How High the Moon?

The Question: How High the Moon?

The Answer: Very high indeed.

How High the Moon was composed by Morgan Lewis (music) and Nancy Hamilton (yeah, I had to look it up) in 1940 and introduced in a Broadway musical review by Alfred Drake and Frances Comstock well known vets of the boards. Unfortunately for this evening's journey, I could not find an original recording of that duo.

Unlike many standards that reach that status because they're relatively easy to master,  tough to screw up and impossible to forget (think Over the Rainbow)  How High has a tricky chord sequence and shifting time signatures that made it a particular favorite of jazz musicians, notably Charlie Parker and a very young Miles Davis and later, John Coltane among many others, who used the Moon chords as a jumping off place for further explorations. 

As for "Moon", it's always been a favorite of mine and tonight it's a true Supermoon, shining high, wide, bright and crystal clear, not to be seen again for another 60 years which may require more staying power than I possess.  

So, we may as well celebrate it all with a tip of the cap to those very few who reveled in answering the question, "How High the Moon?". 

PS Yeah, I know it's 240,000 miles, wise guys. Still that's pretty doggone high. 

ere, in its' most celebrated version, is that multi-tracking genius, Les Paul with his wife and songbird, Mary Ford in 1951. That Les was chock full of new tricks and if he's not playing rock and roll, me and Jeff Beck (see below), never heard the stuff.  

Charlie Parker and The Modern Jazz Quartet - 1952

There were no chord changes so tricky that Bird couldn't soar above them.

Milt Jackson (vibes) with John Lewis (piano) 1956

Ahhh ....

Ella Fitzgerald - 1963

This was one of Ella's signature tunes. Probably because she knew it was too tough for most other singers.

It wasn't too tough for Sarah Vaughan - she just didn't wanna be bothered learning the words so she scatted a tribute to Ella to the moon and back - 1957

A short and sweet performance from Lola Albright, with Shorty Rogers on Flugelhorn

and Victor Feldman on Vibes

TPerformance from the Peter Gunn television series 

June Christy (vocals), Nat King Cole (piano) and Mel Torme (drums) 1956

June's opening fluff is duly noted . So? This is tough stuff and fast company. 

More compelling, although non musical, is the way that Nat first reaches out to welcome June before pulling back. Black men on screen and television, of which there were very few) were not permitted to touch white women at the time.  More significantly he does touch her hand at the end before joining hands with Mel as well. Sometimes progress is measured in small steps such as these. 

As a fan of Nat's piano playing (Oh, Lord, could he play!!) I regret that once he reached the mainstream, the piano was pushed into the background. On the other hand, oh Lord, could he sing! And he's got a bew toy to play with. -1955

The woefully unsung Dianne Reeves channels the Immortal Betty Carter as she ventures forth to ask The Question: How High the Moon - 1991

Speaking of the marvelous Betty Carter, here's her take, - 1994

Moving along, we find the great Jeff Beck and the wonderful Imelda May and her band in a 2010 tribute concert to Les Paul and Mary Ford in which they address the age old question, just how high is the moon? Which brings us full circle and to the Answer which is: Very High Indeed.