It Happened in Monterey (feat. Elliot Deutsch and his Orchestra)

Mark Blake – The Swing Collection Mark Blake has always loved swinging music, but it has only been in recent times that he has returned to his first love of singing. He has a warm voice, appealing phrasing (placing notes in just the right spot) and certainly knows how to swing. Blake makes his recording debut in the US on his new CD The Swing Collection. “It Happened In Monterey,” which will be released on the disc (and also through CD Baby, Amazon, iTunes and Google play) teams him with arranger Elliot Deutsch and Deutsch’s Los Angeles big band. Composed in 1930 for the musical film The King Of Jazz where it featured Paul Whiteman and was sung by John Boles, the song did well or a few years (Bing Crosby and Ruth Etting were among those who recorded it) before it slipped away into obscurity. Frank Sinatra revived it back in 1956 but it has not been performed all that often since despite its timeless quality. This new version swings from the start with a groove reminiscent of Count Basie. Mark Blake takes a chorus that defines the melody and the lyrics and, after the band gets to play a bit, he takes it out to its conclusion with enthusiasm and joy. “It Happened In Monterey” is an excellent way to discover the vocal talents of Mark Blake. Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/historian and author of 11 books including The Jazz Singers