Where Swing is King!
Writings about swing by Michael P. Zirpolo and other experts that will provide a context for the music you will be hearing, and allow for a deeper understanding of the music and the people who made it.
“Uncle Bud” Composed and arranged by William Johnson. Recorded by Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra for Bluebird on May 15, 1941 in New York. Erskine Hawkins, trumpet, directing: Sammy Lowe, first trumpet; Wilbur “Dud” Bascomb, [..]
“Ad Lib on Nippon” Composed by Duke Ellington with input by Jimmy Hamilton; arranged by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for RCA Victor (Studio B) on December 20, [..]
“For You” Composed by Joe Burke and Al Dubin; arranged by Sy Oliver. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Victor on January 20, 1941 in New York. Tommy Dorsey, first and solo trombone, [..]
“Something to Remember You By” Composed by Arthur Schwartz (music) and Howard Dietz (lyric); arranged by Gil Evans. Recorded by Claude Thornhill and His Orchestra for Columbia on February 6, 1942 in New York. Claude [..]
“Skyliner” Composed by Charlie Barnet; arranged by Billy Moore. Recorded by Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra for Decca on August 3, 1944 in Los Angeles. Charlie Barnet, soprano and tenor saxophones; directing: Jack Mootz, first [..]
“The Faithful Hussar” Composed by Heinrich Frantzen; arranged by Johnny Keating. Recorded by Ted Heath and His Music for Decca on May 13, 1956 in London, England. Ted Heath, directing: Bobby Pratt, first trumpet; Bert [..]
“Blue Flame” Composed by Joe Bishop; arranged by Joe Bishop and James “Jiggs” Noble. Recorded by Woody Herman and His Orchestra for Decca on February 13, 1941 in New York. Woody Herman, clarinet, directing: Johnny [..]
“Wrappin’ It Up” (“The Lindy Glide”) Composed and arranged by Fletcher Henderson. Recorded by Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra for Decca on September 12, 1934 in New York. Fletcher Henderson directing: Russell “Pop” Smith, first [..]
“You’re My Thrill” Composed by Jay Gourney (music) and Sidney Clare (lyric); arranged by Bud Estes. Recorded by Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra for Bluebird on January 7, 1941 in New York. Charlie Barnet, soprano [..]
“Trees” Composed by Oscar Rasbach, arranged by Abe (later Glenn) Osser. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra for Victor on December 23, 1937 in New York. Bunny Berigan, first and solo trumpet; directing: Steve Lipkins [..]
“Danza Lucumi” Composed by Ernesto Lecuona y Casado; arranged by William Grant Still. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Victor on October 8, 1940 in Hollywood. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Charles William “Billy” [..]
“A Smooth One” Composed by Benny Goodman; head arrangement. Recorded by the Benny Goodman and His Sextet for Columbia on March 13, 1941 in New York. Benny Goodman, clarinet, directing: Cootie Williams, trumpet; Georgie Auld, [..]
“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, first [..]
“Loose Lid Special” Composed and Arranged by Sy Oliver. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Victor Records July 15, 1941 in New York. Tommy Dorsey, first and solo trombone, directing: Chuck Peterson, first trumpet; [..]
“Dizzier and Dizzier” (aka “Katy”) Composed and arranged by Gerald Wilson. Recorded by Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra for RCA Victor on May 6, 1949 in Chicago. John B. “Dizzy” Gillespie, trumpet, directing: Benny Harris [..]
“I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You” Composed by Victor Young; probably arranged by Larry Wagner. Recorded by Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra for Capitol in early 1959. Glen Gray, [..]
“You’ve Got Me Crying Again” Composed by Isham Jones (music) and Charles Newman (lyric); arranged by Victor Young. Recorded by the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra for ARC/Brunswick on March 7, 1933 in New York. Victor Young [..]
“Pussy Willow” Composed and arranged by Bill Finegan. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for RCA Victor on March 16, 1949 in New York. Tommy Dorsey, first trombone, directing: Vern Arslan, Jack Dougherty, Chuck [..]
“Hollywood Hangover” Composed and arranged by Wilbur “Buck” Clayton. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra live at the Regal Theater in Chicago on May 26, 1945. Duke Ellington, piano, directing: Shelton “Scad” Hemphill, first [..]
“Honeysuckle Rose” Composed by Thomas “Fats” Waller; arranged by Fletcher Henderson. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Columbia on November 22, 1939 in New York. Benny Goodman, clarinet, directing: Ziggy Elman, first and [..]
“Rhapsody in Blue” Composed by George Gershwin; arranged by Bill Finegan. Recorded in 1958 by Bobby Byrne and His Orchestra for Grand Award in New York. Bobby Byrne, trombone, directing: R.D. “Mickey” McMickle, Steve Lipkins, [..]
“Downstream” Composed by H. Lawrence, B. Nieson and Jay Milton; arranged by Joe Lippman. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra for Victor on March 15, 1938. Bunny Berigan, trumpet, directing: Steve Lipkins, first trumpet, [..]
“Monsoon” Composed and arranged by Art Shaw. Recorded by Art Shaw and His New Music for Thesaurus Transcription Service on December 15, 1937 in New York. Art Shaw, clarinet, directing: Norman Ayers, first trumpet; Chuck [..]
“Blue Rhapsody” Composed by Bill Challis and Paul Rickey; arranged by Bill Challis. Recorded by Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra for Decca on February 14, 1946 in New York. Glen Gray directing: Ray [..]
“September in the Rain” Composed by Harry Warren (music), and Al Dubin (lyric); arranged in 1938 by Eddie Sauter for the Red Norvo band and their vocalist, Mildred Bailey, but never recorded. Recorded by Loren [..]
Composed and arranged by Jerry Gray. Recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra for Bluebird on April 28, 1940 in New York. Glenn Miller, trombone, directing: John Best, first trumpet; Rubin “Zeke” Zarchy, Clyde Hurley, [..]
“The Mooche” Composed and arranged by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Cotton Club Orchestra for Brunswick on October 17, 1928 in New York. Edward K. “Duke” Ellington, piano, directing: Arthur Whetsel [..]
“Boogie Woogie Maxixe” Composed by Gil Rodin; arranged by Julian “Matty” Matlock. Recorded by Bob Crosby and His Orchestra for Decca on August 29, 1939 in New York. Matty Matlock, clarinet, directing: Billy Butterfield, first [..]
“Frenesi” Composed by Alberto Dominguez Borras; arranged by William Grant Still. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Victor on March 3, 1940 in Hollywood. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Charlie Margulis, first trumpet; Manny [..]
“In a Mellotone” Composed and arranged by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor on September 5, 1940 in Chicago. Edward K. “Duke” Ellington, piano, directing: Wallace Jones, first trumpet; Cootie [..]