Corky Hale in Hollywood

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com

If you're in Los Angeles tomorrow evening (Wednesday), you're in luck. Corky Hale will be playing piano at the Catalina Jazz Club at 6725 Sunset Blvd. She'll be accompanying singer Eloise Laws, sister of flutist Hubert Laws. There's also a special surprise guest.

Corky is best known as one of the most recorded jazz and pop harpists in Hollywood, starting in the 1950s. She's on Ella Fitzgerald's songbook sessions, Frank Sinatra's Capitol dates and behind Chet Baker, Paul Desmond, Gary McFarland, Buddy Collette and the albums of dozens of jazz artists. [Pictured above, Corky with Buddy Collette]

But Corky is also a gorgeous jazz pianist. Her chord voicings are sublime. If you missed my post last year about Corky's appearance on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz, go here. For years, I've been begging Corky to record a solo piano album—or at least a piano album with guitar. She's thinking about it. Maybe soon. One can only hope. [Pictured above, Billie Holiday with Corky Hale in 1956]

If you're on the fence about going out on Wednesday, these clips will surely send you on your way:

Here's an audio clip of Corky on piano with with Harry James in 1955...

Here's Corky accompanying Billie Holiday in 1956 on Bobby Troup's Stars of Jazz TV show. Move the clip to My Man at 9:28. As the camera pulls back at 12:33, you'll see Corky at the piano, not Pete Jolly. Corky was working with Holiday at the time in Las Vegas...

Here's Corky on celeste and harp with guitarist Howard Roberts in 1956. Doesn't get any better than this...

Here's Corky in 1965 with Tony Bennett on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson...

Used with permission by Marc Myers

Corky Hale + Marian McPartland

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com

Corky Hale called yesterday to chat. Most jazz fans know Corky as Los Angeles' first-call harpist in the '50s and '60s. If a harp was needed on pop and jazz recordings, Corky was likely on the session. Her harp appears on many of Ella Fitzgerald's songbook albums as well as recordings by Anita O'Day, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee and so many others. Corky also plays a range of woodwind instruments and sang with Harry James, Ray Anthony and a bunch of other bands. And then there are the jazz albums she was on in the '50s with Bud Shank, Chet Baker and Herbie Harper.

But what may come as a surprise to many people is that Corky is first and foremost a fabulous jazz pianist. She accompanied Billie Holiday in 1957 in Las Vegas and at Jazz City in Los Angeles and backed dozens of other singers. These days Corky performs solo on piano and with a trio at Hollywood clubs. I've always wished more jazz fans were familiar with the confident elegance of her chord voicings. [Photo above of Billie Holiday and Corky Hale in 1957 by Ray Avery/CTSImages.com]

As we spoke yesterday, Marian McPartland's name came up. Corky mentioned that back in December 1993, Marian had her on Piano Jazz. I was stunned, since I had never seen a CD or a listing of their get-together in the Piano Jazz series. So Corky sent along an mp3 of the show. I gave it a listen and was just as blown away as Marian was by Corky's playing.

Naturally I asked Corky if I could share it with you. She said, "Of course." Below is Corky on Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland in 1993 (just hover over the left side of the bar and click the "play" triangle). Having heard Corky peform recently, I can tell you she's playing better than ever. And if you want to reach Corky, email her at Corky Hale Productions: CorkyHale@aol.com

Corky Hale on Piano Jazz

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Used with permission by Marc Myers