Lush Life: The John Wilson Orchestra & Richard Rodney Bennett.

William Thomas "Billy" Strayhorn 1915 –1967. An American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, best known for his successful collaboration with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington, lasting nearly three decades. His compositions include "Take the 'A' Train", "Chelsea Bridge", "A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing", and "Lush Life".
"Lush Life" is a jazz standard with lyrics and music written by Billy Strayhorn from 1933 to 1938. However, the song was only performed privately by Strayhorn until he and vocalist Kay Davis performed it on November 13, 1948, with the Duke Ellington Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. It is usually performed in the key of D-flat major.
The song's lyrics describe the author's weariness of the night life after a failed romance, wasting time with "jazz and cocktails" at "come-what-may places" and in the company of girls with "sad and sullen gray faces/with distingué traces". Strayhorn was only 16 when he wrote the majority of the song, which was to become his signature composition (along with "Take the 'A' Train").
The melody is over relatively complex chord changes, compared to many jazz standards, with chromatic movement and modulations, which evoke a dreamlike state and the dissolute spirit characteristic of the so-called lush life.
On this video Jazz Pianist and composer Richard Rodney Bennett plays with the John Wilson Orchestra. The lush life is symbolized by the bright city night life, boozy jazz joints and exciting sleazy encounters. However, the feeling of euphoria wears thin. Feeling weary and unfulfilled the subject turns her back on the cities night life and returns home to her darling pussy cat.
Why not OWN this brilliant album....
'Lush Life' by Billy Strayhorn from:-
'Orchestral Jazz'
John Wilson & his Orchestra with Richard Rodney Bennett on piano.
Amazon.com Song ID: 227426859
C.D. Vocalion Label

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