KBEM Jazz88 Radio Interview | Phil Nusbaum and George Maverick
How did we end up playing at The Chart House?
George Maverick, owner of The Chart House and I were interviewed by Phil Nusbaum of KBEM Jazz88. We talked about how Court's in Session first came about playing at The Chart House, our favorite tunes and more!
If you missed our featured interview segment that aired on July 9 and 10, 2023, listen here!
Interview Transcript
Phil Nusbaum
The song that's underneath us right now, Courtney, is called "Shiny Stockings." It was written as an instrumental, and then someone put words to it. Is this melody a little different for a singer because it wasn't written for voice?
Courtney Burton
I think so. I was surprised to finally find lyrics for it. It took me quite a while. So, I dug around because, you know, these kinds of things tend to be great rabbit holes to go into, to find out that Ella Fitzgerald actually did the lyrics for it. So, I think it has a different sensibility than most songs written in the typical format for a jazz tune, and you know, you've got Ella's sass in the lyrics. So, it's a great combination.
Phil Nusbaum
You're a fan of Ella Fitzgerald. What was it like for you when you discovered that the song you wanted to do had been recorded previously by Ella?
Courtney Burton
It was very exciting because it was like, oh, a new discovery, and she didn't write many lyrics. So, to have her take on the lyrics was, really, like wow. I get an insight into her and what she was thinking when she heard this song because the lyrics aren't exactly what one would think an Ella Fitzgerald song would be about.
Phil Nusbaum
How's that?
Courtney Burton
I think it's tongue in cheek. My interpretation of the song is tongue in cheek. She talks about how you liked my shiny stockings, and then someone came along with great big shiny stockings too. And you changed your mind. So, you really wonder if she's talking about, you know, being a jilted lover, or if something happened in a relationship, and this was her way of working through her emotions.
Phil Nusbaum
George Maverick is here of the Chart House in Lakeville. And you host Courtney Burton, Court's in Session, on Monday evenings. Actually, you're running a lot of music at the Chart House now. How did it come to be that the Chart House is growing as a music venue?
George Maverick
Chart house had live music Thursdays and Sundays when I bought the place a year ago in May of 2021. We were talking to the customers to see what else they wanted from us, and they said, "we want more music." So, we added Fridays and Saturdays. Thursday through Sunday is mostly cover bands of well-known music. So then, we're talking about what else could we bring that would be different, interesting, and exciting for the community. And through a friend of a friend, Courtney was recommended. Actually, my old boss at US Bank, a very good friend and part of the band, said you gotta meet Courtney. And then I met Courtney, and I fell in love and thought we could not let her go.
Phil Nusbaum
What's your favorite Courtney Burton Court's In Session song?
George Maverick
Oh, definitely "Route 66." We just stop; we stopped everything. Our jaws drop on the floor, and we listen until she's done and then hope she does it again.
Phil Nusbaum
We're speaking with Courtney Burton, who heads Court's In Session, and the performance will be every Monday in Lakeville at the Charthouse. Every band and every audience have its favorite numbers, Courtney. So, what's it with Court's In Session?
Courtney Burton
Our favorite number to do is our version of Summertime, which is one of the most recorded songs in history. Everybody's done in every genre possible, just about and then some. We don't do it like anybody else. So, we start out in a 1930 style kind of slower, funky, blues kind of feel, and then we speed up the tempo. People are surprised and delighted by that because they've never heard the song that way. And then, when we end it, we end in a very classical way. The way the song resolves is almost like it was originally performed for a big band.
Phil Nusbaum
Courtney Burton and Court's In Session performs this Monday, July 11th, and every Monday at the Charthouse in Lakeville, from 630 till 8:30 pm. For information, Courtney's web address is Courtney Burton Music.com. The website of the Charthouse is Brianno's Chart House.com. This program is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Phil Nusbaum speaking