Spider Saloff to Perform American Vocal Debut of 1935 Billy Strayhorn Ballad

Chicago jazz vocalist Spider Saloff will perform the American Premiere of a Billy Strayhorn song given to Saloff by the Strayhorn Estate. The ballad, written in 1935, is entitled “So This Is Love” and will be sung for the first time in America on Monday, September 22 at a special Strayhorn concert.

The event, highlighting the controversial life and incomparable music of the of the jazz composer and Duke Ellington collaborator is called “Inside the A Train: The Songs of Billy Strayhorn” and will be presented by the cast of the syndicated radio series “Words & Music”: Spider Saloff, Bill Sheldon, and Jeremy Kahn.

The concert on the September 22, the second of a 4-part composer-themed music series presented by the popular radio trio, will be presented at 7:00 PM in the Storefront Theater at Gallery 37, Center for the Arts, 66 East Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601. Tickets are available by calling 312-472-TIXS (8497) and additional information can be found at the Gallery 37 Web site.

"So This Is Love" is a gem [Strayhorn] wrote in 1935 before his sojourn with the Ellington Orchestra. It shows that he really was a genius. It is definitely one of my favorite pieces and it has never been performed in its original setting as indicated on the sheet music. Spider’s rendition, whatever the venue, will be so lovely, so touching and so powerful. I'm anxious to experience it. Those who hear Saloff do it will undoubtedly be indelibly marked in a good way.”

Alyce Claerbaut (Billy Strayhorn’s niece)