His And Hers - Paul Smith and Annette Warren

 

Blues For Theda

His And Hers

Grand Grand Piano Duets

The Twin Pianos of Paul Smith and Annette Warren

Produced by Bill Miller

Capitol Records T1356

1960

From the back cover: One of the most sought-after musicians (one leader will not record unless Paul is sitting at the piano), Paul Smith was born in San Diego and began his professional career in 1941 with the Johnny Richards band. While in the Army, he played with the Ziggy Elman service aggregation. After serving his hitch, he was a member of the famous Les Paul Trio during 1946-47, then worked with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra as pianist-arranger through 1947-48.

In 1949, he moved to Hollywood, where he has recorded with the Paul Weston and Billy May Orchestras – to name just two of many – and also with many of the top vocalists. He is a staff musician at NBC and is a veteran of eight years with the Dinah Shore Show.

One of the biggest men in music from any point of view (he is 6 feet 5 inches tall), Paul is described by his wife as "the most gentle person I have ever known." The couple reside with their two youngsters, Laura and Gary, in the San Fernando Valley.

When Annette Warren married pianist Paul Smith, she was playing the role of "Mrs. Peachum" in Kurt Weill's "The Threepenny Opera." For, although she had begun her musical life with the piano, she had forsaken the instrument for a singing career.

Paul's wedding gift to his bride was a grand piano. And, since the pair enjoy spending much of their time at home, it was only natural that they should spend a lot of it at their pianos – both Steinway grands. What had started as pleasant pastime developed into these wonderful duets.

The arrangements are all Paul's and they bear out his reputation as a top interpreter of popular songs. Three of the tunes were composed by him, too. He wrote the bubbling Jewelry Box as a dance exercise for his son, Gary, who named it after its sparkling melody. The Blues For Theda was inspired by the comic nickname Annette used in letters to Paul before they were married. And a family parakeet, Charlie, is the model for the descriptive Charlie's Song.

The versatile talents of both Smiths are well illustrated in all the performances. There is imaginative skill combined with humor, for example, in Lover, where Paul and Annette sweep through diverse musical patterns. Playing first in classic waltz time, then in a style like that of Les Paul and Mary Ford, they move through a Scottish rhythm, a cha cha tempo, a bright "Merrily We Roll Along" chorus, coming full circle to end in waltz time. Their playing captures moody beauty in such standards as My Funny Valentine, and the sensitive I Want To Stay Here from "Porgy and Bess." Their techniques display fiery precision in the Latin tunes, Carioca and Cumana. In fact, there are outstanding things to be heard in each tune, for both he and she employ a fine variety of styles, and play them all superbly.

Vivacious Annette Warren was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She was taught the piano as a child by her mother – and taught well, for she was a professional pianist by the time she reached the age of 16. She played several successful engagements in New York, then was awarded a scholarship at Juilliard, but turned it down when musical coach Phil Moore advised her to turn to a singing career.

Her songs have been heard in many of the smartest clubs in the world, including the Blue Angel and St. Regis Maisonette in New York, the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles, and the Colony Club in London. In addition, she was the singing voice for Ava Gardner in the motion picture "Showboat," and has dubbed voices in UPA cartoons.

Annette is passing her musical knowledge on to her daughters, Laura, through piano lessons, and continues her own classical studies with famed teacher, Florence Russell.

Pick Yourself Up

Wait Till You See Her

Carioca

My Funny Valentine

Lover

Blues For Theda

I've Got You Under My Skin

Jewelry Box

All The Things You Are

Cumana

I Want To Stay Here

Charlie's Song