East of the Sun (and West of the Moon) explained

"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] Princeton University's signature all-male a cappella group. The Princeton Triangle Club performs the number every year at its annual Frosh Week show. The standard is also sung by the Princeton Nassoons.

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.
• The version recorded by Tom Coakley and His Orchestra (vocal refrain by Carl Ravazza) topped the Your Hit Parade chart for two weeks in September 1935.
• Arthur Tracy recorded it 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]
• Bud Powell recorded it in 1955 for his album Piano Interpretations by Bud Powell.
• Stan Getz recorded it in 1955, and it was featured as the first track on his seminal double album West Coast Jazz.^[6]
• Oscar Peterson released a version on his 1956 album, Pastel Moods.
• George Shearing recorded it live on his album George Shearing on Stage!
• Louis Armstrong recorded it on 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 recorded it 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 recorded it on his 1962 album, Trumpet and Strings.^[9]
• Cal Tjader recorded it on his 1964 album, Breeze from the East.^[10]
• Charles Lloyd recorded it in 1964 for his album Nirvana.
• Ellis Marsalis recorded it in the Wynton Marsalis album of 1991, Standard Time Vol. 2.
• Tony Bennett recorded it on his 1992 tribute to Sinatra Perfectly Frank.
• Betty Carter recorded it on her 1996 album I'm Yours, You're Mine.
• Diana Krall recorded it on her album When I Look in Your Eyes (1999).
• Peter Stampfel recorded it on his 5-disc 20th Century in 100 Songs (2021) representing the year 1934.

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]
• Joshua Redman (2007).^[19]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Princeton Triangle Club - History . 2016-03-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111002221003/http://www.princeton.edu/~triangle/content_page/history.html . 2011-10-02 .
2. Web site: Archived copy . 2013-03-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130312204627/http://www.tigertones.com/index.php?%2Frepertoire.html . 2013-03-12 .
3. Web site: Sarah Vaughan - Sarah Vaughan In Hi-Fi . Amazon.com . 1997 . 2016-07-26.
4. Web site: Charlie Parker - Complete Legendary Rockland Palace Dance Date 1952 - . Amazon.com . 2016-07-26.
5. Web site: Benny Goodman - Sextet . Amazon.com . 1987 . 2016-07-26.
6. Web site: Stan Getz, Conte Candoli - West Coast Jazz . Amazon.com . 2016-07-26.
7. Web site: Four Freshmen and Five Saxes/Four Freshmen and Five Guitars - The Four Freshmen . . 1999-12-28 . 2016-07-26.
8. Web site: Dave Nathan . Politely! - Keely Smith . . 2016-07-26.
9. Web site: Scott Yanow . Trumpet and Strings - Al Hirt . . 2016-07-26.
10. Web site: Stephen Cook . Breeze from the East - Cal Tjader . . 2016-07-26.
11. Web site: Billie Holiday - Verve Jazz Masters 47: Billie Holiday Sings Standards . Amazon.com . 2016-07-26.
12. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000024SGP Tommy Dorsey, A Portrait of Tommy Dorsey
13. Web site: Dakota Staton - Spotlight on Dakota Staton (Great Ladies of Song) . Amazon.com . 2016-07-26.
14. Web site: Lester Young - Movin' With Lester . Amazon.com . 2016-07-26.
15. Web site: Scott Hamilton - East Of The Sun . Amazon.com . 1993 . 2016-07-26.
16. Web site: sonny and perley - east of the sun . Amazon.com . 2016-07-26.
17. Web site: Alexis Cole | Nearer the Sun | CD Baby Music Store . Cdbaby.com . 2016-07-26.
18. Web site: Rebecca Parris - You Don't Know Me . Amazon.com . 2016-07-26.
19. Web site: JOSHUA TRIO REDMAN - Back East . Amazon.com . 2016-07-26.