Pennies from Heaven - Veronica Swift & Larry McKenna with Alex Claffy Trio & Drew Nugent (2020)
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- čas přidán 14. 03. 2020
- Veronica Swift - vocals
Larry McKenna - tenor sax
Alex Claffy Trio: Alex Claffy - bass, Tim Brey - piano, Joe Strasser - drums
Drew Nugent - trumpet
"Pennies From Heaven" (1936) - music by Arthur Johnston, lyrics by Johnny Burke
Filmed & edited by Melissa Gilstrap
©2020 Melissa Gilstrap. All rights reserved.
www.melissagilstrap.com
Veronica Swift:
At age 25, Veronica Swift has become one of the world's most sought-after jazz talents. Having grown up on the road with her parents - jazz pianist Hod O'Brien and jazz vocalist Stephanie Nakasian - she was exposed to some of the greatest musicians of the time; Annie Ross, Jon Hendricks, Bob Dorough, Paquito d'Rivera, and Marilyn Maye. Swift was awarded second place at the Thelonious Monk 2015 Jazz Vocal Competition landing her a showcase at the esteemed Birdland Jazz Club in New York City. She then moved to New York in 2017 to continue pursuing her growing career. Maintaining a weekly residency at Birdland, Veronica toured internationally and joined the lineup on the show of Trumpeter Chris Botti. In 2020, Swift will release her next album on Mack Avenue with her regular touring trio: The Emmet Cohen Trio. For more about Swift, please see her website: veronicaswift.com.
Larry McKenna:
One of the world’s finest jazz saxophone players, Larry McKenna is known for his gorgeous tenor saxophone sound, the beauty of his balladry, and his fluid, bebop-inspired improvisations. After six decades in his profession, his international reputation as both a masterful jazz improviser and educator is firmly established. Over the years, Larry has performed and recorded with many jazz stars including Woody Herman, Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco, Barry Harris, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Jimmy Heath, Jon Faddis, Harry Allen, Terell Stafford, Eric Alexander, Bill Charlap, Warren Vaché, Kenny Barron, Randy Brecker, Wynton Marsalis and Frank Sinatra.
Larry McKenna’s composing, songwriting and arranging skills received critical acclaim with the 2013 release of his CD, “From All Sides,” supported in part by a Subito Grant from the American Composers Forum. Among other originals, this CD introduced his popular bossa nova “One Falling Tree” with lyrics by Melissa Gilstrap sung by Joanna Pascale, voted the number two song of the year out of 100 by listeners of WRTI 90.1 FM Philadelphia in 2013.
Larry’s writing and arranging skills are further showcased by the Larry McKenna Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece band dedicated to presenting Larry’s original compositions and arrangements. In 2018, the Larry McKenna Jazz Orchestra was invited by WRTI to video three of Larry’s original songs, two with lyrics by Melissa Gilstrap sung by Joanna Pascale, to be presented on VuHaus.com, public media’s music discovery video platform (now NPR.org).
Recently Larry McKenna partnered with longtime friend and fellow Philadelphia tenor player, Robert "Bootsie" Barnes, to release their CD, "The More I See You" (Cellar Live 2018). This critically-acclaimed CD placed on national jazz charts for several weeks, and WRTI selected it as "Jazz Album of the Week" in November 2018.
In addition to being a frequent guest on recordings by other top jazz players, Larry has released three other CDs under his own name to critical acclaim. “Profile” (Dreambox Media 2009) mixes jazz standards with Larry’s original compositions, including the poignant ballad “Perhaps This Wintertime” with lyrics by Melissa Gilstrap. Premiered on the CD by vocalist Nancy Reed, this ballad was critically praised as “destined to become a new standard” and subsequently performed and/or recorded by other internationally known vocalists, including Denise King, Mary Ellen Desmond and Jackie Ryan. Larry’s earlier CDs, “It Might As Well Be Spring” (Dreambox Media 2001) and “My Shining Hour - Music of Harold Arlen” (EPE Records 1995), received praise from jazz critics across the United States and Canada.
Recent performance highlights include Larry McKenna’s 2018 and 2015 “Barry & Larry” concerts with the legendary pianist Barry Harris at William Paterson University in New Jersey. In 2018 and 2014 Larry appeared with the Woody Herman Tribute Band in Los Angeles, including in 2018 a special quintet performance with trumpeter Bobby Shew. Larry was also a featured soloist in two concerts in 2014 with The Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia under the direction of Terell Stafford, together with jazz greats Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Heath, Kenny Barron, and Randy Brecker. In 2011 the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra showcased Larry as a soloist, performing movements from an orchestral arrangement of Duke Ellington’s “Nutcracker Suite."
Larry is one of the most sought-out saxophone and jazz theory teachers in Philadelphia. He has taught countless students at University of the Arts, Temple University School of Music, West Chester University, Widener University, and Community College of Philadelphia.
Larry resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. - Hudba
Larry's tone is beautiful. A musician's musician.
sag GM CL
Larry McKenna - incredibly fantastic sound !!! A thousand likes !!!
Yeah legitimately great no need be nice he is straight up kicking ass
He swings the whole band in a second.
I really like the sound of Larry McKenna's tenor saxophone. The neat old-fashioned jazz of that era- Dexter Gordon and Chet Baker. Thank you, Mr. McKenna. Rest in peace, and we will remember your beautiful music!!
Togetherness!
This is the quintessential club performance of a standard. Good humoured, a bit chaotic, oozing with charm, great musicianship.
Larry McKenna, one of the great great masters still living! Every note of pearl!
Everybody loves Larry...I wouldn't have got to see beautiful Veronica Swift.... Ella Fitzgerald incarnate, were it not for this video.
I'm a physicist and I wish I'd put some time into this jazz.
" Thankyou to the musicians who bring joy and beauty to our sometimes troubled world"...c/- the video
Never heard of Larry. So impressed. Gotta listen to more of him. Tremendous musician.
Larry McKenna is a beautiful sax player. The appreciation of the audience is magic.
The interaction with Larry and Veronica is ever so good, around 7:00. This is really difficult to pull off and still keep all the chord changes in tact. Also, this is the way a classic jazz song should be played. Great arrangement too!!!
Not if you are good players
Larry owns everything he plays
Veronica's talent goes without saying but Mr. McKenna is killing it....lovely!
Larry McKenna, great musician, moving performance. Hat off !
Mr. McKenna.......PERFECTION!
Fantastic saxophone player and Veronica Swift is fantastic.
Larry is fantastic, as usual! His tone is sublime and his vocabulary is so refreshing to hear. He is an inspiration to all of us who play. The guy with the trumpet is definitely out of his element. Too bad he never heard the old jazz adage...When in doubt, lay out!
RIP Larry McKenna🫶
i ca tell Mrs. swift came from a very musical family. Music has become her dedication. outstanding.
Rest In Power Larry McKenna - god he will forever be so heavy!!!
Through out his long distinguished career, Larry has played live gigs on stage with the best of them, and yes, the worst of them. This kind gentleman is always consistent in his demeanor not to show shock or surprise during someone's performance. He contains himself and continues on, as hard as it is to be in sync with another player who is searching on stage to find himself, and then only to be a step flat. Mr.McKenna has always supported other musicians and is one of the kindest in the business. He remains in Philly to become a giant instead of running off to NY or LA to be lured into producing changing crass commercial covers of forgettable pop tunes.
What a band, I can’t believe they got Anthony Fantano on the trumpet.
Man everything Larry plays is gold
Wow, just in awe of Larry, he just does it so easily, looks like he doesn’t breathe, even. How great.
Lesson for singers = Do your thing but Never upstage the soloist who is really filling in until your next display of brilliance.
Jazzplayers respect that we all have different levels of performance. So fine.
She can sing anything, so good jazz group . She just gets better and better love her voice.really love to see her in person. Never events are close to here far away in Colorado, California.
that beautiful improv convo between Larry and Veronica
Larry was my high school band arranger at my high school in South Jersey and taught saxophone to the reed players. He was Anne Margaret's arranger, and a great jazz man.
Beautiful song and singing and band is mean. My wife favorite song ❤❤ I miss her so much I love you Yobo 😂❤
Funny Chase chorus between Veronica and Larry!
My God! A Giant! Taste, Swing, Fire!
j'aurais capoté voir ca en personne!bravo!!!
RIP Larry
Rip Larry
Larry Mc Kenna, the true bop soloing. Perfect
Larry, You sound better each time I hear you. Veronica Swift very nice.
tenor was smooth as silk; listen to that lick that starts at 2:13 and how completely locked into the groove he is; great vocalist too.
Such a great sax legend, can't get enough of him, tremendous sound!!! Veronica's voice is very convincing, lovely, clear, but yet so experienced!! Gorgious performance!!❤
Well, That's rare. Melodic bass solo. Really good!
The interaction between Veronica and Larry is just wonderful. Priceless music making. Loved the whole thing. More please.
Larry is swinging for sure. A really fine player.
woww époustouflant Larry ...mind-boggling Larry and super nice vero voice! bravo encore!!!!
fenomenal singing!!!!!love s uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Perfect sax solo. Larry McKenna , never heard of him, gonna definitely check him out. - amazing how there are many amazing world class veterans that I don't know of.... Trumpet, piano and bass great, drums swing hard and VS is really a fantastic singer.
Correction, of course I've heard him, but was a so enthralled by the full ensemble and set list that i forgot. He is on an absolutely outstanding album called '4 Bothers 7', but the criminally underrated and very original Tenor saxophonist Frank Tiberi , The album is amazing coz they do kinda like a 'small big band' thing, w/ a Trio rhythm section (David Birman-piano, Lynn Seaton-upright bass and scat vocals and Matt Wilson-drums), plus Tiberi, McKenna and John Nugent on tenors and Mike Brignola on baritone. Amazing arrangements and great playing, a beautiful mix of the Big Band era arrangements and some great improvisations and trading between the horns and ocasional hold no barrels Post Bop soloing . Highly recommend album.
6:49 Wow! that was KO. Awesome Larry! :)
Had to replay that one more than a couple times
made me shout out loud
Beautiful !!! Amazing !!! Lovely !!!! Wondeful !!! Simply contagious !!!
One of the truly great players and improvisers.An inspiration to all musicians.
Check out Ms. Swift's recordings. They are excellent. Thanks to Melissa Gilstrap, I have listened to a lot of Larry McKenna lately.
Larry and Veronica. Wonderful.
great difference in level between the great tenorsax solo and the trumpetsolo
🥴 Let's be supportive. Larry is an incredible talent. I cant imagine following Larry with a solo.
Million loves, God speed
Swingin' sax...great tone and ideas...
What a tone! And swinging like crazy! I mean when I was 83 I could hardly get a half decent sound out of the sax
Great, great Larry McKenna. Fantastic musician!
Master underated ragged sax tone Larry! Lovely gigs quartet with gorgeous scat lady Veronika! Greetings from Jazz man, Kuala Lumpur!
very good swing!!!!!!
Omw. So beautiful. Sitting in netherlands but right back in the mother city❤
Beautiful Larry and my man Joe Strasser on drums.
Triple thumbs up from Spain & Germany
Larry blew it all away!
Awesome Veronica, I've been waiting for a vocalist like this. Great musicians all around!
AMAZING all across the board! The pianist taught me at a jazz summer camp
Could that have been Jazz Camp West? Your name sounds familiar.
from 6:15 to the end is some of the best trading of the 2000s
I can’t stop smiling during Larry McKenna’s solo. He is such a legend!!!
Veronica is a once in a generation talent. And shes currently only 27!?!
WOW! Thank you!!!! Larry McKenna ~ wonderful
Magnificent Larry, never heard of him before, but I stumbled upon this live performance and I'm glad. Real musician, we need some more like Larry. Love that music, great Larry.
Bravo Bravo Larry!
WOW!
what a Legend
I love this great sounds
Absolutely incredible.. if my dad was only here to enjoy this as I did
Why did the trumpet player feel the need to play over Larry's break. Dude.
And used Larry’s whole second chorus to try and finger out the changes... smh
@@therealsuyat and play out of tune all over the head, getting in the way of Larry and Veronica. Nightmare
@@therealsuyat He was actually playing a chord tone background under his second chorus... that being said, I didn't really vibe with the trumpet player either.
and then stood in front of and talked during the band leaders solo
Trumpet player upstaged himself, he has no Jazz Etiquette.
What a band, what is singer,lovely sax and piano playing ❤️❤️❤️
Um idoso jovem de mais de 90 anos tocando saxofone fazendo toda diferença. Parabéns!
Veronica Swift you become more talented every time you perform!
Larry and the perfect phrases
Often, I start my early mornings with this, and the whole day seems to go better.Thank you Larry and Veronica and the whole swingin' band.
Wonderful ~~~~
My first time to hear this ensemble . Fabulous jazz from all the band . Great post thanks you .
This made my day. Thanks!
Saw that? Veronica waving hello to the two guys on the winds🤗🤗 she is kind person🌹🌹
Good, so very beautiful beautiful and beautiful…
Wonderful! Thank you!
The old-timer is rocking it!
Woooow is beautiful 😍 🎷 and 🎤 🎶 Veroooooo 😍
the tenos sax is really classy and incorporates the style of many mainstream jazz tenorists ,classic sound and composed phrasing . he should be more known
JAZZEANDO SUAVE Y FRESCO PARA TODAS LAS EDADES
Pennies From Heaven (1936)
Music by Arthur Johnston, lyrics by Johnny Burke
Singer Veronica Swift & Larry McKenna with
Alex Claffy Trio & Drew Nugent (2020)
18,112 views since March 15, 2020
Melissa Gilstrap
804 subscribers
Veronica Swift - vocals / Larry McKenna - tenor sax
Alex Claffy Trio Alex Claffy - bass, Tim Brey - piano, Joe Strasser - drums
Drew Nugent - trumpet
Filmed & edited by Melissa Gilstrap
©2020 Melissa Gilstrap. All rights reserved.
www.melissagilstrap.com
Absolutely amazing tenor sax from Larry McKenna!
Absolutely superb! Pure class from the first note!
Really enjoyable to see and hear! Veronica Swift is truly up and coming and will leave her mark - great voice and phrasing. Beautiful tenor sounds from Larry McKenna. And hello Joe!! Great to see you swinging it hard - loved your solo, too!
Wonderful X ;) UK
yessssss!
Larry is TOTALLY awesome!
INCREDIBLE!!!
Fantastic all!
She’s real get it she loves that sound.
Inacreditável. Voz e som em perfeita harmonia. Parabéns.
Wow...awesome!
I thought Larry was the only FEATURED horn player ????? Anyway, Swift is already a wonderful icon reminiscent Of Anita O'Day anf Chris Connor. Thankyou Veronica, Larry, Alex, and Tim and Joe.
Terrific.
Love this!!!