Swing & Beyond
Where Swing is King!
Category: Sleepers
“Smack-a-Mac” (1966) James Moody and the Brass Figures
“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” (1951) Harry James / Glen Gray with Joe Graves (1961)
“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'” (1936) Andy Kirk and Mary Lou Williams/ (1970) Billy May
“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'” (1954) Artie Shaw Gramercy Five
“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” (1946) Johnny Bothwell
“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, [..]
“The Duke’s Idea” (1939) Charlie Barnet with Bill Miller and Bob Burnet
“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” (1985) Ashley Alexander/Frank Mantooth
“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?” (1942) Duke Ellington with Joseph Nanton, Rex Stewart and Ben Webster
“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” (1937) Tommy Dorsey’s Clambake Seven with Edythe Wright/ (1971) Billy May with Dick Nash and Eileen Wilson
“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 [..]
“Moonlight Sonata” (1941) Glenn Miller / (1971) Enoch Light
“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 [..]
“I’ll Be Around” (1963) Tony Bennett with Bobby Hackett
“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” (1962) Bernie Lowe with Walt Levinsky and Al Cohn
“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” (1964) The Dave Brubeck Quartet
“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, [..]
“Jivin’ with Jarvis” (1940) Lionel Hampton with the Nat “King” Cole Trio
“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” (1961) Stan Kenton with Marvin Stamm, Gabe Baltazar and Gene Roland
“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 [..]
“One Sweet Letter from You” (1939) Benny Goodman with Louise Tobin and Ziggy Elman
“One Sweet Letter from You” Composed by Harry Warren (music), Sidney Clare and Lew Brown (lyric); arranged by Fletcher Henderson. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Columbia on September 13, 1939 in New [..]
“Goin’ Home” and “Slumber Song” (1940) Glenn Miller
“Goin’ Home” Composed by Antonin Dvorak; arranged by Jerry Gray. Recorded live in performance by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra on a CBS Chesterfield broadcast on December 18, 1940 in New York. Glenn Miller, first [..]
“Then I’ll Be Happy” (1946) Tommy Dorsey and Sy Oliver with Charlie Shavers and Don Lodice
“Then I’ll Be Happy” Composed by Cliff Friend; arranged by Sy Oliver. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for RCA Victor in New York on April 8, 1946. Tommy Dorsey, first and solo trombone, [..]
“A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing” (1961) Billy Strayhorn
“A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing” Composed and arranged by Billy Strayhorn. Recorded by Billy Strayhorn for United Artists Records in Paris, France in January of 1961. Billy Strayhorn, piano, directing: Michel Gaudry, bass; and [..]
“Big Beaver” (1941) Jan Savitt with Joe Aglora and Al Leopold / (1940) Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
“Big Beaver” Composed by Bob Wills; probably arranged by Billy Moore. Recorded by Jan Savitt and His Top Hatters for Decca on February 27, 1941 in New York. Jan Savitt, directing: Jack Hansen, first trumpet; [..]
“Blues” from “Lenox Avenue” (1940) Artie Shaw/William Grant Still
“Blues” from Lenox Avenue Composed and arranged by William Grant Still. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Victor on December 4, 1940 in Hollywood. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Billy Butterfield, George “Jumbo” Wendt and [..]
“High on a Windy Trumpet” (1946) Les Brown with Jeff Clarkson, Warren Covington, Ted Nash and Jimmy Zito
“High on a Windy Trumpet” Composed and arranged by Bob Higgins. Recorded by Les Brown and His Orchestra for Columbia on March 27, 1946 in New York. Les Brown, conducting: Al Muller, Jimmy Zito, [..]
“Guess I’ll Go Back Home (This Summer)” (1939) Glenn Miller/Bill Challis featuring Tex Beneke
“Guess I’ll Go Back Home (This Summer)” Composed by Willard Robison (music) and Ray Mayer (lyric); arranged by Bill Challis. Recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra for RCA Bluebird on June 2, 1939 in [..]
“I’ll Never Be The Same” (1957) Ted Heath with Bert Ezard
“I’ll Never Be the Same” Composed by Matty Malneck and Frank Signorelli; arranged by Johnny Keating. Recorded by Ted Heath and His Music in London for Decca on April 26, 1957. Ted Heath, directing: Bobby [..]
“April” (1959) Larry Elgart/Al Cohn
“April” Composed and arranged by Al Cohn. Recorded by Larry Elgart and His Orchestra for RCA Victor Records in April of 1959 in New York. Larry Elgart, alto saxophone; other musicians unknown. (*) The story: [..]
“Manhattan Serenade” (1942) Tommy Dorsey with Jo Stafford
“Manhattan Serenade” Composed by Louis Alter (music) and Harold Adamson (lyric); arranged by Sy Oliver. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Victor in New York on July 2, 1942. Tommy Dorsey, first and [..]
“The House of the Rising Sun” (1966) Henry Mancini with Vince DeRosa and Plas Johnson
“The House of the Rising Sun” Composed by Alan Price; arranged by Henry Mancini. Recorded by Henry Mancini and His Orchestra for RCA Victor on February 28, 1966 in Hollywood. Henry Mancini, directing: Al [..]
“I’m Just a Lucky So-and-So” (1945) Duke Ellington with Al Hibbler, Johnny Hodges and Lawrence Brown
“I’m Just a Lucky So-and-So” Composed by Duke Ellington (music) and Mack David (lyric); arranged by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor on November 26, 1945 in New York. Duke [..]