Where Swing is King!
An introduction to the music, musicians and singers of the swing era.
Big bands were the major purveyors of swing music, but by no means the only ones. Many small groups also played great swing. For this introduction to swing music, I am going to concentrate on big bands, with a few exceptions. I will explain what instruments make up a classic big band, and also how the instrumentation and music of big bands evolved from approximately the mid-1920s into the 1950s, and beyond. And of course I will post examples of great music performed by big bands, and small groups.
“In a Mist” Composed by Bix Beiderbecke. Recorded by Bix Beiderbecke on piano for Okeh on September 9, 1927 in New York. The story: Bix Beiderbecke (1903-1931) is unquestionably one of the great early figures [..]
“Down South Camp Meeting” Composed and arranged by Fletcher Henderson. Recorded by Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra for Decca on September 11, 1934. Fletcher Henderson directing: Russell “Pops” Smith, first trumpet; Irving “Mouse” Randolph and [..]
“Creole Love Call” Composed and arranged by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor on October 26, 1927 in Camden, New Jersey. Duke Ellington, piano, directing: James Wesley “Bubber” Miley, Louis [..]
“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” [..]
“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” [..]
“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, [..]
“Sometimes I’m Happy” Composed by Vincent Youmans; arranged by Fletcher Henderson. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Victor in New York on July 1, 1935. Benny Goodman, clarinet, directing: Bunny Berigan, first and [..]
“Rose Room” Composed by Art Hickman; arranged by Artie Shaw. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Bluebird on January 31, 1939 in New York. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: John Best, first trumpet; Chuck [..]
“Mahogany Hall Stomp” Composed by Spencer Williams. Recorded by Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra for Okeh on March 5, 1929 in New York. Louis Armstrong, trumpet, directing: J.C.Higginbotham, trombone; Albert Nicholas and Charlie Holmes, alto [..]
“Margie” Composed by Con Conrad and J. Russell Robinson (music), Benny Davis (lyric); arranged by Sy Oliver. Recorded by Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra for Decca on January 6, 1938 in New York. Jimmie Lunceford, [..]
“Basin Street Blues” Composed by Spencer Williams; arranged by Glenn Miller. Recorded by Benny Goodman (as “The Charleston Chasers” under direction of Bennie Goodman) for Columbia on February 9, 1931 in New York. Benny Goodman, [..]
“Every Tub” Composed by Count Basie and Eddie Durham; “Head” arrangement worked out by Count Basie, Eddie Durham and the members of the Basie band. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Decca [..]
“Jersey Bounce” Composed by Tiny Bradshaw, Eddie Johnson and Bobby Plater; arranged by Mel Powell. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Columbia on January 15,1942 in New York. Benny Goodman, clarinet, directing: James [..]
“A-Tisket, A-Tasket” Composed by Ella Fitzgerald and Al Feldman; arranged by Al Feldman.* Recorded by Chick Webb and His Orchestra for Decca on May 2, 1938 in New York. Chick Webb, drums, directing: Mario Bauza, [..]
“9:20 Special” Composed by Earle Warren; arranged by Buster Harding. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Okeh/Columbia on April 10, 1941 in Chicago. William J. “Count” Basie, piano, directing: Edward Lewis, first trumpet; [..]
“Down by the Old Mill Stream” Composed by Tell Taylor and Arthur Clough; unknown arranger. Recorded live on October 31, 1936 from a broadcast of the Saturday Night Swing Club over the CBS radio network. Bunny [..]
“The Lonesome Road” Composed by Gene Austin (words) and Nat Shilkret (music); arranged by Sy Oliver. Recorded by Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra for Vocalion(*) on January 31, 1939 in New York. Jimmie Lunceford, directing: [..]
“Yes Indeed!” Composed and arranged by Sy Oliver. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Victor on February 17, 1941 in New York. Tommy Dorsey, first and solo trombone, directing: Ziggy Elman, first [..]
“Breakfast Feud” Composed by Benny Goodman; head arrangement worked out by Benny Goodman and the members of his Sextet. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Sextet(*) for Columbia on January 15, 1941(**) in New [..]
“Yesterdays” Composed by Jerome Kern; arranged by Jerry Gray. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for RCA/Bluebird on September 27, 1938 in New York. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: John Best, first trumpet; Chuck Peterson [..]
“Concerto for Cootie” Composed and arranged by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor on March 15,1940 in Chicago. Duke Ellington, piano, directing: Wallace Jones, first trumpet; Rex Stewart, cornet; Cootie [..]
“Flying Home” Composed by Lionel Hampton and Benny Goodman. Head arrangement organized by Lionel Hampton. Recorded by Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra for Decca on May 26, 1942 in New York. Lionel Hampton, vibraphone, directing: [..]
“Well, Git It” Composed and arranged by Sy Oliver. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Victor on March 9, 1942 in Hollywood, California. Tommy Dorsey, trombone, directing: Ziggy Elman, Chuck Peterson, Jimmy Blake, [..]
“No Name Jive” Composed and arranged by Larry Wagner. Recorded by Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra for Decca on March 18, 1940 in New York. Glen Gray, directing: Frank Ryerson, first trumpet; H. [..]
“Flat Foot Floogie” Composed by Slim Gaillard, Slam Stewart and Bud Green; probably arranged by Edgar Sampson. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Victor on May 31, 1938 in New York. Benny Goodman, [..]
“Milenberg Joys” Composed by Jelly Roll Morton(*); arranged by Deane Kincaide. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Victor on January 19, 1939 in New York. Tommy Dorsey, first and solo trombone, directing: Andy [..]
“Bijou” Composed and arranged by Ralph Burns. Recorded by Woody Herman and His Orchestra on August 20, 1945 in New York. Woody Herman, alto saxophone, directing: Walter “Pete” Candoli, first trumpet; Sonny Berman, Neal [..]
“Yard Dog Mazurka” Composed and arranged by Gerald Wilson. Recorded by Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra for Decca on August 26, 1941 in New York. Jimmie Lunceford, directing: Eugene E. “Snooky” Young, first trumpet; Paul [..]
“Harlem Nocturne” Composed and arranged by Earle Hagen. Recorded by Ray Noble and His Orchestra for Columbia on August 8, 1940 in Chicago. (*) Ray Noble, directing: Don Anderson, Bob Goodrich, Bert Harry, trumpets; Earle [..]
Victor’s 24th Street New York Recording Studio The Story: What do Benny Goodman’s “King Porter Stomp,” Artie Shaw’s “Begin the Beguine,” Bunny Berigan’s “I Can’t Get Started,” Glenn Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade,” Tommy Dorsey’s “I’m [..]