Where Swing is King!
“Invitation” Composed by Bronislaw Kaper; arranged by Walt Stuart. Recorded by Buddy Morrow and His Orchestra in New York in 1963. The Story: Bronislaw Kaper (shown at left in the 1950s) was born on February 5, 1902 [..]
“Malibu” Composed and arranged by Benny Carter. Recorded by Benny Carter and His Orchestra for Capitol on April 9, 1945 in Los Angeles. Benny Carter, alto saxophone, directing: Paul Cohen, first trumpet; Gerald Wilson, Emmett [..]
“The Folks Who Live on the Hill” Composed by Jerome Kern; arranged by Johnny Keating. Recorded by Ted Heath and His Music for Decca in London, England in 1956. Ted Heath, directing: Bobby Pratt, first [..]
“The Chant” Composed and arranged by Artie Shaw. Recorded from a CBS Melody and Madness radio broadcast on March 12, 1939. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: John Best, first trumpet; Chuck Peterson and Bernie Privin, trumpets; George [..]
“Detour Ahead” Composed by Johnny Frigo, Lou Carter and Herb Ellis. (* see below). Recorded by Ella Fitzgerald with Herb Ellis, guitar, on March 25, 1959 for Verve in Hollywood. The story: By the time [..]
“Remember” Composed by Irving Berlin; arranged by Eddie Sauter. Recorded by Red Norvo and His Orchestra for Brunswick on March 22, 1937 in Chicago. Kenneth “Red” [..]
“Blues for Francine” Composed and arranged by Ralph Burns. Recorded by Ralph Burns at Group IV Recording, Hollywood, California in February of 1987. Ralph Burns, piano, conducting: Rick Baptist, first trumpet; Oscar Brashear, Gary Grant, [..]
“Rocks in My Bed” Composed by Duke Ellington; arranged by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor on September 29, 1941 in Hollywood, California. Duke Ellington, piano, directing: [..]
The story: Back in early 2016, I was about to launch this blog. Over several decades I had accumulated a lot of recorded music, books, images and articles about the musicians who made the music, [..]
Trumpeter Mannie Klein (pictured above), was born in New York City on February 4, 1908. The silent film presented below was shot at his 25th birthday party on February 4, 1933. As you will see, it [..]
“In a Persian Market” Composed by Albert W. Ketelbey; arranged by Larry Clinton. Recorded by Larry Clinton and His Orchestra for Victor on June 7, 1939 in New York. Larry Clinton,directing: Steve Lipkins, first trumpet; [..]
“Too Many Tears” Composed by Harry Warren (music), and Al Dubin (lyric). Recorded by Maxine Sullivan and Bob Wilber for Monmouth-Evergreen on June 11, 1969 in New York. Maxine Sullivan, singing, with: Bob Wilber, soprano [..]
“Caravan” Composed by Juan Tizol; arranged by Joe Lippman. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra on August 18, 1937 for Victor in New York. Bunny Berigan, trumpet, directing: Steve Lipkins, first trumpet; Irving Goodman, [..]
“Blue Champagne” Composed by Grady Watts and Frank Ryerson; arranged by Toots Camarata. Recorded by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Decca on April 29, 1941 in New York. Jimmy Dorsey, alto saxophone; directing: Jimmy [..]
“The Happy Stranger” Composed by John Benson Brooks; arranged by Gil Evans. Recorded by Claude Thornhill and His Orchestra on November 4, 1947 for Associated Transcription Service in New York. Claude Thornhill, piano, directing: Paul [..]
“Forty Days” Composed by Dave Brubeck. Head arrangement by Dave Brubeck Quartet. Recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet for Columbia Records in New York between September 20 and October 13, 1965. Dave Brubeck, piano; Paul [..]
“Rattle and Roll” Composed and arranged by Wilbur “Buck” Clayton. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Columbia on December 19, 1945 in New York. Benny Goodman, clarinet, directing: Conrad Gozzo, first trumpet; John [..]
“Manha de Carnaval” Music composed by Luiz Bonfa’. Recorded by the Vince Guaraldi Trio in February, 1962 for Fantasy Records in San Francisco. Vince Guaraldi, piano; Monty Budwig, bass; Colin Bailey, drums. The story: As [..]
“Don’t Take Your Love From Me” Composed by Henry Nemo; arranged by Artie Shaw. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra on June 26, 1941 in New York. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Henry “Red” Allen, [..]
“Blue Reverie” Composed by Duke Ellington and Harry Carney; arranged by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Cootie Williams and His Rug Cutters for Variety on March 8-9, 1937 in New York. Edward K. “Duke” Ellington, piano, [..]
“Blues for Brando” Composed by Leith Stevens; arranged by Leith Stevens with probable assistance by Shorty Rogers.(*) Recorded by Leith Stevens with Shorty Rogers on August 14, 1953 in Hollywood, California. Leith Stevens, directing: [..]
“Une Letter de Jean” Composed by Jean-Paul Monsche’ Recorded by the Morpheus Trio for Lucid in 1997 in Los Angeles. The Morpheus Trio: Jean-Paul Monsche’, piano; Stephen Heidtmann, bass; Willie McNeil, drums. The Story: This [..]
“Wagon” Composed and arranged by Johnny Richards. Recorded by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra for Capitol on September 26, 1960 in Los Angeles. Stan Kenton, piano, directing: John Audino, Bud Brisbois, Dalton Smith, Sam Noto, [..]
“Naked City” Composed and arranged by Raymond Scott in 1953. Transcribed by Menno Daams. Recorded by The Metropole Orchestra, conducted by Jan Stulen, on June 18-22, 2001 in Hilversum, Netherlands. Jan Stulen, directing:Jan Oosthof, Jan [..]
“The Wearin’ of the Green” Traditional Irish melody arranged by Joe Lippman. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra for Victor in New York City on May 26, 1938. Bunny Berigan, trumpet, directing: Steve Lipkins [..]
“Vilia” Composed by Franz Lehar; arranged by Artie Shaw. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra on January 17, 1939 for RCA-Bluebird in New York City. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: John Best, first trumpet; Chuck [..]
“Song of the Wanderer” Words and music by Neil Moret; arrangement by William Johnson. Recorded for RCA Bluebird on April 26, 1940 in New York. Erskine Hawkins, trumpet, directing: Sammy Lowe, first trumpet; Wilbur “Dud” [..]
The story: The summer and fall of 1945 were challenging times for Artie Shaw, the bandleader. After an extensive cross-country tour with his band that lasted from late 1944 until March 15, 1945, he and [..]
“I Hear Music” Composed by Frank Loesser (lyric) and Burton Lane (music). Recorded by Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra for Okeh Records in New York on September 12, 1940. Billie Holiday, vocal, with: Roy Eldridge, [..]
“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, [..]