Billy Boy and John Brown's Body

Such a nice little folk song. I believe it began as a nursery rhyme. However, I feel compelled to write about it because a jazz cover by Miles Davis is on his seminal album, Milestones. Although Miles doesn't actually perform on the track (it's a trio recording that was added to the album), it's great to hear jazz musicians playing folk music. When I first heard "Billy Boy" on Milestones, I foolishly believed it was a traditional Christmas song because the piano playing does sound a bit reminiscent of Christmas music. Anywho, here is Pete Seeger and the Almanac's version of "Billy Boy."

The jazzed up version 

Ahmad Jamal also recorded "Billy Boy" a few years before Miles Davis's sidemen. His arrangement seems to have influenced the Davis recording even though the Latin percussion is not used in the latter. Still, it's always fun to hear jazz musicians play folk music!

John Brown's Body is another folk song that uses the same melody as "The Battle Hymn of the Old Republic." Obviously it's a tribute to John Brown, the great American abolitionist who lost his life after attempting to take Harper's Ferry. In my opinion, Brown remains one of the greatest American's of all time for his valiant efforts to immediately end the enslavement of millions of African-Americans. Interestingly, soul-jazz organist, Jimmy Smith, performs the song on his record Bucket. 

Here is a folksy version by Pete Seeger

Now Jimmy Smith's jazzy cover