Category: Masterpieces
“Parker’s Mood” (1948) Charlie Parker; and Supersax with Conte Candoli (1972)
June 2, 2018
“Parker’s Mood” Composed by Charlie Parker; arranged by Buddy Clark. Recorded by Supersax for Capitol Records in Los Angeles in February 1972. Supersax on this recording consisted of the following musicians: Med Flory and Joe Lopes, alto saxophones; Warne Marsh and Jay Migliori, tenor saxophones; Jack Nimitz, baritone saxophone; Ronnell Bright, piano; Buddy Clark, bass; […]
“Strange Fruit” (1939) Billie Holiday
April 29, 2018
“Strange Fruit” Composed by “Lewis Allan” (Abel Meeropol); informally arranged by Danny Mendelsohn. Piano prologue suggested by Milt Gabler. Recorded by Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra for Commodore Records on April 20, 1939 in New York. Billie Holiday, vocal, directing: Frankie Newton, trumpet; Talmadge “Tab” Smith, alto saxophone; Stan Payne and Kenneth Hollon, tenor saxophones; […]
“Harlem Air Shaft” (1940) Duke Ellington – live version
April 11, 2018
With this post, swingandbeyond.com celebrates two milestones: our 100th post, and our 30,000th viewer. I am delighted that so many people are interested in this thing called swing. I have quite a few new ideas up my sleeve for future posts, so keep visiting swingandbeyond.com. And thanks for all of your comments, input and help. […]
“Cotton Tail” (1940) Duke Ellington and Ben Webster
February 2, 2018
Very recently, swingandbeyond.com has hosted its 20,000th viewer! That is very good news for me and for everyone who likes this thing called swing. This blog has been up and running since March of 2016. The 10,000th view happened some seventeen months later. The 20,000th view happened six months after that. More people are viewing […]
“Star Dust” (1940) Artie Shaw
October 21, 2017
The story: It is always challenging to write objectively and accurately about Artie Shaw’s music and personality. On the one hand, much of the music Shaw made during the swing era was wonderful, indeed great. On the other, when exploring Shaw’s music, one usually encounters a good many myths and distortions surrounding the man, and […]
“Tenderly” (1953) Art Tatum
October 14, 2017
“Tenderly” Composed by Walter Gross. Recorded on December 28-29, 1953 by Art Tatum for Clef in Los Angeles. Art Tatum, solo piano. The story: How does one begin to discuss the piano artistry of Art Tatum? Adjectives like magnificent, incredible and amazing are inadequate.Tatum was better than that.What exactly did Tatum do when he played the piano? […]
“Sing, Sing, Sing” (1937) Benny Goodman
July 9, 2017
“Sing, Sing, Sing” Composed by Louis Prima; initial vocal arrangement by Jimmy Mundy. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra on July 6, 1937 for Victor in Hollywood, CA. Benny Goodman, clarinet, directing: Harry James, first trumpet; Ziggy Elman and Chris Griffin, trumpets; Murray McEachern and Red Ballard, trombones; Hymie Shertzer first alto saxophone; […]
“Reflections in D” (1953) Duke Ellington and (1978) Bill Evans
June 24, 2017
“Reflections in D” Composed by Duke Ellington Recorded by Duke Ellington for Capitol on April 13,1953 in Los Angeles. Duke Ellington, piano; Wendell Marshall, bass. The story and the music: “When an art form is created, the question is how do you come to it, not how does it come to you. Beethoven’s music is not going […]
“Jubilee” (1938) Louis Armstrong
June 1, 2017
“Jubilee” Composed by Hoagy Carmichael (music) and Stanley Adams (words). Arranged by Chappie Willet. Recorded by Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra for Decca on January 12, 1938 in Los Angeles. Louis Armstrong, trumpet and vocal, directing: Shelton “Scad” Hemphill, Louis Bacon, Henry “Red” Allen, trumpets; Wilbur de Paris, George Washington, J.C. Higginbotham, trombones; Pete Clarke […]
“Sepia Panorama” (1940) Duke Ellington
March 18, 2017
“Sepia Panorama” Composed by Duke Ellington; arranged by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra on July 24, 1940 in New York. Duke Ellington, piano, directing: Charles M. “Cootie” Williams, first trumpet; Wallace Jones, trumpet; Rex Stewart, cornet; Lawrence Brown, Joseph “Tricky Sam” Nanton, trombones; Juan Tizol, valve trombone; Otto […]
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