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Louis Jordan
“Is you is or is you aint my baby”

I gave this some thought. Where to go after “secret agent” week? Jazz/Blues Standards. You may be hearing things that are a bit obvious and played but they’ll be fun.

This particular song was probably my first exposure to “Jump Blues”, or any blues for that matter. When I was a kid, Tom & Jerry was always on the tube. There was a particular episode in which a female cat came onto the show and Tom sang this song to her. I remember thinking it was hilarious.

Louis Jordan was one of the biggest musical acts of the 1940s. He also played saxophone — That’s why he gets to kick off this week’s music.

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From the Album: Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five

Cab Calloway
“Minnie the Moocher”

Good old Cab. This is fun music for sure. He was an extraordinary scat singer, as well as a band leader at the Cotton Club, in New York City.

I’ve always liked this song.

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From the Album: Minnie the Moocher

Ray Charles
“This Little Girl of Mine”

Ray Charles was amazing. He did wonders for musicians during his time. The movie “Ray” brought to light many of the struggles Ray had as an artist. One of which was the opposition he faced when he started mixing gospel (mostly negro spirituals) with his music. This track “This little girl of mine” is very similar in parts to a song called “This little light of mine” (I’m gonna let it shine). It highlights the very simple method ray used to inject music of the time with a bit of soul – a bit of Ray’s own upbringing – into his music. It was a simple mixing, but it changed music forever.

Ray’s contribution to music is without measure.

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From the Album: Definitive Ray Charles