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.
“Takin’ My Time” Composed and arranged by Benny Carter. Recorded by Benny Carter and His Orchestra for RCA Bluebird on November 19, 1940 in New York. Benny Carter, alto saxophone, directing: Russell “Pop” Smith, first [..]
“Leap Frog” Composed and arranged by Joe Garland. Recorded by Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra for Decca in Chicago on November 16, 1941. Louis Armstrong, trumpet, directing: Shelton “Scad” Hemphill, first trumpet; Frank Galbreath and [..]
“Misty” Composed by Erroll Garner; arranged by Henry Mancini. Recorded by Henry Mancini and His Orchestra for RCA Victor on February 22, 1959 in Hollywood. Henry Mancini, directing: Conrad Gozzo, first trumpet; Pete Candoli, Frank [..]
“Sorghum Switch” (*) (Later known as “Cole Slaw”) Composed by Jesse Stone; probably arranged by Joe Lippman. Recorded by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Decca on June 2, 1942 in New York. Jimmy Dorsey, [..]
“I’ve Got the World on a String” Composed by Harold Arlen; arranged by Johnny Keating. Recorded by Ted Heath and His Music for Decca in October of 1957 in London, England. Ted Heath, directing: Bobby [..]
“After You’ve Gone” Composed by Henry Creamer and Turner Layton; arranged by Paul Wetstein (Weston). Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Victor on October 18, 1936 in New York. Tommy Dorsey, first and [..]
“Ingie Speaks” Composed and arranged by Dave Matthews. Recorded by Woody Herman and His Orchestra for Decca on March 29, 1944 in New York.(*) Woody Herman, clarinet, directing: Ray Wetzel, first trumpet; Neal Hefti, Bobby [..]
“Swingin’ and Jumpin’” Composed and arranged by Horace Henderson. Recorded live in performance by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra from Manhattan Center in New York City on September 29, 1939. Bunny Berigan, trumpet, directing: Jake [..]
“I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love With Me” Composed by Clarence Gaskill and Jimmy McHugh; arranged by Jerry Gray. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Bluebird on July 24, 1938 in New [..]
“My Isle of Golden Dreams” Composed by Walter Blaufuss; arranged by Bill Finegan and Glenn Miller. Recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra for Bluebird on August 18, 1939 in New York. Glenn Miller, first [..]
“Chavala” Composed by Sheldon Harnick (lyric) and Jerry Bock (music); arranged by Allyn Ferguson. Recorded by Buddy Rich and his Band for World Pacific Jazz on July 7, 1968 at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada. [..]
“I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” Composed by: Richard Rodgers, music, and Lorenz Hart, lyric; arranged by Fletcher Henderson. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Columbia on September 13, 1939 in New [..]
“The Right Idea” Composed and arranged by Skip Martin. Recorded by Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra for Bluebird on October 9, 1939 in Hollywood. Charles D. “Charlie” Barnet, alto and tenor saxophones, directing: John Owens, [..]
“Davenport Blues” Composed by Bix Beiderbecke; arranged by Joe Lippman. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Men for Victor on November 30, 1938 in New York. Bunny Berigan, first and solo trumpet, directing: Irving Goodman, [..]
“Just a-Settin’ and a-Rockin’” Composed and arranged by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn . Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor on June 5, 1941 in Hollywood. Duke Ellington, piano, directing: Wallace Jones, [..]
“Here We Go Again” Composed and arranged by Jerry Gray. Recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra for Victor on July 14, 1942 in Chicago. Glenn Miller, first trombone, directing: R.D. “Mickey” McMickle, first trumpet; [..]
“South Rampart Street Parade” Composed by Ray Bauduc and Bob Haggart; arranged by Bob Haggart. Recorded by Bob Crosby and His Orchestra for Decca on November 16, 1937 in Los Angeles. Bob Haggart, bass, directing: [..]
“Ambiance” Composed by Marian McPartland; arranged by Jerry Dodgion. Recorded by the Thad Jones – Mel Lewis Orchestra for Philadelphia International Records in June of 1974 in Philadelphia. Thad Jones, flugelhorn, directing: Jon Faddis, first [..]
“125th Street Prophet” Composed by Phil Moore; arranged by Neal Hefti. Recorded by Woody Herman and His Orchestra from a CBS Old Gold radio show rehearsal on September 13, 1944 in New York.(*) Woody Herman, [..]
“Disc Jockey Jump” Composed and arranged by Gerry Mulligan.(*) Recorded by Gene Krupa and His Orchestra for Columbia on January 22, 1947 in New York. Gene Krupa, drums, directing: Ray Triscari, first trumpet; Ed Badgley, [..]
“Strictly Instrumental” Composed by Edgar Battle, Bennie Benjamin, Sol Marcus and Edward Seiler; arranged by Jack Matthias. Recorded by Harry James and His Orchestra for Columbia on December 30, 1941 in New York. Harry James, [..]
“Ridin’ High” Composed by Cole Porter; arranged by Jimmy Mundy. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra live in performance from a CBS radio broadcast on March 4, 1937 from the Madhattan Room of Hotel [..]
“Luck Be a Lady” Composed by Frank Loesser; arranged by Billy May. Recorded by Frank Sinatra for Reprise on July 25, 1963 in Los Angeles. Frank Sinatra, singing; with Billy May, directing the orchestra (approximate [..]
“Flamingo” Composed by Ted Grouya (music) and Edmund Anderson (lyric); arranged by Billy Strayhorn. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor on December 28, 1940 in Chicago. Duke Ellington, piano, and Billy Strayhorn, [..]
“Lady Day” Composed and arranged by Jimmy Mundy. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Victor on November 23, 1944 in Hollywood. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Ray Linn, first trumpet: Jimmy Pupa, George Schwartz [..]
“I’m in a Dancing Mood” Composed by Al Hoffman, Al Goodheart and Maurice Sigler; probably arranged by Paul Wetstein (Weston) or Dick Jones. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Victor on November 24, [..]
“Jingle Bells” Composed by J.S. Pierpont; arranged by Lyle “Spud” Murphy. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Victor on July 1, 1935 in New York. Benny Goodman, clarinet, directing: Bunny Berigan, first and [..]
“Dancing in the Dark” Composed by Arthur Schwartz; arranged by Lennie Hayton. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Victor on January 21, 1941 in Hollywood. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Billy Butterfield, first trumpet [..]
“Intermezzo (A Love Story)” Composed by Heinz Provost; arranged by Bill Finegan. Recorded live by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra on their CBS Chesterfield radio show on June 24, 1941 in Chicago.(*) Glenn Miller, first [..]
