Episode 18-November 22, 1948

November 22, 1948 brings another session with Bob, Tommy Todd on piano, Jud De Naut on bass, and Ralph Collier on drums. After the “Sweet Georgia Brown” intro, the quartet revisits “Cuanto Le Gusta” (heard in Episode 15), this time at a slightly brighter tempo. Margo Powers takes a pass at “Ah But It Happens” (perhaps her entrance is why Bob noted on the sleeve “No”), with Tommy alternating on celeste and piano to great effect. Just as we heard last week, Bob and one of the guys sing with Margo; this time “Sometimes I’m Happy”. Margo cashes in with “The Money Song” (written that year by Harold Rome for the show “That’s The Ticket”, and recorded by Mel Tormé, The Andrews Sisters and Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis). The quartet’s finale is another encore: “Blue Room”. Again, a slightly brighter tempo, and we can compare and contrast Tommy Todd’s approach to Ray Sherman’s (heard in Episode 13), as well as consider Ralph Collier vs. Nick Fatool. Bob and Tommy are clearly having fun on the outtro “Lady Be Good”.