Customer Reviews

Le Hot Club De France: Cabin in the Sky

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For the avoidance of misunderstanding, I'm reviewing the Milan Jazz CD. Unfortunately, reviews of the DVD of the film seem to have been cross-posted by virtue of Amazon's somewhat bizarre system!

Ethel Waters began recording in 1921, and the first two tracks which date from 1923 were cut acoustically by Black Swan. Such was the clarity of her voice that it transcended that limitation. Her accompanists were first the fledgeling Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, and secondly the pianist James P. Johnson, and they reappear on the later Columbia tracks. Clarence Williams was the accompanist on her vocal version of "West End Blues", and Benny Goodman, Mannie Klein, Tommy Dorsey, Adrian Rollini, and Rube Bloom backed her on "You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me".

I wish that more care had gone into the production of this CD, particularly given its imprimatur as part of the Archive Series of the Hot Club de France, because personnel and recording details are sparse. But it's an interesting compilation for all that.

I first watched it on T.V. and it was so great, I had to have the DVD. I know that there is stereotyping, but its totally over shadowed by the great music, dancing, and best of all, the great actors (you'll see I didn't say great 'Black' or 'African American' actors. That's because they were the greatest I've seen Black or any other color) that I've seen in a long time. The beautiful and talented Ethel Waters along with Lena Horne steal the show along with the handsome Eddie Anderson. And music by the great Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong added to make it an all star cast. I would recommend this movie to anyone that loves old movies of any color. As it says in the beginning of the movie, America is made of many cultures, colors, and histories. Watch it and you will agree. The theme is one that we all can understand, no matter what race. After all, which us haven't at one time or another have felt they were caught between heaven and the devil.

Readers of this space know that I consider Billie Holiday above all, doped up or straight, the undisputed "Queen" of female jazz singers. From a Cole Porter tune like "Let's Do It" to a soulful "Strange Fruit" her timing and sense of the song was uncanny. However, even a great singer like Billie had earlier singers that influenced her and that is where we pick up the career of the jazz singer under review here, Ethel Waters. Her name may not be known today, except to early jazz aficionados or those who recall her award-winning role as a force of Mother Nature housekeeper in "Member Of The Wedding" who had her hands full supervising characters played by the very young Julie Harris and Brandon DeWilde. Well, if that is your only recollection then do you remember the song that she sings there "Lonesome Swallow"? Okay, that Ethel Waters.

Ms. Waters performed many early jazz classics here and in the more racially and culturally friendly Paris of the 1930's, a place of exile for more than one creative black talent, and had a fair career as a movie actress and theatrical performer (given the extremely limited role selection, mainly housekeeper or servant roles, and the extremely stereotyped characteristics expected of black actors and actresses during her prime). This CD gives a good cross section of her musical work over three decades (about 1925 to 1955). More importantly, it also displays the talented musicians whom she worked with and who wanted to work with her. A review of the liner notes lists Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey (the bandleader), the fabled Fletcher Henderson (of early Bessie Smith fame) and James Johnson (ditto). Not bad company, right?

Ms. Waters is another one of those performers, like the early Bessie Smith, whom you don't necessarily get a feel for right away. However, about half way through this CD you start to wonder whether you will have time to play the damn thing again. Here's why. Put " Brother You've Got Me Wrong" together with the above-mentioned "Lonesome Swallow" mix in "My Handy Man" and a beautiful rendition of Louis Armstrong's "West End Blues" stir and pick up the pace with "Dinah" and top off with a bouncy version of "Am I Blue" (although Billie's version is the cat's meow for me). That's the ticket. Enjoy.