Where Swing is King!
“My Reverie” Composed by Claude Debussy; lyric by Larry Clinton. Recorded by Larry Clinton and His Orchestra for Victor on July 16, 1938 in New York. Larry Clinton, directing: Walter Smith, Ricky Traettino and [..]
“Over the Rainbow” Composed by Harold Arlen, music; and E.Y. Harburg, lyric. Recorded by Ella Fitzgerald on January 15, 1961 for Verve in Hollywood. Billy May, arranger, directing: Don Fagerquist, trumpet; Milt Bernhart, trombone; Benny [..]
“Solitude” Composed and arranged by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor on January 10, 1934 in Chicago. Duke Ellington, piano, directing: Arthur Whetsel, Freddie Jenkins, Louis Bacon and Cootie Williams, [..]
”Tenderly” Composed by Walter Gross; arranged by Johnny Keating. Recorded by Ted Heath and His Music in London for Decca in October, 1957. Ted Heath, directing: Bobby Pratt, first trumpet; Herbert “Bert” Ezard, Duncan Campbell [..]
“Temptation” Composed by Nacio Herb Brown; arranged by Lennie Hayton. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Victor on September 7, 1940 in Hollywood. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Charles William “Billy” Butterfield, first trumpet; [..]
“Smack-a-Mac” Composed and arranged by Tom McIntosh. Recorded by James Moody and the Brass Figures for Milestone during October-November 1966 in New York. Tom McIntosh, arranger/conductor, directing: James Moody, tenor saxophone; Eugene “Snooky” Young, first [..]
“Tango Blues” Composed by Harry James; arranged by Ray Conniff. Recorded by Harry James and His Orchestra for Columbia on April 11, 1951 in Hollywood, California. Harry James, trumpet, directing: Everett McDonald, first trumpet; Dominic [..]
“Walkin’ and Swingin’” Composed and arranged by Mary Lou Williams. Recorded by Andy Kirk and His Twelve Clouds of Joy for Decca on March 2, 1936 in New York. Andy Kirk, directing: Harry “Big Jim” [..]
“S’Posin’” Composed by Paul Denniker; head arrangement by Artie Shaw Gramercy Five. Privately recorded by Artie Shaw Gramercy Five in June of 1954 in Hollywood. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Hank Jones, piano; Joe Puma, guitar; [..]
“To a Wild Rose” Composed by Edward MacDowell; arranged by Paul Villepigue. Recorded by Johnny Bothwell and His Orchestra for Signature in May of 1946 in New York. Johnny Bothwell, alto saxophone, directing: Paul Leichter, [..]
“Why Don’t You Do Right?” Music and lyric by Joe McCoy; arranged by Mel Powell. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Columbia on July 27, 1942 in New York. Benny Goodman, clarinet, directing: [..]
“The Duke’s Idea” Composed by Charlie Barnet; head arrangement by Barnet and his band. Recorded by Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra for Bluebird on September 10, 1939 in Hollywood. Charlie Barnet, alto saxophone, directing: John [..]
“Belgrade Hangover” Composed and arranged by Frank Mantooth. Recorded by the Ashley Alexander Big Band for Pausa Records in Hollywood, California in 1985. Ashley Alexander, euphonium, directing: Jim Linahon, John Harbaugh, Tom Gause, John Thomas [..]
“What Am I Here For?” Composed and arranged by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor on February 26,1942 in New York. Duke Ellington, piano, directing: Wallace Jones, first trumpet; Ray [..]
“You’re a Sweetheart” Composed by Jimmy McHugh (music) and Harold Adamson (lyric); Head arrangement by Tommy Dorsey. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Clambake Seven for Victor on October 14, 1937 in New York. Tommy [..]
“Christmas Time is Here” Composed by Vince Guaraldi. Recorded in 1965 by the Vince Guaraldi Trio for Fantasy Records in San Francisco, California. Vince Guaraldi, piano; Fred Marshall, bass; Jerry Granelli, drums. The story: Elsewhere [..]
“Moonlight Sonata” Composed by Ludwig von Beethoven; arranged by Bill Finegan. Recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra for RCA Bluebird on November 24,1941 in New York. Glenn Miller, first trombone; directing: R.D. McMickle, first [..]
“Taxi War Dance” Composed by Count Basie and Lester Young; head arrangement organized by Count Basie. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Columbia-Vocalion on March 19, 1939 in New York. William J. “Count” [..]
“I’ll Be Around” Composed by Alec Wilder; arranged by Dick Hyman. Recorded by Tony Bennett for Columbia on November 6, 1963 in New York. An orchestra consisting of a string quartet and perhaps three trumpets [..]
“Theme from Exodus” Composed by Ernest Gold; arranged by Sid Feller. Recorded by Bernie Lowe and His Orchestra for Cameo in early 1962 in Bayside, Queens, New York. Personnel unknown. However, I will go out [..]
“Autumn in Washington Square” Composed by Dave Brubeck. Recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet for Columbia on July 15, 1964 in New York. Dave Brubeck, piano; Paul Desmond, alto saxophone; Eugene Wright, bass; Joe Morello, [..]
“Blue Prelude” Composed and arranged by Joe Bishop. Recorded by Isham Jones and His Orchestra for Victor on April 6,1933 in New York. Isham Jones, directing: Johnny Carlson, first trumpet; George Thow and Joe Hostetler, [..]
“Blood Count” Composed and arranged by Billy Strayhorn. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for RCA Victor on August 28, 1967 in New York. Duke Ellington, piano, directing: Herbie Jones, William “Cat” Anderson, Mercer [..]
“La Fiesta” Composed by Armando “Chick” Corea; arranged by Tony Klatka. Recorded by Woody Herman and His Thundering Herd for Prestige on April 9, 1973 in New York. Woody Herman, soprano saxophone, directing: Larry Pyatt, [..]
“September Song” Composed by Kurt Weill (music). Arranged by Ray Conniff. Recorded by Artie Shaw and his Orchestra for Victor on April 5, 1945 in Hollywood. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Paul Cohen, first trumpet, Bernie [..]
It is with great sadness that I report the death yesterday of Phil Schaap. (1) Among people who are serious about the history of jazz, Phil was a giant. His knowledge was seemingly endless. Minutiae [..]
“Jivin’ with Jarvis” Composed by Lionel Hampton; informal “head” arrangement. Recorded by Lionel Hampton for Victor on July 17, 1940 in Hollywood. Lionel Hampton, vibraphone, directing: Nat “King” Cole, piano; Oscar Moore, electric guitar; Wesley [..]
“Dragonwyck” Composed and arranged by Gene Roland. Recorded by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra for Capitol on December 13, 1961 in Hollywood. Stan Kenton, piano, directing: Dalton Smith, first trumpet; Bob Behrendt, Bob Rolfe, Norman [..]
