Swing 101 – Swing & Beyond

“G.T. Stomp” (1939) Earl “Fatha” Hines

May 18, 2018

“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 York. Earl “Fatha” Hines, piano, directing: Edward Simms, Walter Fuller, Milton Fletcher, George Dixon(*), trumpets; Edward Burke, John “Streamline” Ewing, […]

“For Dancers Only” (1937) Jimmie Lunceford/Sy Oliver; “Christopher Columbus” (1936) Fletcher Henderson

March 26, 2018

“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; Elmer Crumbley, Russell Bowles, Eddie Durham, trombones; Willie Smith and Dan Grissom, alto saxophones; Joe Thomas and Ed Brown, tenor […]

“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 […]

“Tuxedo Junction” Erskine Hawkins (1939) and Glenn Miller (1940)

November 22, 2017

“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, trumpet, directing: Sammy Lowe, first trumpet; Marcellus Green, Wilbur “Dud” Bascomb, trumpets; Bob Range and Edward Sims, trombones; William Johnson, […]

Swing and swing redux: “Pompton Turnpike” (1940) Charlie Barnet, and Billy Maxted (1967)

October 7, 2017

“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 Skolnick,Lyman Vunk,Bernie Privin and Billy May, trumpets; Don Ruppersberg, Bill Robertson, Claude Murphy, trombones; Gene Kinsey and Leo White, alto […]

Baby Bird–“Swingmatism” (1941) Charlie Parker with Jay McShann

August 26, 2017

“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 Baird, trombone; Charles Christopher “Bird” Parker, Jr. lead alto saxophone; John Jackson, alto saxophone; Bob Mabane and Harry Ferguson, tenor […]

“Happy as the Day Is Long” (1934) Fletcher Henderson

July 1, 2017

“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 “Mouse” Randolph and Henry “Red” Allen, trumpets; Claude Jones and Keg Johnson, trombones; Hilton Jefferson, first alto saxophone; Russell Procope, […]

“Smoke Rings” (1937) Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra.

June 17, 2017

“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 Smith, Frankie Zullo and Grady Watts, trumpets; Billy Rauch, Fritz Hummel and Pee Wee Hunt, trombones; Art Ralston, Danny D’Andrea, […]

“Eager Beaver” (1943) Stan Kenton

April 25, 2017

“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; Harry Forbes, George Faye, tenor trombones; Bart Varsalona, bass trombone; Eddie Meyers, Art Pepper, alto saxophones; Red Dorris, Maurice Beeson, […]

“The Jitterbug Waltz” (1942) Fats Waller

April 15, 2017

“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 Thomas, trumpets; George Wilson, Herb Flemming, trombones; Gene “Honeybear” Cedric, clarinet and tenor saxophone; George James, Lawrence Fields, alto saxophones; […]