Kurt Elling playing "Dedicated to you" at the New Morning in Paris on November 10, 2009. Laurence Hobgood (piano), Harish Raghavan (bass), Otis Brown III (drums) with special guest Ernie Watts (saxo).
Fantastic arrangement of the tune. I always like the way Elling makes songs his own. Awesome piano solo by Hobgood and the rhythm section allows him to soar!!! Thanks for posting this!
I had an aversion to 'sung' jazz before atttending a performance of Kurt's way back in 1995 at the Gran Canaria Jazz Festival. Man, he rocked! Two nights later I was back for more....
This guy has a very nice voice. Believe me I’m picky and there’s none better than Coltrane-Hartman’s version but I still liked this. I found the arrangement imaginative. Kurt vocals color it nicely. Just wish I could stop hearing Greg Porter and Will Downing when he sings.
@Just1kittenu Check out his Golden Lady (Stevie Wonder) @ New Morning Paris....eat this link mate. You're saying Kurt is afraid of sharing the limelight....... if you've heard any more of Elling, I'm not sure you would make this claim. Don't try getting into the musician's head. Your opinion is valid, but not to demean or defamate. And his vocalese is beaten only by Al Jarreau - with whom I might add has a collaboration with Kurt Elling on RU-vid.
@asetsp - The tone and tenor of my post was one of curiosity and questioning not derogation. I claim nothing, nor did I demean in any real sense of the word. I am familiar with The Golden Lady/with Ernie Watts, so I am aware of Kurts ability to share, which is why I was questioning in the first place - the lack of sharing on the recording. My questioning and inquiry remain valid and also my preference. In addition, Kurt Elling needs no defending from real or imagined detractors. Peace!
Just wondering why such a departure from the original recording by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, which was more of a Saxophone/Vocal duet? Love the arrangement, but Kurt, don't tell me you really do possess a vocal egoise, and were just affraid that Ernie Watts might still some of your shine if he insinuated the brilliance of his Saxophone as Coltrane did with Hartman. While I love your version for it's obvious merits, I prefer the former version for the authenticity of its sharing.