Life is a magic show. And since I toured on a number of magic shows over the years I think I know a thing or two about magic shows. I tell you--life is definitely a damn magic show...
Battle of the Bands
Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands. This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month. My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months. The premise is simple: Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it. Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.
In a Persian Market
The tone poem by Albert Ketelby is a musical piece that you've undoubtedly heard many times over the years. It often will be used as background for magic or circus shows or scenes of mystery. During the years of 1975 to 1980 when I toured off and on with them, I frequently heard it during the levitation sequence of the Ken Griffin Magic Show. In this part of the show, Ken Griffin the magician would put his lovely wife and assistant Roberta into a trance and then raise her into the air from a prone position. The levitation was one of the highlights of the show. I won't say where I was or what I was doing during this sequence of the show, but I will say that I had little else to do but listen to Ketelby's "In a Persian Market" which wasn't all that bad since I did enjoy that piece of music.
The recording we used was in a more classical vein like originally intended. For this Battle I'm using a couple of updated jazzy versions that I find quite entertaining. I hope that you will too.
Wilbur de Paris "In a Persian Market" (1959)
Acker Bilk "In a Persian Market" (1959)
Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours. I don't know if anyone else will be doing a Battle this time around, but you can still check out these sites.
Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:
StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands
'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'
'Curious as a Cathy'
Sound of One Hand Typing
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Wilbur de Paris "In a Persian Market" (1959)
Acker Bilk "In a Persian Market" (1959)
Time to Vote!
Now that you're all jazzed up how's about voting for one or the other. Either way you might or might not like them. Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind. You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.
Now that you're all jazzed up how's about voting for one or the other. Either way you might or might not like them. Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind. You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.
Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours. I don't know if anyone else will be doing a Battle this time around, but you can still check out these sites.
Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:
StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands
'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'
'Curious as a Cathy'
Sound of One Hand Typing
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Next Battle on December 1
And results of this current Battle will be Friday November 22nd. Did I get that right? What ever...
With the second one, the tune sounded a little more familiar, but I prefer the first one.
ReplyDeleteAlex, both stray a bit, but in a good way I think.
DeleteFirst vote goes to de Paris.
Lee
Hi Lee -
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to me that anyone would even think of turning this piece into a jazzy number. When I listen to the original (which I did to remind myself of it) I almost cannot envision it as anything else. Yet these guys DID. And what is more, they both did kind of a dixieland thang. If anything, I could kind of see a cool jazz combo take, changing the key and the meter a bit. Anyway, I will vote for Wilbur of Paris (formerly of Woonsocket, Rhode Island.)
Sixgun
6-Gun, I guess jazz is supposed to push the boundaries and all so all music is fair game I think.
DeleteAnother vote for de Paris.
Lee
Well, I live the classical version best but they gave a valid try. If I choose anyone, it would be the 2nd version. I found the ukulele in the 1st song, distracting.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, yeah, I prefer the classical version too, but these both work for me too. I think the "ukulele" is actually a banjo, but I get what you're saying.
DeleteA vote for Bilk
Lee
Hokey-Smoke! Terrific match-up, R. Lee Boid!
ReplyDeleteThe version of 'In A Persian Market' that I am most familiar with is the one by Ralph Marterie. (I own that on a compact disc, which was a gift from my dear Ma.)
Man, I liked BOTH of these renditions so much that I had to listen to them THREE times each, and it's still a tough call for me. This reminds me of the Christmas movies 'It's A Wonderful Life' and 'Scrooge' starring Albert Finney. Which one do I love the most? It depends upon which version I'm watching at the moment.
Alright, I'll go with the Wilbur de Paris rendition by the width of a single thread in a rug for sale in a Persian market. (Damn! Damn! This was my toughest BOTB "bote" in a long time.)
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC, I've had this Battle on my roster probably since toward the start of this BOTB thing. I've included the song in a couple of "Soundtrack of my Life" posts.
DeleteGlad this one challenged you.
A vote for de Paris.
Lee
Interesting battle, Lee:-) Both renditions are festive. I like Wilbur de Paris best.
ReplyDeleteDiedre, festive like Mardi Gras I think!
DeleteA vote for de Paris.
Lee
I liked Wilbur de Paris a skosh (is that how it's spelled?) more than Acker Bilk's rendition, so I vote for him...
ReplyDeleteJohn, osh kosh by gosh!
Deletede Paris.
Lee
VOTE = ACKER BILK
ReplyDeleteI like the arrangement and tempo of Acker's version much more. ~Ed.
Ed, Acker needed that vote.
DeleteA vote for Bilk
Lee
Yay! I actually own several Acker Bilk LPs and had never heard of Wilbur de Paris... but I believe I voted objectively!
DeleteI can recall seeing Acker Bilk albums advertised on the inner sleeves of some of my old LP's. I was always tempted to get one of his albums but never did. Always liked "Stranger on the Shore".
DeleteLee
Wow! I listen to a lot of jazz and I've never heard either of these guys before so this was a real treat for me. Thank you! I'm voting for Wilbur De Paris' version but just by a hair. I liked the slower beat as it gave the song more of a groove for me that you could just close your eyes and sway with it. And I really liked that trumpet solo. I'm a fool for trumpet solos and it was nice hearing a technical solo rather than one that just went up into the stratosphere. Thanks again for this!
ReplyDeleteMichael, Dixieland is a jazz niche that I'd rarely listen to volitionally. But I do like it.
DeleteAnother vote for de Paris.
Lee
From my cousin Tom on Facebook comes a vote for...
ReplyDeleteBilk.
Lee
The results are in:
ReplyDeletehttps://tossingitout.blogspot.com/2024/11/market-results-botb-results.html
Lee