9. Kenny Ball’s Jazzmen, “I Love You, Samantha” (Cole Porter)

 For use with Lesson #9.

 

Style: European “Trad”

Personnel: Kenny Ball trumpet/vocal, Dave Jones clarinet, Johnny Bennett trombone, Ron Weatherburn piano, Bill Dixon banjo, Vic Pitt bass, Ron Bowden drums. Recorded in 1961.

Issued on Pye 7NJ.2040.

Reissued on Castle Communications CCSCD 258, Castle Pie PIESD 139, Castle Pulse PLSCD 255, and Kaz Truetrax TRT CD147.

Englishman Kenny Ball’s waxing of this paean from the film “High Society” (sung onscreen by Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby) hit the pop charts in the UK. Besides sporting atypical chromatic chord changes, the tune follows an unusual 48-bar form: 16 bars; repeat; 8 bar bridge; variation of the first 8 bars. The “ringing” banjo sound characteristic of European “Trad” is evident here, especially behind the vocal. Ride cymbal is used throughout, setting up a steady 4/4 rhythm with a fast shuffle feel. Ball’s blistering plunger solo at 1:31 climaxes in a powerful shake at 1:41. This performance builds several times within itself: the vocal builds; the intensity builds again through the ensemble and trumpet solo, then suddenly drops at 1:51; it then builds again, with everyone wailing coming out of the bridge.

Sequence for this track

0:00 Ensemble intro (8 bars)

0:11 Vocal chorus (with trombone/clarinet riffs and improvisation)

1:11 Ensemble (16 bars); trumpet solo (plunger) with riffs (16 bars); ensemble (16 bars)

2:08 Arranged extended ending (drums “stinger” on “4”)

Kenny Ball