Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be)

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Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be) — words and music composed c. 1941-1942 by Jimmy Davis, Roger Ram Ramirez, and James Sherman

Although the song was written for Billie Holiday, she was unable to record it until 1944 due to the strike by the American Federation of Musicians, a result of a dispute between the musician’s union and the recording companies over royalties.

Billie Holiday – 1944

Dizzy Gillespie and his All Star Quintet, featuring Sarah Vaughan — 11 May 1945

Sarah Vaughan – vocal
Dizzy Gillespie – trumpet
Charlie Parker – alto sax
Al Haig – piano
Curley Russel – bass
Sydney “Big Sid” Catlett – drums

Charlie Parker – Dial recording, 29 July 1946 — Charlie Parker (alto sax), Howard McGhee (trumpet), Jimmy Bunn (piano), Bob Kesterson (bass), Roy Porter (drums)

Reviewer Marc Myers for jazz.com said:

Recorded in Hollywood for Dial during a West Coast trip, “Lover Man” marks a turning point in Parker’s career. High as a kite on narcotics, Parker was barely able to squeeze off the tune’s notes. Yet despite Parker’s self-destructive streak, his playing here was still far more impassioned than musicians who were sober. Listen as Bird misses the intro but then manages to turn in a heartfelt effort. The same is true of “The Gypsy” from the same date. Following this session, Parker returned to his hotel, set fire to the room, was arrested and placed in Camarillo State Hospital’s psychiatric ward, where he remained until January 1947.

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Blossom Dearie — from her 1959 album Blossom Dearie

Review of the album by Scott Yanow, All Music Guide:

Other than a pair of sessions for the French Barclay label during 1955-1956, this set (which has been reissued on CD) has pianist-vocalist Blossom Dearie’s first recordings as a leader. Teamed up with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Jo Jones, Dearie is heard in her early prime. Although her voice has always been an acquired taste, its sincerity and sense of swing wins one over after a few songs and Dearie’s piano playing is first class. In addition to the 14 original selections (mostly swing-era standards plus a couple of French songs), there are three previously unreleased numbers including “Blossom’s Blues,” which dates from 1959. This CD is the perfect introduction for listeners to the unique sound of Blossom Dearie.

Roland Kirk with the Swiss trio of pianist George Gruntz, Amersfoort, Holland filmed in 1959 by the KRO broadcasting company

Kenny Dorham & Jackie McLean –– recorded live at “The Jazz Workshop”, San Francisco, CA, 13 November 1961; released on the LP Inta Somethin’

Kenny Dorham (tp)
Jackie McLean (as)
Walter Bishop Jr. (p)
Leroy Vinnegar (b)
Art Taylor (ds)

Ike Quebec – It Might As Well Be Spring album. Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on 9 December 1961 — Ike Quebec (tenor saxophone); Milt Hinton (bass); Freddie Roach (organ); Al Harewood (drums)

Sarah Vaughan

recorded 2 April 1954, and released that year on the 10-inch LP Images; also included on the 1957 album Swingin’ Easy

John Malachi — piano
Joe Benjamin — bass

live in Holland, 1958

Bill Evans Trio featuring Stan Getz — recorded live on 16 August 1974 at Middelheim Jazzfestival in Antwerp, Belgium — The six tracks recorded at Middelheim were originally released in 1974 on the album Stan Getz With Bill Evans Trio Live In Belgium 1974, Nova Disc ND 2; . The same set of tracks were released in the US in 1996 on the CD album But Beautiful, Milestone MCD 9249-2, which contains four additional tracks recorded at Laren, Netherlands on 9 August 1974.

Bill Evans: piano
Stan Getz: tenor saxophone
Eddie Gomez: bass
Marty Morell: drums