Vincent Youmans
Vincent Youmans wrote lean Broadway songs built from short repeated phrases and subtle harmonic turns. Tea for Two, I Want to Be Happy and More Than You Know became lasting standards, still favoured by jazz players.
His scores for shows such as No, No, Nanette and Hit the Deck! yielded a high proportion of durable hits from a small published catalogue. Early numbers thrived on economy: two-, three- or four-note ideas varied by rhythm and harmony rather than long melody. Later writing opened into broader, more rhapsodic lines, including film songs such as The Carioca. On these recordings his tunes serve as open frameworks for ballad singing and two-piano improvisation, their clear shapes inviting fresh colour without losing the song.
Compositions by Vincent Youmans appear on
The Lucky Ones
This solo piano collection gathers old and new standards, original pieces, film music and three works composed spontaneously at the keyboard, capturing Gould’s playing and ideas at a particular moment in life.
Unanimity
Two grand pianos, one disc: Bob Sedergreen and Tony Gould, leading Australian jazz improvisers, in a rare live duo of spontaneous piano performance.
Just For The Record
Renowned jazz singer Linda Cable gathers moody ballads and up-tempo standards in a polished set that moves from cool and slinky to full swing.