『コートにすみれを』という邦題のこの曲はコルトレーンの演奏でも世に知られていますが、ズート・シムズの語り口もなかなか味があっていいです。生涯独身だった敗戦後のドイツからやってきた美人女性ピアニスト、ユタ・ヒップとの共演という異色の名盤です。ころがすような珠玉のタッチ。一体誰がこのふたりの組み合わせを企画したのでしょうか。
このコートというのは毛皮のコートなわけですが、どうして春の花のすみれが冬にという疑問は歌詞をみれば解けます。
It was winter in Manhattan, falling snow flakes filled the air,
The streets were covered with a film of ice,
But a little simple magic that I heard about somewhere,
Changed the weather all around, just within a thrice.
I bought you violets for your furs and it was spring for a while,remember?
I bought you violets for your furs and there was April in that December.
The snow drifted down on the flowers, and melted where it lay.
The snow looked like dew on the blossoms as on a summer day.
I bought you violets for your furs and there was blue in the wintry sky,
Then you pinned my violets to your furs and gave a lift to the crowds passing by.
You smiled at me so sweetly, since then one thought occurs,
That we fell in love completely, the day I bought you violets for your furs.
なおジャケットデザインはブルーノートの全盛期を支え数々のアルバムを手掛けた Reid Miles のものです。
