"How High the Moon"

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This is a great tune isn't it? I've gotten to especially like it thanks to the live Arkestra performance found on Music from Tomorrow's World, which features some wonderful soloing. What are some classic (well-know or obscure) recordings of this song? I gather it was a popular standard for be-bop musicians.

― Rockist Scientist, Saturday, 19 April 2003 01:21 (twenty-two years ago)

well, Frank's version is considered pretty fuckin' definitive. There is also a great Ella version of the song.

― H (Heruy), Saturday, 19 April 2003 01:50 (twenty-two years ago)

How about other instrumental versions?

― Rockist Scientist, Saturday, 19 April 2003 01:51 (twenty-two years ago)

sorry, just know vocal versions - hopefully others will come forward

― H (Heruy), Saturday, 19 April 2003 01:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Phish has done it, as it happens (but they stopped with the jazz covers when they started hitting hockey arenas)

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 19 April 2003 02:21 (twenty-two years ago)

This is a great tune isn't it?

Jeez, I was just thinking about this song tonight. Search Gloria Gaynor's version!

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 19 April 2003 02:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Gloria Gaynor does a cover of this?!?

― H (Heruy), Saturday, 19 April 2003 02:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I like this tune but not when singers get all wanky and do it in double time.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Saturday, 19 April 2003 06:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeh Jody,Gloria Gaynor owns this song.

― Paul R (paul R), Saturday, 19 April 2003 08:58 (twenty-two years ago)

This is the Hamilton-Lewis song, yes? In which case, Les Paul & Mary Ford's 1951 version.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 19 April 2003 09:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I want to hear Gloria Gaynor's version, definitely. I think I've heard the Les Paul & May Ford version.

― Rockist Scientist, Saturday, 19 April 2003 10:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I like what I assume is John Gilmore's solo on this Arkestra CD, especially because it's recorded in 1960, but there are a few points where, to my ears anyway, it seems to anticipate a sound and approach that was still a few years away. It's like, one foot in be-bop, and one foot free. (Actually, he sounds a little like mid-60's Coltrane in a couple instance, but that makes sense if the folklore about his influence on Coltrane is true.)

― Rockist Scientist, Saturday, 19 April 2003 10:28 (twenty-two years ago)

well, i assumed it had been mentined, but, uh, Charlie Parker, of course. If anyone owns the song, it's him.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 19 April 2003 12:23 (twenty-two years ago)

slim gaillard - best version ever.

― pauls00, Saturday, 19 April 2003 18:06 (twenty-two years ago)

The definitive version of this song is that live Ella Fitzgerald where she takes chorus after chorus of scatting and blows the roof off the place.

― Jordan (Jordan), Saturday, 19 April 2003 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

parker's "ornithology" uses the chord changes to "how high the moon." may not be identical charts but ornithology definitely borrows

― brains (cerybut), Sunday, 20 April 2003 18:15 (twenty-two years ago)

i think it was ella's version i had in mind when i said i didn't like it when singers took it in double time. i like ella but more when she's reigned in. perhaps i'm missing the point.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Sunday, 20 April 2003 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

django reinhardt performs this song as well.

― j.a.e., Monday, 21 April 2003 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, the Django (instrumental) version is worth seeking out.

― buttch (Oops), Monday, 21 April 2003 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

les paul and mary ford's version is quite amazing as well...

― arc, Monday, 21 April 2003 22:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Amateurist, you are missing the point. Well, not necessarily, but I would rather hear burning Ella than 'A-tisket A-tasket' Ella any day of the week. Actually I would rather listen to Sarah Vaughn.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 21 April 2003 23:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with Amateurist on Ella's singing. I have only very gradually realized that I like her at all, because I was so turned off my the scatting stuff I was initially exposed to. (Maybe it was the old MEMOREX commercial where her singing breaks a glass?)

― Rockist Scientist, Monday, 21 April 2003 23:43 (twenty-two years ago)

ELLA'S SCATTING ROXXX U R ALL GAY

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 00:06 (twenty-two years ago)

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