Where Swing is King!
“Body and Soul” Composed by Johnny Green; “Head” arrangement. Recorded by Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra for RCA Bluebird on October 11, 1939. Coleman Hawkins, tenor saxophone, directing: Tommy Lindsey and Joe Guy, trumpets; Earl [..]
“Summer Sequence Part 4” Composed and Arranged by Ralph Burns. Recorded by Woody Herman and His Orchestra for Columbia on December 27, 1947 in Hollywood, California. Woody Herman, alto saxophone, directing: Bernie Glow,Stan Fishelson, Marky [..]
“Spinnin’ the Webb” Composed by Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald. Arranged by Wayman Carver. Recorded by Chick Webb and His Orchestra on May 3, 1938 for Decca in New York City. Chick Webb, drums, [..]
Recently, I was fortunate enough to listen to a concert of big band music here in my home town of Canton, Ohio with a gentleman whom I have known for many years. He is 91 [..]
“Dream of You” Composer, lyricist and arranger, Sy Oliver. Recorded by Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra for Decca on October 29, 1934. Jimmie Lunceford, directing: Eddie Tompkins, Sy Oliver and Tommy Stevenson, trumpets; Henry Wells [..]
More Music by Gershwin I continue my tribute to the music of George Gershwin by presenting a superb 1964 performance of his Piano Prelude 2 in a magnificent arrangement by John Woehrmann, for trombone virtuoso Buddy [..]
*************** I am taking this opportunity to celebrate the 150,000th visit to swingandbeyond.com. I am selecting one of my previous posts, which I have spruced-up a bit, to celebrate with. The music I included in [..]
“I Can’t Get Started” Music composed by Vernon Duke, lyric by Ira Gershwin. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra for Victor on August 7, 1937 in New York. Bunny Berigan, trumpet, directing: Steve Lipkins, [..]
With the approach the High Holidays of the Jewish faith each year, I think of the pioneering jazz tenor saxophonist Bud Freeman. Although Bud was Jewish, I think it accurate to describe him as a [..]
I have recently been re-reading the wonderful biography of pianist/arranger/composer Mary Lou Williams entitled “Morning Glory,” by Linda Dahl, (1999) University of California Press. I have long been beguiled by Ms. Williams’s compositions and arrangements, [..]
Composed by Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton, arranged by Fletcher Henderson. Recorded on July 1, 1935 by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Victor Records in New York. Benny Goodman, clarinet, directing: Roland B.”Bunny” Berigan, first [..]
“Begin the Beguine” Composed by Cole Porter; arranged by Jerry Gray Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for RCA Bluebird on July 24, 1938 in New York. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: John Best, [..]
“It Don’t Mean a Thing…If It Ain’t Got That Swing” Music, lyric and arrangement by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra on February 2, 1932 for Brunswick Records in New York. [..]
“Soft Winds” Composed by Benny Goodman? Fletcher Henderson? Charlie Christian?, arranged by Sammy Lowe. Recorded by Erskine Hawkins (The Twentieth Century Gabriel) and His Orchestra for RCA-Bluebird, November 6, 1940, New York City. Erskine [..]
Mosaic Classic 1936-1947 Count Basie and Lester Young Studio Sessions First Impressions: Yesterday I received the new Mosaic set of recordings featuring Count Basie and Lester Young. Whenever I receive any set of Mosaic recordings, [..]
“You Go to My Head” Composed by J. Fred Coots (music) and Haven Gillespie (lyric); arranged by Johnny Watson. Recorded by Jan Savitt and His Top Hatters for RCA Bluebird in New York on [..]
“Harlem Speaks” Composed by Duke Ellington; arranged by Andy Gibson. Recorded by Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra for RCA-Bluebird on August 14, 1941 in Hollywood, California. Charlie Barnet, alto saxophone, directing: Seymour “Sy” Baker, first [..]
“Boo-Wah Boo-Wah” Composed by Larry Clinton; arranged by Buster Harding Recorded by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra for OKeh Records on August 5, 1940 in New York City. Cab Calloway, vocal, directing: Mario Bauza, [..]
“Prelude in C Sharp Major” Composed and Arranged by Ray Conniff and Artie Shaw Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Victor Records December 4, 1940 in Hollywood. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Billy [..]
“Loose Lid Special” Composed and Arranged by Sy Oliver Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Victor Records July 15, 1941 in New York Personnel: Tommy Dorsey, lead and solo trombone, directing: Chuck [..]
“Take the ‘A’ Train” Composed and arranged by Billy Strayhorn Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor Records; February 15,1941, Hollywood CA Duke Ellington, piano, directing: Wallace Jones, first trumpet; Ray Nance, [..]
Louis Armstrong and “West End Blues,” Bix Beiderbecke and “Clementine,” and the “Birth” of Swing An introduction to the music, musicians and singers of the swing era. During the swing era, big bands were the [..]