“On The Sunny Side of the Street” is a song with a long, wonderful history.
Like so many jazz standards, the source material was innocuous: catchy but inconsequential. What the players did with it (like so many jazz standards) elevates it, using humor, chops and respect for tradition.
My favorite version, far and away, is the immortal, irreverent take from Dizzy Gillespie. From the perfectly, inevitably entitled Sonny SideUp, it features both Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt.
For me, Dizzy’s vocals (after all three titans have taken their solos) is so intoxicating and life-affirming it defies further comment. Only to say: if I ever need cheering up, this one will always do the trick. Instant smiles.
As always, the only thing better than hearing it is hearing it and seeing it:
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Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression.
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