Soft And Warm - Josef Myrow

Exotica

Soft And Warm
Piano Solos Composed and Played by Josef Myrow
Decca Records DL 5404
1952

From the back cover: The title of this collection is self-explanatory. The mood is mellow; the tone is suave and velvety; the music communicates that "soft and warm" feeling which lulls the mind and eases the heart. Composed and played by Josef Myrow, such numbers as "Moon Of Jade," Autumn Nocturne," "Aphrodisa," and the other selections, as well as the title-number, cast their spell over every listener.

Josef Myrow was born in Russia, February 28, 1910, but came to America as a child, Educated in Philadelphia, he studied in the local schools and at 13 was a student at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music where he was instructed by Hendrick D. Ezerman, a pupil of Franz Liszt. Two years later young Myrow entered the Curtis Institute of Music as a charter student. He was recognized as a child prodigy and, in his teens, gave concert recitals throughout the East and Middle West.

His first contact with popular music occurred when he was conducting a musical comedy stock company at His Majesty's Theatre in Montreal, Canada. Shortly thereafter he became musical director of two radio stations in Philadelphia, at about which time he wrote his first song hit.

Myrow's first venture into the motion picture field was in 1945 when he collaborated with Mack Gordon on the score for the 20th Century Fox production, "Three Little Girls In Blue"; success of this film won him a long term contract and he was identified with many hit scores, including "Mother Wore Tight," "Wabash Avenue," "When My Baby Smiles At Me," "The Girl Next Door," and others. In his youth, Myrow spent many of his summers in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Consequently he was elated when, in 1947, he received as award in the form of a plaque, and was informed that his "On The Boardwalk" was accepted as Atlantic City's official song.

It is interesting to note that three of the compositions included in this collection ("Autumn Nocturne," "Aphrodisia," and "Exotica") were direct results of improvisations which he played during relaxed hours at home. His wife was fond of listening to his improvisations and had made it a point to record several of them without his knowledge. After Myrow listened to the playback, he elaborated the melodies, made certain revisions, and shaped them into the finished compositions which have been esteemed by thousands of listeners.

From Billboard - July 26, 1952: Josef Myrow, who has written many well-known pop songs as well as the scores for such movies as "Mother Wore Tights" and "Three Little Girls In Blue," plays some of his own compositions in this new set. The tunes are all in the same mood, soft and mellow, they are each distinctive compositions. Of the eight tunes in the set, "Velvet Moon" and "Autumn Nocturne" are familiar viva performances by bands, pianists, etc., on records and on the radio. Some of the other mood pieces, such as "Moon Of Jade" and "Aphrodisia," have a lovely, haunting quality. The composer plays the selections with skill and feeling with instrumental accompaniment, the recording is fine. Set should appeal to those who enjoy mood music, and want to relax and forget the cares of the day.

Soft And Warm
L'Affaire
Autumn Nocturne
Aphrodisia
Vevet Moon
Exotica
Moon Of Jade
Three-Quarter Blues