Double Bass Is You Is?-- Tom & Jerry!

[Jason Hollar]

OK, admit it, you love that Tom & Jerry cartoon where Tom hauls the "dog house" bass over the fence and plays & sings Is You Is...to his girl...all the while busting up Jerry's pad! I remember this from when I was a kid and I'm still impressed and delighted by it today.

Does anybody know who originally did the soundtrack vocal and bass for this? Kinda sounds like a Louis Prima thing...

I recently picked up a Tom & Jerry DVD at Target for $5 entitled "Greatest Chases" and it's the second track. The original title of the cartoon was "Solid Serenade".

Not only does it feature that funky cool walking line, there's a hip slap bass ditty at the end...when the bull dog gets his way.

Although I play this tune a good bit with one of my singers, I can't wait to find some time this summer to copy the audio over to my computer and transcribe the line...then transpose it to our key so I can cop the walking solo!

Anybody love this as much as I do?

 

[Mike Goodbar]

I found it on Youtube. Sounds more like Louis Jordan than Prima to me.

Very cool! Bass line way out front.

I remember a similar T&J that feature Tom in a Zoot Suit.

 

[Jason Hollar]

That one is called Zoot Cat.

It's cool too, but not as hip as Solid! It also happens to be on the DVD.

 

[Jason Hollar]

I also remembered the one where Jerry was in a late-night combo...that kept Tom up all night! It was one of the later-era cartoons, most likely from the 60's...judging by all the "art deco" backgrounds & such.

I'd love to know more about the musicians that played those sessions.

 

[ibanezcollector]

Louis Jordan - I have the cd right next to me..

 

[ibanezcollector]

Zoot Cat

 

[Jason Hollar]

That was brilliant!

I also rememeber another old one when Tom Cats's owner lady goes out to play cards, he invites all the "cats" in for a swinging jazz jam session. Any luck identifying this one?

 

[SundanceChile]

Although I play this tune a good bit with one of my singers, I can't wait to find some time this summer to copy the audio over to my computer and transcribe the line...then transpose it to our key so I can cop the walking solo!

If you get the chance, could you transcribe the whole piece? I've been dieing to find sheet for this specific arrangement.

 

[Andy Allen]

That one is called Zoot Cat.

Zoot Cat uses "Jersey Bounce" when Tom first presents himself in the suit. It's a great tune - I get to play it pretty regularly around here.

Andy