想不到我在這裡找到了 George Lewis 的 Jazz At Preservation Hall IV 專輯。網易的音樂資料庫還是挺強的。這張專輯1963年在美國以黑膠推出，發行公司為Atlantic。專輯的CD版本在今年七月底由日本唱片公司Wea Japan發行，若你有興趣，在Amazon可以買到。本人收藏的是1963年發行的原版黑膠。這首"Careless Love" 是唱片B面的第四首。單曲"Careless Love"本身就是一首爵士藍調經典，很多歌手和樂隊都曾經演繹和錄製過歌曲。其中最有名的為美國黑人女歌手Bessie Smith的版本。我做了一個初步研究，正式由唱片公司簽約錄製的"Careless Love"版本至少有60個以上。當然，在這麼多的錄音裡面，有些是只有旋律而沒有歌唱。George Lewis和他樂隊錄製的就是只有旋律的版本。傳統爵士 (也被成為新奧爾良爵士)很大一個特點就是，儘管歌曲是沒有歌唱部分，單簧管和小號手所吹出的那種揭撕底裡的腔調，就相當於一個人淒美的唱聲。
生於1900年，George Lewis 是最後一批被發掘的新奧爾良傳統爵士老將。他自17歲開始表演，缺在後半生才成名。在新奧爾良，到處都是爵士樂人，但是要想被唱片公司簽約錄音，缺很難。加上黑人早期在美國受到的種族歧視，很多人根本沒有重視他們的音樂和才華。我們非常有幸能聽到 George Lewis 的單簧管。他有著與眾不同的腔調。他俏皮的單簧管，是最能代表新奧爾良爵士，其文化以及歷史的。雖說他在後半生被簽約錄製專輯，在1940年代，傳統爵士漸漸被視為落伍的音樂。新一代爵士明星如Dizzy Gillespie 和 Miles Davis創造的火花迅速地掩蓋了這批新奧爾良老將。很多人不知道，這些老將在表演之餘，其實也得乾苦力來維持生活。
在新奧爾良的Preservation Hall (1961 年成立），有著很多不知名熱愛傳統爵士樂人的影子。很多時候，他們其實並不在乎成名與否，他們只想享受傳統爵士給他們帶來的快樂和自由。這些樂人，他們一生熱愛音樂，也有著驚人的對爵士的理解和才華，缺無人知曉。
他們的才華和對音樂的激情有待我們來發掘和欣賞。去吧，去新奧爾良！
I am rather surprise to find this record, Jazz At Presevation Hall IV by George Lewis and his band through Lofter. The Lofter music archive is indeed impressive. This record was first released in 1963 as vinyl in the USA by Atlantic. The CD remaster version of the record was released this July by a Japanese company called Wea Japan, and it is now available on Amazon. The version I collect is the original 1963 vinyl. This song "Careless Love" is included in the record's B side as track No. 4.
The song itself is a classic jazz and blues tune, that has been recorded by many singers and bands before. Among all, the version by blues singer Bessie Smith is possibliy the most well known one. I have done a brief research, there are at least 60 versions of "Careless Love" being recorded and released in the past. Some of these versions are only instrumental without vocals. The version by George Lewis and his band is one of the instrumental ones. Something very special about New Orleans jazz/traditional jazz, is that even though there is no vocal, the expressive sound made by the clarinet and trumpet is just like an effetive human voice.
Born in New Orleans in 1900, Lewis is the last group of old New Orleans traditional jazz musicians being discovered. Lewis began to play music when he was 17, but only became known in his 40s. In New Orleans, there are jazz musicians everywhere, but it's never easy for them to be signed and recorded. This is mainly dued to the discrimination towards black American in the country, therefore not many paid attention to their music and talent at all. We are very lucky to hear Lewis' clarinet, as Lewis has a very unique tone. His lively clarinet, is the most representative for New Orleans jazz, its culture and history. Although he was discovered and recorded in his later life, during the 1940s, traditional jazz slowly died out from popularity. The new generation of jazz stars such as Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis quickly took over the scenes from the older New Orleans jazz musicians. Many might not know, after recording music, these legends oftentimes have to return to their labour work back home, in order to earn their living.
At the Preservation Hall in New Orleans (founded in 1961), there appear many unknown musicians who are passionate about traditional jazz. Oftentimes, they don't care about being famous or not, all they care is to enjoy playing jazz and the freedom that music offers them. These musicinas wordship music all their lives, they have outstanding understanding of jazz and talents, but yet remain unknown.
Their talents and passion is down to us to discover and appreciate.
Go, go to New Orleans !