Paul Bacon - Girl Crazy (2021)

A swinging vocal jazz collection of songs inspired by women's names.

The front cover artwork for this release is what Paul Bacon originally intended.

Paul Bacon (12/25/1923 - 6/8/2015) was both a book and album cover designer and jazz musician. He designed about 6,500 jackets and more than 200 jazz record covers.

Mr. Bacon was among the most convivial and talented in the Chiaroscuro family. His original artwork has been part of American Popular Culture since 1949 and is indelibly marked in our nostalgic memory.

Paul Bacon is furthermore a charming interpreter of vintage songs which talent is conclusively demonstrated in his project: GIRL CRAZY recorded in the late 1990s and being released for the first time. He was also one of the few recorded 'hot comb' players. The 'hot comb' is a novelty device made by affixing cellophane (from a Lucky Strike cigarette pack) over a standard pocket comb which gives the practitioner a unique sound that is a variation of scat singing with jug band overtones. The album demonstrates the effect which caused Jon-Erik Kellso to remark, ''You're really a trumpet player.''

GIRL CRAZY is a thematic compilation of vintage popular songs written between 1903 and 1944 by such classic Tin Pan Alley tune-smiths as Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and Harold Arlen. The practice of using female names as inspiration continues to be popular and includes highly successful writers like Paul Anka, Lennon & McCartney and Jerry Herman.

For this recording Paul Bacon and musical director Keith Ingham assembled the Manhattan Serenaders, a group of compatible, world class musicians and 'musical pals' to create wonderful settings for the varied lyrics and referenced ladies. All of the players provide a warm swinging accompaniment and memorable improvisations that compliment and enhance the lyrics, and make for an album that will surely make you smile.