Where You At?

Dave’s Notes

WHERE YOU AT? – A song from bebop’s golden era, very hip but seldom performed. I learned it from Zoot Sims’ vocal version. recorded in the l950’s; I sing some lyrics here. written by Bob Dorough and me when we performed this as a duet.

HARLEM BUTTERFLY – Johnny Mercer wrote both music and words for this song. I learned the song by listening to Maxine Sullivan’s recording, made In the l960’s.

YOU SAY YOU CARE – Al Cohn used to play this rarely heard song, written in the l940’s by Jule styne and Sammy Cahn. Now I hear singers beginning to jump on It. I’m sure it’s Al’s influence.

HEART’S DESIRE – Alan Broadbent brought me this melody already equipped with a title. As I began to write the lyrics, I found myself addressing my two sons. Harry who Is seven and Max who Is five. I think of them when I sing it.

ANOTHER SONG ABOUT PARIS – This is one of my earliest songwriting efforts. I wrote It for a specific character to sing-a dyspeptic. bad-tempered American. Imagine my surprise when. with the passing of years, the character turned out to be me.

THE WHEELERS AND DEALERS – I got the idea for this song from Oscar Wilde’s definition of a cynic: -one who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing� I assembled my lyric around that aphorism and then tried to match It with a melody that was equally acerbic.

l’M AN OLD COWHAND – This. too, ls Mercer words and music. I remember hearing Bing Crosby sing this on the radio and years later I listened to the Sonny Rollins version.

THE YOU AND ME THAT USED TO BE – This is from the l930’s, and I think of Jimmy Rushing when I sing it because Rushing recorded it-with me on piano – in 1971 In New York. I hear myself singing it now, unconsciously imitating Rushing’s performance.

TULIP OR TURNIP – Duke Ellington probably dashed this song off in the taxi on the way to the recording studio; Ray Nance did the original vocal.

THE PIANO MEDLEYS are Elllngtonia from the 78 rpm days, Including some obscure songs that Ivie Anderson sang with Duke’s band. I always try to play a lot of Ellington stuff because I think it brings me good luck.

And speaking of good luck. I feel lucky indeed to have such warm musical and personal support from the three Parisian musicians on this recording: my dear friend from New York days, Turk Mauro; Glenn Ferris, who. when I met him, lived with his parents across the street from my house In Van Nuys. California; and Michel Gaudry, who is well-known to the jazz fans in Europe, but is a new face and a new friend to me.

Acknowledgments to:

• Olivier Berol
• Karine Chormeteou
• Sylvain Contois
• Michel Depin
• Laurent Duret
• Vincent Govreou
• Claude Lallemand
• Christion Le Bordois
• Veronique Letzkus
• More Louvot
• Fronk Lorrilliere
• Pascal Mouquet
• Yves Moreau
• Mathieu Padovani
• Lella Pissorro/stern
• Bernard Roboud (Le Petit Opportun)
• Herve Durand
• Simone/Jeon Spector (Lo Poillote)
• Patrick Tchloppe
• More Thomas
• Minh Duc Truong
• Cecile Urbejtel
• Marc Vontourout
• Frederic ·Zigomor-Vullo
• Jerome Watson

for their support.

And the help of STEERS.A. MOUTIERS/FRANCE
Digitally Mastered by Porelies
Design: Neil Collari
Artwork: Jonathon Hindson
Photo: KenAzokumo
Technical Assistance: Nathalie Lallemand