Nov
15
Submitted by webmaster on Mon, 11/15/2010 - 09:46
puchersoul | November 28, 2008
jazzfunk(1975 The lp:"Still On The Planet"
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Here's a portion of a review about this song from http://funky16corners.wordpress.com/2008/12/07/eddie-jefferson-chameleon/
"Greetings all. Here we are at the beginning of yet another week. Today I bring you something tasty by one of the greats of jazz vocal, Mr. Eddie Jefferson. Often cited as the father of vocalese (applying lyrics to jazz solos), Jefferson recorded several albums during the 50s and 60s for Riverside, and in the 70s for Muse. Jefferson – like many great singers – may not have had what you would consider a classically fine voice, but he was expressive and inventive, and always right on the groove. Though he started during the bop era, he always managed to stay hip and current, as can be evidenced in his 1968 version of Horace Silver’s ‘Psychedelic Sally’, the 45 of which changes hands amongst crate diggers for several hundred dollars*. Jefferson spent much of the 70s working with Trenton NJ’s own, saxophonist Richie Cole. The tune I bring you today is from one of his last albums, 1976s ‘Still On the Planet’. Jefferson’s vocalese-ation of Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon” is a great bit of jazz funk, with Jefferson in rare form, aided by his band (led by Cole)"….
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The words to Eddie Jefferson's Chameleon remind me of Antoine Dodson & The Gregory Brothers's 2010 autotune hit "Bed Intruder". Although Jefferson's song doesn't include the phrase "run & tell that", it does include the lines "They gonna rape our mama...Tell me, Tell me,"... Visit this page of my Cocojams website to learn more about the use of the phrase "Run & Tell that" in various genres of American songs: http://www.cocojams.com/content/text-analysis-run-and-tell-phrase-popula...
Also, my transcription of the first verse and the chorus of Eddie Jefferson's "Chameleon" is found below in the comment section.
Contact
Email: jambalayah17@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2010-2011 Azizi Powell; All Rights Reserved
2 comments
Lyrics (first verse & chorus)
CHAMELEON
(Eddie Jefferson)
Danger is in the air.
Strange feelings everywhere.
I heard a woman shout.
They comin over the sea
to look for you and me.
Chameleons all around.
I saw my daddy frown.
They have big purple eyes.
Their teeth are long and green.
They're burnin down our house.
They're stealing all our clothes.
They're gonna rape your mama.
They're gonna steal our soul.
Chorus:
Oh Lord, Oh Lord
Tell me what do I do now?
Tell me! Tell me!
Hey Lord, Hey Lord.
Tell me what do I do now?
Tell me! Tell me!...
[transcribed from a YouTube video by Azizi Powell, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 12/16/2010]
Selected viewer comments from
Posted in 2009:
CrAzYffRoG- dope tune. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR POSTING
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rayjr62 - He was shot to death by some dancer. ... What a shame. Eddie was one of the originators of that Vocalese style, which, is an indirect way, was a precursor to rap.
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mmaaja- greeeaaaat song!!
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bmuhamad- I think, directly is a percursor to Hip Hop.
Putting lyrics to music and living the
Culture. The guy who shot him was reportedly mentally unstable.
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DiscoHank- I think it's related to rap too, even more so than Gil Scott Heron. Most of the time, Gil Scott Heron's beat was not as steady as Eddie Jefferson's here. But in the vocalese style, the singing is strictly determined by the rhythm of the melody, which really makes rap possible.
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bmuhamad- Eddie Wrote the orignal lyrics to Moody's
Mood For Love For King Pleasure.
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fomomoto3 - Please, how dare you folks link the likes of Eddie (or Jon Hendricks) vocalese style, rooted in a deep knowledge of jazz and the classic solos they interpretted, to the artless art of rap.
If you are looking for a precursor of rap, look to Gil Scott Heron. Heron's work was itself rooted in social consciousness, something that rap alludes to but rarely lives up to. Please, stop elevating these charlatans, masquerading as thugs and/or artists. In most cases they are neither.
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Posted in 2010
marianschoettle- thanks so much- what a great version! I love Eddie Jefferson so much, the groove master! Wild and original.
Does anyone know where I can download this tune?
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azizip17-As a Pittsburgh Pennsylvania resident, I'm ashamed to admit that I just learned about Eddie Jefferson by googling Pittsburgh jazz artists. I love his songs!!
Here's something ironical: These lyrics from Eddie's song remind me of Antoine Dodson's 2010 Run and Tell That rant that was on the news & then was made into an autotune hit- "They're burnin down our house; They're stealin all our clothes; They're gonna rape your mama". For more examples of this theme google Cocojams Run And Tell That.
[ Here's the link to that Cocojams' page: http://www.cocojams.com/content/text-analysis-run-and-tell-phrase-popula... ]