“In the Mood” (1938) Edgar Hayes and (1939) Glenn Miller
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Swing & Beyond
Where Swing is King!
Category: Swing 101
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.
“G.T. Stomp” (1939) Earl “Fatha” Hines
“G.T. Stomp” Composed by Walter Hirsch and Gerald Marks; “head” arrangement later formalized by Earl Hines and Budd Johnson. Recorded by Earl Hines and His Orchestra for RCA Bluebird on July 12, 1939 in New [..]
“For Dancers Only” (1937) Jimmie Lunceford/Sy Oliver; “Christopher Columbus” (1936) Fletcher Henderson
“For Dancers Only” Composed and arranged by Sy Oliver. Recorded by Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra on June 15, 1937 for Decca in New York. Jimmie Lunceford, directing: Eddie Tompkins, Paul Webster, Sy Oliver, trumpets; [..]
“Cotton Tail” (1940) Duke Ellington and Ben Webster
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“Tuxedo Junction” Erskine Hawkins (1939) and Glenn Miller (1940)
“Tuxedo Junction” Composed by Erskine Hawkins, William Johnson and Julian Dash; head arrangement organized by William Johnson. Recorded by Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra for RCA-Bluebird on July 18, 1939 in New York. Erskine Hawkins, [..]
Swing and swing redux: “Pompton Turnpike” (1940) Charlie Barnet, and Billy Maxted (1967)
“Pompton Turnpike” Composed by Will Osborne and Dick Rogers; arranged by Billy May. Recorded by Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra for Bluebird on July 19, 1940 in New York. Charlie Barnet, soprano saxophone, directing: Sam [..]
Baby Bird–“Swingmatism” (1941) Charlie Parker with Jay McShann
“Swingmatism” Composed by Jay McShann; probable “head” arrangement. Recorded by Jay McShann and His Orchestra for Decca on April 30, 1941 in Dallas,Texas.(*) Jay McShann, piano, directing: Harold Bruce,Orville Minor and Bernard Anderson, trumpets; Joe [..]
“Happy as the Day Is Long” (1934) Fletcher Henderson
“Happy as the Day is Long” Composed by Harold Arlen; arranged by Benny Carter. Recorded by Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra for Decca on September 11, 1934. Fletcher Henderson directing: Russell Smith, first trumpet; Irving [..]
“Smoke Rings” (1937) Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra.
“Smoke Rings” Composed and arranged by H. Eugene Gifford. Recorded by Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra for Decca on July 23, 1937 in New York. Glen Gray, saxophone and B-flat clarinet, directing: Walter [..]
“Eager Beaver” (1943) Stan Kenton
“Eager Beaver” Composed and arranged by Stan Kenton. Recorded on November 19, 1943 for Capitol in Hollywood, California. Stanley N. Kenton, piano, leading: Marion “Buddy” Childers, Karl George, Ray Borden, John Carroll, Dick Morse, trumpets; [..]
“The Jitterbug Waltz” (1942) Fats Waller
“The Jitterbug Waltz” Composed by Fats Waller. Recorded by Fats Waller and His Rhythm for Victor on March 16, 1942 in New York. Thomas “Fats” Waller, Hammond organ, directing: John “Bugs” Hamilton, Courtney Williams, Joe [..]
“Is That Religion?” (1933) Mildred Bailey and the Dorsey Brothers
“Is That Religion?” Composed by Maceo Pinkard (music) and Mitchell Parish (lyric); arranged by Glenn Miller. Mildred Bailey accompanied by the Dorsey Brothers. Recorded for Brunswick on April 8, 1933 in New York City. Mildred [..]
“High Society” (1938) Bunny Berigan
“High Society” Composed by Porter Steele and Walter Melrose; arranged by Joe Lippman. Recorded on September 13, 1938 by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra for Victor in New York City. Roland B. “Bunny” Berigan, solo [..]
“Dream of You” (1934) Jimmie Lunceford
“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 [..]
“It Don’t Mean a Thing…If It Ain’t Got That Swing” (1932) Duke Ellington
“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. [..]
The Birth Of Swing
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. Big bands were the major purveyors of swing [..]