There’s some hipster kitties (they don’t chase no rats).
They make swinging music – ’cause they’re Jazz Cats!
Jazz Cats!
Swingin’ Jazz Cats!
Now, this is a book that you all should have in your personal libraries. With beautiful illustrations by Chuck Galey (who must be a hep cat himself) this book is truly a jewel!
Book description (from Amazon):
A rhythmic jazzy story in verse, Jazz Cats tells about the escapades of some real cool cats that know how to entertain. Their jazz combo plays together in the streets of New Orleans. From the blow of the clarinet and trumpet to the pluck of the fiddle base and beating the trash can drums, these Dixie, dancin’ jazz cats know how to have fun.
Being a JazzCat (and a mighty nifty one at that!), I do love jazz music most of all. But, I’m also a Canadian cat and I have an appreciation for Canadian roots music, too.
One night, a few of the other hep cats in the neighborhood and I made our way to a jam session on the street, performing for anyone who would listen. Turns out there’s a record of the events that’s based on a Canadian folk song that you’ve probably heard if you’ve ever spent more than five minutes in a pub!
Here it is, cool cats! The video of the actual song this story’s based on is at the bottom so you can sing along!
JazzCat’s Privateers
(Sung to Barrett’s Privateers, by Stan Rogers)
O, the year was 1778
(How I wish I was outside right meow!)
A little idea had come to Jay
And the Spartacat anxious to wail and play!
God pet us all!
I was told we’d cruise the streets
For some other hep cats
We’d prance and run.
Shed no fur!
Now I’m the coolest cat that did ever roam here
The last of JazzCat’s Privateers!
O, Frankie & PJ cried the town
(How I wish I was outside right meow!)
For twenty hep cats, all swingin’ and grand
Would make for Jay the coolest kitty cat band!
(chorus)
O, the Litter Box sure was a sickening sight
(How I wish I was outside right meow!)
It had a missing wool sock and and a moldy fig
But we had no time to clean it for we had our gig!
(chorus)
So, on Jay’s birthday we put to street
(How I wish I was outside right meow!)
We were ninety-one steps to Slater and Bay
Struttin’ like Jazz Cats all the way!
(chorus)
And we made it to Bay, our tails a’ sway
(How I wish I was outside right meow!)
When an ugly, big tomcat hove in sight
With our sharpened cat claws, we made to fight!
(chorus)
The tomcat lay low down on the ground
(How I wish I was outside right meow!)
He was old and fat and loose in fur
But so pathetic and harmless, he made us purr!
(chorus)
And at length we stood three meters away
(How I wish I was outside right meow!)
Turns out the tomcat called the show
Then he pulled out his trumped and he did blow!
(chorus)
Spartacat shook and shimmied all night
(How I wish I was outside right meow!)
Solos were matched by a crowd so high
And we all carried on, it was Jazz Cat pride!
(chorus)
So, here I lay on my human’s warm lap
(How I wish I was outside right meow!)
It’s all nine lives we’d jammed away
And I just made Sandy Hill yesterday!
Here’s a very swingy song from the King Of Swing himself. As the original poster says Plenty of bounce here with a swing powerful enough to drift a bulldozer”. I like that cat!
This version was recorded in 1940, with an amazing personnel. Benny Goodman on Clarinet, Cootie Williams on trumpet, Georgie Auld on tenor sax, Charlie Christian on guitar, Count Basie on piano, Artie Bernstein on bass and Harry Jaeger on drums.
Enjoy!
This is from 1941. Same personnel. Only one missing is Count Basie
Greetings, hepcats! Time for some more music! Well, every time is time for more music, right? This one comes from the rip-roarin’ 1920s, Pussy Cat Rag by Halfway House Orchestra. If this doesn’t get yer paws movin’, then you ain’t breathin’! Enjoy!
Sorry, it’s been so long since my last Jazz post. I’ve been very busy what with being the poster boy for some really cool Jazz-related events. I’ll try to be more prolific in the future.Here’s song I like a lot. It’s about another very famous hep cat, my cousin Felix.
Felix The Cat
This song was released in 1928 and was done by Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra with Bix Beiderbecke on Cornet.
For my first post I thought I’d let my paws peruse teh Internets so I could share with you one of my favorite vintage jazz songs. See, being a hepcat it’s important to me to be able to share with you the wonderful world of jazz because, well, I don’t spend all day staring out the window and licking my feet, you know.
Can you guess why it is one of my favourite songs? MOL
This version is by Anita O’Day from her short stint (11 months) with Stan Kenton and his orchestra in 1944
But that is not all. I opened the book and guess what I found?
All That JazzCat! 