By Lee Morgan of Ocean Grove, jazz writer @Blogfinger
It was October, 1971 in Paris when I got a crush that remains to this very day.
“I’ve Got A Crush On You”, composed by George Gershwin in the 20s, has been covered by scores of musicians/singers from Sara Vaughan to Brian Wilson. Thad Jones’s (1923-1986) trumpet on this cover is accompanied by Billy Mitchell (tenor), Barry Harris (piano), Percy Heath (bass), and Max Roach (drums). The ease with which Thad’s trumpet conveys the sentiment is convincing.
This recording from the album The Magnificent Thad Jones (1956) is but one of a few where he is a leader. In addition to being a noted composer and arranger, he is known for his playing with Count Basie and later with Mel Lewis, I feel Mr. Jones stands out as much a contributor to jazz as his brothers Elvin (drums) and Hank (piano) do to their respective instruments.
Listen to Thad’s big and colorful sound.
J’ai immédiatement eu le béguin pour elle, et quarante ans après nous sommes toujours mariés.
Oh, and yes, Je suis fou de toi toujours, Barbara.
THAD JONES:
Editor’s note: It is totally fitting that Lee Morgan expressed this personal sentiment in French. But he didn’t translate it for us. Probably because French is the language of l’amour and a dose of English translation could spoil the effect as you read his words while listening to Thad Jones (above ) perform that Gershwin love song.
However, whatever romance was in Thad’s soul when he made this recording, he didn’t think it would be spoiled by cutting the record in Hackensack instead of on the Left Bank. So here I go with a translation, based on my futile efforts in college to speak French:
“I immediately had a crush on her, and forty years after, we are still married. Oh, and yes, I am still crazy about you forever, Barbara.”
Note: It was a cold day recently when Eileen and I met Lee on the OG pier. He was patiently watching their little dog while Barbara was doing something, somewhere on the beach below. But it was clear that Lee would stay waiting for her in the cold, no matter how long she would take (Right, Lee? ) We spent a few minutes with him and then scurried off to someplace warm. He just stayed put, smiling.——-Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger