You may not know his name, but his contribution is legendary. He was Frank Sinatra’s muse, and every performer wanted a lyric from him. Sammy Cahn wrote the lyrics to many songs, with such composers as Jule Styne, James Van Heusen, Gene de Paul and others providing the melodies. Sinatra recorded more of his lyrics than anyone! Some of these songs include “Time After Time,” “Day By Day,” “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head,” “Come Fly with Me,” “Be My Love,” “My Kind of Town,” “Teach Me Tonight,” “The Tender Trap,” “All the Way” … the list is endless! I will salute the work of this alternately swinging and romantic lyricist throughout my next Table 41 gig on June 18, 2013, to mark his centennial. “Ring-a-Ding Ding,” as Sinatra would say.

From Table 41 on May 21, 2013, here’s a classic from Canadian jazz flutist Moe Koffman, with lyrics added later by Kenny Jacobson and Rhoda Roberts (whoever they are) after it became an instrumental hit. Ella Fitzgerald and Natalie Cole are famous for singing the version with lyrics. It took two years until I finally had the time to find and learn the original instrumental version of my dad’s favorite jazz song; when I heard Ella’s and Natalie’s vocal renditions, I knew I had to sing the clever lyrics as well. This number has been an audience favorite at my gigs since I first started doing it in 2011, and will remain an important part of my repertoire. So without further ado, it’s Swingin’ Shepherd Blues! The keyboard sound I use is called “Film Noir,” with an acoustic bass sound given to the left half of the keyboard and a vibraphone/flute combination to the right half. For this song, I turn down the vibraphone part of the Film Noir sound, and this is the result! (Of all the flute sounds on my keyboard, the one used for the Film Noir sound is the most accurate!). Thank you, dad, for introducing me to this cool tune!

From Table 41 on May 21, 2013, here’s my latest performance of Sir Arthur Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance” Overture, which includes references to the songs “With Cat-like Tread,” “Ah, Leave me Not,” “Pray Observe the Magnanimity,” “Climbing Over Rocky Mountain,” “When You Had Left Our Pirate Fold,” and “How Beautifully Blue the Sky.” I’ve been a Gilbert and Sullivan fan since I was four years old, and this is just one of many tributes!

Camelot Medley Here’s more from the pen of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, live from Table 41 on May 21, 2013. This time, I turn my attention to the beautiful, majestic score of their hit musical “Camelot.” This medley attempts to re-create the theatrical words and music by emulating Richard Burton’s King Arthur and Robert Goulet’s Lancelot, along with just the right amount of instrumental passages from the score. Songs include: Overture, March, “Camelot,” “How to Handle a Woman,” “The Lusty Month of May,” “If Ever I Would Leave You,” and the reprise finale of “Camelot.”

Here’s my latest rendition of my medley of songs from the classic Broadway musical, with music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. This is based on ideas from Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and some of my own, plus those of pianist George Shearing and vocalist Mel Torme (to fill the gap that they didn’t record anything from this show). Songs include: “Get Me to the Church on Time,” “Wouldn’t It be Loverly,” “With a Little Bit of Luck,” “On the Street Where You Live,” “I Could Have Danced All Night” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to her Face.” I’d like to thank and give credit to my mother for coming up with the idea of starting and ending this medley as a slow ballad.

A little something from one of the many quarterly jams at Uncle Pat’s, when his friends would come down to Escondido from Los Angeles to hang out and play some jazz fusion. This is from July 14, 2012. Drums: Gary Greenberg (aka “G Money”). Synthesizers: Ferg Reed (AKA “Fergalicious”); my uncle, Pat Downes (AKA “Uncle P-Ditty”); and his nephew, Vincent Young (AKA “V Money”). The amazing Janeen (AKA “J Luv”), on guitar, saw, and vocals, started coming to these jams in 2011. Though her microphone wasn’t working that night and did not pick up her part, we still managed to capture some cool keyboard playing! Here’s an excerpt from our first improvised piece, a long jam featuring many interesting parts. This funky cut features a muted trumpet solo from my Motif 6 that includes references to Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumble Bee, and the Spiderman theme, plus a lick inspired by something Janeen and I came up with when this whole series of jams started. Listen as Uncle Pat, Ferg and Gary lay down the funk!