American Idol's Casey Abrams took a big risk when he sang an old jazz number accompanied only by his double bass. I thought that was the end of him. His "advisors" had told him to skip the jazz and do In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins instead. But, he survived (another week).
The song he chose was Nature Boy which many seem to associate with the movie Moulin Rouge (sang by David Bowie). But it is actually a 1947 piece by eden ahbez. This is what JazzStandards.com says about ahbez:
The composer of “Nature Boy,” eden ahbez (no capitals per his request), was born Alexander Aberle in Brooklyn in 1908. The original sheet music of the song shows a photo of ahbez-long hair and beard, an almost Christ-like figure, highly unusual for the 1940s. In some respects, ahbez was the prototypical hippie twenty years ahead of his time, for in addition to his appearance he lived a simple life, wore a robe and sandals, was a vegetarian, and even was reputed to be living with his wife under the “L” letter of the famous “HOLLYWOOD” sign.
Early in his life Aberle and his 12 siblings were orphaned, some sent to a foster home in Kansas. Alexander didn’t stay long and embarked on a wandering life, eventually ending up in Los Angeles. In 1947 he left a tattered manuscript of his composition “Nature Boy” backstage at a Nat “King” Cole performance. Cole liked the tune and subsequently recorded it for Capitol. The label’s executives, however, didn’t know what to think about it and held off releasing the record. Yet Cole believed in the song and its simple message, and live performances proved the song’s appeal to the public. Eventually the Capitol hierarchy released Cole’s recording and the rest is history, as it’s said.Another (hidden) Yiddish influence in American song culture! The beautiful (enchanting) song has been performed by many renowned musicians. Here is a list (mostly from Wikipedia) of versions I particularity liked, which I've linked to Youtube or other recordings.
Many in the music biz refer to people like eden as a “one hit wonder,” and, even though he did write a few more songs and recorded an album in the early 1960s, none of his compositions drew much attention. He continued to live in his simple way and died, in 1995 at age 86, after being struck by a car.
- Nat King Cole - abhez wrote the song for Cole
- Frank Sinatra
- Cris Barber - I've never heard of Cris Barber, but she does a clear, straightforward jazz version
- James Brown (!)
- John Coltrane - Coltrane's long (typical) eight minute piece dragged out to its maximum stretch
- Harry Connick Jr.
- Christina Peoples An unknown opera singer
- Miles Davis - Miles's haunting trumpet
- Ella Fitzgerald
- Egelbert Humperdinck (!)
- David Bowie - From the movie Moulin Rouge
- Celine Dion - I've always thought that Celine Dion is a great vocalist
- Jon Hassell (Trumpet)
- Django Reinhardt (Guitar)
- Jacky Terrasson Ode (on the piano) to Coltrane?
- Ike Quebec (Saxophone)
- Stéphane Grappelli - Back to the Yiddish roots on the violin?
I have to say that Casey is up there with the greats. Another (former) American Idol contestant, Naima Adepado, also sang a classic Summertime, risking her spot on the program, a couple of weeks ago. Her performance was also far superior to the poppy numbers so common on that show. Although she also went through that week, she was eliminated the following week for her reggae number.
A few things struck me about these two (unorthodox) choices. First, everyone discouraged these two singers from singing these old, classic jazz numbers. Both these beautiful melodies are written by old Jewish composers, with old Yiddish melodic influences - ahbez for Nature Boy and George Gershwin for Summertime. The contestants didn't change the songs or make them into pop tunes, but sang them pure. Finally, I think there is a hunger for old melodies such as these, which young musicians (Abrams is only twenty) are picking up and reacting to. I don't know where they even hear them (Moulin Rouge's Nature Boy is nothing like the jazz version Casey sang). But, it's all in the air, somewhere.