Jazz is makin' do with taters and grits
Standing up each time you get hit
Jazz ain't nothin' but soul
From 1968 to 1970, I visited every jazz room in New York City. I went from Slug's in the Far East on 2nd Street between Avenues A and B all the way uptown to Club Baron and Small's Paradise. In the Village, I was at the Blue Note, Village Vanguard and Village Gate. Every Jazzmobile was on my list of things to do, whether it was in Queens, The Bronx, Manhattan or Brooklyn.
The memory that has stayed with me throughout my Jazz Excursion is the song given to me on a lead sheet by the composer Norman Mapp who also wrote "Mr. Ugly" and "I Worry 'Bout You". This was in 1983, at Freddy's on the lower east side, when I was petitioning the manager for a night to bring my band there. Norman handed me the song, after we had a long discussion at the bar about my two mentors Betty "Bebop" Carter and Joe Lee Wilson. Both of them recorded and performed this song and I was next in line.
Jazz is livin' high on nickels and dimes
Telling folks what's on my mind
Jazz ain't nothin' but soul
The song is "Jazz Ain't Nothin' But Soul" and I recorded it on the first edition of my debut CD, "Feelin' Good" with a Sicilian quartet led by my pianist, accompaniest and co-producer, Giovanni Mazzarino.
This CD was released on Tireno Records in Milan, Italy, in 1995. But four months later, the company closed and I returned to Florida. In 1996, I released the music on a new CD, "Feelin' Good" with 11 of the 15 songs on the first issue. Specifically, I deleted "Jazz Ain't Nothin' But Soul" and "Miss Celie's Blues".
Trumpets cussin' saxophones
Rhythm makin' love
Hustlers wearin' fancy clothes
It's the voice of my people
Feelin' Good (I AM Records 1996)
Personnel:
Giovanni Mazzarino - piano
Nello Toscano - bass
Oracio Maugeri - tenor sax
Mimmo Cafiero - drums
Joan Cartwright - vocals
For me it is all the truth to be found
Never mind who's putting it down
Jazz ain't nothin' but soul
Norman Mapp
Hear my rendtion of Jazz Ain't Nothin' But Soul
2004 Brighton, EnglandSee Joan Cartwright's books at www.redroom.com/member/divajc
Well, well! You were lucky my father gave you the sheet music to sing Jazz Ain't Nothin But Soul. I heard your rendition and I'm glad you retired the song. As nice as your rendition is, you totally missed the mark. The words and the orchestrations were only half the song. My father sang all hours of the day and night at home when I was growing up, and you had to hear him sing that song when he thought no one else was listening, to get the secret to the unwritten half of the song he rarely ever discussed. Strip yourself to desperately wanting every tiny grit, and you might be lucky enough to finally get it! David Mapp/Newman
ReplyDeleteThat's where I get it from.
Delete~Maiya Mapp
I never met my grandfather but if it is any constellation I get my gift of music from him. I sing and I don't stop until the rooster crows. So it's interesting to know that I get that from him. I am extremely glad that grandpa gave this song to you for you to sing. It is my favorite to listen to and I sing it all the time.
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