Sat 29th Jan, 20 – The palace of Nostalgia. Stormy Weather… Weather conditions are a classic metaphor for moods and feelings. A woman is left by her husband. “Since my man and I ain’t together, keeps rainin’ all the time”.
Composer Harold Arlen didn’t think much of Stormy Weather . He threw it together with lyricist Ted Koehler, rather quickly on a party night. It was first performed in the New York Cotton Club in 1933, sung by Ethel Waters. Waters was recently divorced so the song was perfect for her. Later the same year the floor revue of the Cotton Club went on tour. The original title of the show, The Cotton Club Parade, was replaced by Stormy Weather Revue. The weekly journal The Afro-American wrote: “Stormy Weather, with the elaborate costumes and the original cast of performers, including the choir of eight mixed voices and the chorus of sixteen bronze dancing beauties, will be featured in the touring company.”
An endless stream of artists have recorded the song, and it’s very varied. Billie Holiday sang it, as did Bob Dylan. There are instrumental versions by pianist Red Garland and Charles Mingus with Eric Dolphy.
This programme is also very varied. It includes among others Ethel Waters, and Lena Horne (photo) who recorded it five times. Harold Arlen himself, and mouth harmonica player Larry Adler. Pianist Art Tatum, trumpeter Billy Butterfield, and the German Comedian Harmonists with their version: “Ohne Dich”.
The Palace of Nostalgia – a programme by Sjaak Roodenburg
