José Melis “José Melis Plays His TV Favorites”

I feel like I had a José Melis record in the past—I recognize him, big glasses, big teeth—he’s got a great look—but I don’t seem to have the record anymore, I just have this one. It’s got a good cover, a seemingly knocked-off, rough sketch of Melis at the piano—but it gets his likeness so well, it couldn’t be anyone else—it’s not a rough sketch, it’s an accomplished one—or maybe it’s a treated photograph—I can’t tell. There’s a feeling of motion, like he just opened the piano key lid, turned to face the camera (or sketch artist) with his huge smile. If you don’t let your brain finish the picture, his hand looks like a claw, his hair and sweater mere squiggly lines, his large, white teeth like unfinished canvas. The brain is amazing for its ability to fill in shit! The liner notes (by Lou Sidran), however, fill in plenty—his background in Cuba, his extensive training, Havana, Paris, Boston, his gig as musical director of The Tonight Show. I don’t remember ever seeing the Jack Paar era Tonight Show—too young—and when this record came out, in 1961, I guess I would still have been spending time in the crib? I don’t remember the crib—which is probably good—so I’ll deny it. I also don’t remember any of the TV appearances of any of these songs, in particular, though I do know some of the songs—there are some standards, and a couple of Melis originals. The performances of them on this record, José Melis on piano and bandleader, I guess, are uniformly breezy, jaunty, very show-biz and a bit corny—it all makes me happy. I probably heard this record in my crib—did maybe my parents have it? Was it on TV, and was the TV accompanying my confinement? It feels like it’s there somewhere way back in my brain—like it all sounds natural. Another funny thing is, this Mercury hi-fidelity (this record does sound great) recording’s additional liner note called: “HI-FInformation” (courtesy Hal Mooney) —some recording info, studio (Bell Sound, NYC), “Ampex tape recorder at 15 inches per second”— and also what mics were on what instruments (I won’t list them all, but like: “Reeds, Piano and Percussion—Telefunken U47”)—and etc.—probably great info if you’re a microphone nerd. And you are.

9.20.24