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Hi-Fly (Randy Weston song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Hi-Fly'" (also sometimes spelled "'Hi Fly'" or "'High Fly'") is one of the best known compositions by pianist Randy Weston, written in the 1950s and inspired by his experience of being 6 feet 8 inches tall,[http://www.randyweston.info/randy-weston-biography.html Biography], Randy Weston official website. "and how the ground looks different to you than everybody else".[http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2012/2/24/jazz_legend_randy_weston_the_complete_democracy_now_interview "Jazz Legend Randy Weston: The Complete Democracy Now! Interview"], 'Democracy Now!', February 24, 2012. Since first being recorded on 1958's 'New Faces at Newport',[http://www.randyweston.info/randy-weston-discography-pages/1958newport.html "New Faces at Newport"], Randy Weston Discography. "Hi-Fly" appears on several other albums by Weston, including 'Live at the Five Spot' (1959),[http://www.randyweston.info/randy-weston-discography-pages/1959fivespot.html "Live at the Five Spot"], Randy Weston Discography. 'Niles Littlebig' (1969),[http://www.randyweston.info/randy-weston-discography-pages/1969nileslittlebig.html "Niles Littlebig"], Randy Weston Discography. 'Tanjah' (1973),[http://www.randyweston.info/randy-weston-discography-pages/1973tanjah.html "Tanjah"], Randy Weston Discography. 'Perspective' (with Vishnu Wood, 1976),[http://www.randyweston.info/randy-weston-discography-pages/1976perspective.html "Perspective"], Randy Weston Discography. 'Rhythms and Sounds' (1978),[http://www.randyweston.info/randy-weston-discography-pages/1978rhythmssounds.html "Rhythms and Sounds"], Randy Weston Discography. 'Earth Birth' (1995),[http://www.randyweston.info/randy-weston-discography-pages/1995earthbirth.html "Earth Birth"], Randy Weston Discography. 'Zep Tepi' (2005),[http://www.randyweston.info/randy-weston-discography-pages/2006zeptepi.html "Zep Tepi"], Randy Weston Discography. and 'The Storyteller' (2009).[http://www.randyweston.info/randy-weston-discography-pages/2010storyteller.html "The Storyteller"], Randy Weston Discography.
Jon Hendricks wrote lyrics to the song,[http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/h/hifly.shtml "Hi-Fly"], International Lyrics Playground. recorded first in 1959 on the album 'The Hottest New Group in Jazz' and also appearing on 1961's 'High Flying With Lambert, Hendricks & Ross'. Among others who have recorded vocal covers are Abbey Lincoln (on 'The World Is Falling Down', 1991), Mel Torm (on 1962's 'Comin' Home Baby!' and other albums),[http://www.allmusic.com/song/hi-fly-mt0028783344 "Mel Torm Hi-Fly"] at AllMusic. Karin Krog on ('Hi-Fly' with Archie Shepp) and Sarah Vaughan ('In the City of Lights', 1999).
Selected covers
Now a jazz standard, "Hi-Fly" has been recorded in many versions by other leading musicians,[http://www.secondhandsongs.com/work/140284/versions#nav-entity "Hi-Fly"] at SecondHandSongs. including:
*Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis: 'Smokin', 1958
*Lambert, Hendricks & Ross: 'The Hottest New Group in Jazz', 1959
*Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers: 'At the Jazz Corner of the World', 1959
*Cannonball Adderley Quintet: 'The Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San Francisco', featuring Nat Adderley, 1959
*Slide Hampton Octet: 'Sister Salvation', 1960
*Lambert, Hendricks & Ross: 'High Flying With L, H & R', 1961
*The Jazztet (Art Farmer and Benny Golson): 'Big City Sounds', 1961
*Johnny Coles: 'The Warm Sound', 1961
*Jaki Byard: 'Hi-Fly', 1962
*Lionel Hampton: 'Many Splendored Vibes', 1962
*Al Grey: 'Snap Your Fingers', featuring Billy Mitchell, 1962
*Cannonball Adderley: 'Phenix', 1975
*Horace Parlan: 'No Blues', 1975
*Archie Shepp with Karin Krog: 'Hi-Fly', 1976
*Eric Dolphy: 'Berlin Concerts', 1977[http://www.secondhandsongs.com/performance/334475/versions "Hi-Fly by Eric Dolphy".]
*Horace Parlan: 'Hi-Fly', 1978
*Dexter Gordon: 'Gotham City', 1981
*Shelly Manne: 'Goodbye for Bill Evans', 1981
*Ted Dunbar: 'Jazz Guitarist', 1982
*George Shearing with Mel Torm: 'Top Drawer', 1983
*Peter King: 'Hi-Fly', 1984
*Monty Alexander: 'Full Steam Ahead', 1985
*Rio Nido: 'Hi Fly', 1985
*Max Roach Double Quartet: 'Bright Moments', 1985
*Donald Byrd: 'Harlem Blues', 1988
*Art Taylor: 'Mr. A.T.', 1992
*Jimmy Smith: 'Damn!', 1995
*Ron Carter: 'So What', 1998
*Ray Bryant: 'Ray's Tribute to His Jazz Piano Friends', 1998
*Sarah Vaughan: 'In the City of Lights', 1999
*Ahmad Jamal: 'A Quiet Time', 2009[http://www.secondhandsongs.com/performance/335337/versions "Hi-Fly by Ahmad Jamal".]
*Tom Brantley: 'Boneyard', 2009
References
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