East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)

"East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)" is a popular song written by Brooks Bowman, an undergraduate member of Princeton University's Class of 1936, for the 1934 production of the Princeton Triangle Club's production of Stags at Bay.^[1] It was published in 1934 by Santly Bros. and soon became a hallmark of the Princeton Tigertones,^[2] one of Princeton University's all-male a cappella groups. The standard is also sung by the Princeton Nassoons, Princeton University's oldest a cappella group.

Recorded versions[]

• "East of the Sun" was first recorded by Hal Kemp for Brunswick Records on Dec. 1, 1934, and has remained a jazz standard since the 1950s.
• Another of the first recordings was by Arthur Tracy on September 22, 1935 according to CD jacket of ASV Living Era Hits of '35, CD AJA 5185.
• Tommy Dorsey recorded it in 1940 with vocals by Frank Sinatra, a trumpet solo by Bunny Berigan, and backup slang lyrics.
• Sarah Vaughan recorded it in a 1949 Columbia session for the album Sarah Vaughan in Hi-Fi.,^[3] and also her 1953 EP "Hot Jazz (album)"
• Charlie Parker recorded it on six separate dates, the earliest being a live recording at the Royal Roost in New York City on New Year's Day, 1949, and the last a live recording from Birdland in New York City on August 27, 1954. It is featured on numerous albums, including two renditions on The Complete Legendary Rockland Palace Date 1952.^[4]
• Benny Goodman recorded a memorable version with his sextet, also in 1952; this performance is included on Benny Goodman Sextet.^[5]
• Stan Getz recorded it in 1955, and it was featured as the first track on his seminal double album West Coast Jazz.^[6]
• One of the most popular recordings was by Louis Armstrong, featured in his 1958 album Louis Under the Stars.
• The Four Freshmen recorded it on their album Four Freshmen and Five Saxes (1957).^[7]
• Keely Smith recorded it in 1958 for her Capitol album, Politely^[8] with Billy May & His Orchestra.
• Lee Wiley recorded it for West of the Moon (1958).
• Ella Fitzgerald included this on her 1959 Verve release Ella Fitzgerald Sings Sweet Songs for Swingers with the Frank De Vol Orchestra and Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet.
• Frank Sinatra recorded it on I Remember Tommy (1961).
• Al Hirt released a version on his 1962 album, Trumpet and Strings.^[9]
• Cal Tjader recorded the song on his 1964 album, Breeze from the East.^[10]
• Ellis Marsalis recorded the song in the Wynton Marsalis album of 1991, Standard Time Vol. 2.
• Tony Bennett recorded the song on his 1992 tribute to Sinatra Perfectly Frank.
• Betty Carter recorded the song on her 1996 album I'm Yours, You're Mine.
• Diana Krall recorded the song on her album When I Look in Your Eyes (1999).

Other versions recorded include:

• Billie Holiday,^[11]
• Tommy Dorsey,^[12]
• Dakota Staton,^[13] Lester Young,^[14]
• Scott Hamilton (1993),^[15]
• Sonny and Perley (1999),^[16]
• Alexis Cole (2005),^[17]
• Rebecca Parris (2007),^[18] and Joshua Redman (2007).^[19]

References[]