Relax into the Blue of the Night’s pick of the best tunes and songs from the ancient to the contemporary.
Blue Tunes: “I try to play what people like.” That’s how, in typically understated fashion, Jack Teagarden described what he did for a living for five decades. Teagarden’s lyrical approach – and extraordinary facility – on the trombone was crucial in advancing the instrument to today’s high-level of technical mastery. All the more remarkable if you consider that Teagarden was already the finished article when, in 1921, the then 16-year-old began playing professionally with the Peck Kelly band. He went on to work with Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman and – most notably – Louis Armstrong. Texas-born “Big T” drew heavily from the blues music he would have heard as a child growing up in Oklahoma. Teagarden also graced a number of records with his wry vocal style. He sang with a heavy, unhurried drawl; a method that later influenced crooners like Bing Crosby. Jack Teagarden cut thousands of sides, many as leader and all this week on the programme, Carl and Eamonn will be re-visiting the best of them.
RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 1st – Friday 7th December, 10pm-1am