certainly glad about this, because one of them turned out to be a fantastic gift!
Simply called 25, this recording features several solo piano / vocal tracks which showcase the talents of this wonderful musician. Today, more than twenty years later, one of my favorite tracks on the CD is Tangerine. For some reason, the tune never caught my attention during my initial period of introduction to the standards. Yet, ever since hearing Harry’s version, it’s been one of my favorites.
As with so many of the other great pieces from the American Popular Songbook, Tangerine can be played in a variety of ways while still retaining its identity. As the sixth selection in my beguine blog post series, I’ve recorded the tune with a beguine bass that works perfectly!
Rhapsody Music service offers a percentage of tracks that feature Latin rhythm renditions of Tangerine. One of the artists who excel in this area is jazz pianist/vocalist Eliane Elias. A native of Brazil who had studied with composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ms Elias combines her unique blend of American jazz with her Bossa nova background to present two different inspirational interpretations of Tangerine.
Another more subtle and somewhat more sensitive spin on Tangerine maintains the Latin rhythm as well. This North Star Jazz Ensemble track features the talents of drummer Paul Mason. Mr. Mason, who directs this Rhode Island based group, was a personal friend and musical colleague during our years as undergraduate students at Holy Cross College.
In addition to the swing versions of Tangerine that are included on the track list, there was a unique and catchy performance by one of Harry Connick, Jr.’s fellow New Orleans musicians. Pianist Dr. John takes Tangerine through a series of foot-tapping piano improvisations above his funky rhythm section.
I suppose it’s particularly apropos that Tangerine was introduced to the American public in the 1942 film, The Fleet’s In. My oldest grandson, Jay, was born during the time that I received the Harry Connick, Jr. 25 CD. Jay is currently serving in the United States Navy, and we expect his fleet to be in soon since he is planning to be home during the Christmas holidays.
The song’s composer Victor Schertzinger (1888 – 1941) was a songwriter as well as a film director, film producer and screen writer. The Fleet’s In was not only his final film, but it also featured his two best known songs, I Remember You and Tangerine. Perhaps, at least in part, the success of these two songs had to do with the fact that the lyrics were provided by Johnny Mercer (1909 – 1976). In fact, the words to I Remember You were (according to Mercer) a specific expression of his feelings for 19 year-old Judy Garland with whom he had just had an affair.
All in all, I would have to say that playing Tangerine with the beguine bass is a lot of fun. As you probably know by now, I truly enjoy taking advantage of the II -V- I chord progressions that are woven into the fabric of so many great standards. Tangerine is no exception. This song not only makes continual use of the II -V- I chord progressions from its tonic key of F Major
(Gm7-C7-F Major 7th), it also includes several other II -V chord progressions.
As I showed in the musical examples that are part of my How I Began My Beguine blog post, the beguine bass works beautifully with II -V and II -V- I chord progressions. As a result, Tangerine serves as a terrific vehicle for my solo piano stylings.
How about you?
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Ed, while you were living at 35 Longfellow Rd. in Natick, did I ever play that Keith Jarrett tape that I recorded in 1965. It’s a pretty amazing version of Tangerine.
Keep up the good work you’re doing.
-ted
Ted,
Thanks for sending the link. Not only do I remember the Keith Jarrett recording (though not the fact that it included Tangerine), I’ve told so many of my students about the event, the time and how it came about. I’ve also shared with them the fact that hearing the tape had a tremendous impact on me. So thank you for introducing it to and sharing it with me.
All the best of continued success in your endeavors and thanks again for the encouragement.
Ed
Ed, I play by ear. However, as I now play for parties and retirement homes, I need to improve my playing… to have a little more understanding of what the heck I’m doing. Had many years of lessons as a youngster but never learned to read music other than a note-at-a-time.
Any suggestions?? Unfortunately, I’m not near your studios…