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Swing & Beyond

Where Swing is King!

Category: Swingscapes

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.

Sleepers Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo March 24, 2023 1 COMMENTS

“125th Street Prophet” (1944) Woody Herman with Neal Hefti and Dave Tough

“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, [..]

Spotlight on Sidemen Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo March 18, 2023 0 COMMENTS

“Disc Jockey Jump” (1947) Gene Krupa/Gerry Mulligan

“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, [..]

Swing and Swing Redux Swingscapes
Mike Zirpolo March 12, 2023 3 COMMENTS

“Strictly Instrumental” (1941) Harry James / (1942) Jimmie Lunceford

“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, [..]

Swing and Swing Redux Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo February 22, 2023 2 COMMENTS

“Ridin’ High” (1937) Benny Goodman with 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 [..]

Movie music Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo February 14, 2023 1 COMMENTS

“Luck Be a Lady” (1963) Frank Sinatra with Billy May

“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 [..]

Masterpieces Swing and Swing Redux Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo January 27, 2023 1 COMMENTS

“Flamingo” (1940) Duke Ellington, Herb Jeffries, Billy Strayhorn / (1953) Duke Ellington, Ray Nance, Paul Gonsalves, Billy Strayhorn

“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, [..]

Sleepers Swing and Swing Redux Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo January 20, 2023 11 COMMENTS

“Lady Day” (1944) Artie Shaw with Roy Eldridge/ (1987) Loren Schoenberg and His Jazz Orchestra

“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 [..]

Movie music Sleepers Swing and Swing Redux Swingscapes
Mike Zirpolo January 11, 2023 1 COMMENTS

“I’m in a Dancing Mood” (1936) Tommy Dorsey with Jack Leonard /Dave Brubeck Quartet with Paul Desmond (1959)

“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, [..]

Seasons and Such Spotlight on Sidemen Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo December 16, 2022 1 COMMENTS

“Jingle Bells” (1935) Benny Goodman with Bunny Berigan

“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 [..]

Masterpieces Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo November 19, 2022 5 COMMENTS

“Dancing in the Dark” (1941) Artie Shaw/Lennie Hayton

“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 [..]

Movie music Sleepers Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo November 14, 2022 2 COMMENTS

“Intermezzo” (1941) Glenn Miller/Bill Finegan and (1979) Syd Lawrence/Bill Finegan

“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 [..]

Sleepers Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share Well-Chosen Waltzes
Mike Zirpolo November 7, 2022 2 COMMENTS

“It’s All in the Game” (1951) Louis Armstrong with Gordon Jenkins

“It’s All in the Game”  Composed by Charles Gates Dawes (music) and Carl Sigman (lyric); arranged by Gordon Jenkins. Recorded by Louis Armstrong with Gordon Jenkins for Decca on November 28, 1951 in Los Angeles. [..]

Sleepers Spotlight on Sidemen Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo October 31, 2022 5 COMMENTS

“I’m a Ding Dong Daddy (from Dumas)” (1938) The Benny Goodman Quartet with Teddy Wilson, Lionel Hampton and Dave Tough

“I’m a Ding Dong Daddy (from Dumas)”  Composed by Phil Baxter; head arrangement by the Benny Goodman Quartet. Recorded live from a CBS Camel Caravan radio show from the stage of the Palace Theater, Milwaukee, Wisconsin on [..]

Sleepers Spotlight on Sidemen Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo September 25, 2022 6 COMMENTS

“Countless Blues” and “I Want a Little Girl” (1938) Lester Young with Eddie Durham and Buck Clayton

“Countless Blues” Composed by Milt Gabler; arranged by Eddie Durham. Recorded by The Kansas City Six for Commodore Records on September 8,(*) 1938 in New York. Eddie Durham, electric guitar, directing: Lester Young, clarinet; Wilbur [..]

Swing 101 Swing and Swing Redux Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo September 15, 2022 3 COMMENTS

“In a Mist” (1927) Bix Beiderbecke / (1938) Bunny Berigan

“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 [..]

Far Out! Sleepers Swingscapes
Mike Zirpolo September 8, 2022 0 COMMENTS

“Idiot’s Delight” (1947) Ray McKinley/Eddie Sauter

“Idiot’s Delight” Composed and arranged by Eddie Sauter. Recorded by Ray McKinley and His Orchestra for RCA Victor on December 29, 1947 in New York. Ray McKinley, drums, probably allowing Eddie Sauter to direct his [..]

Swing and Swing Redux Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo September 2, 2022 1 COMMENTS

“(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” (1946) The (Nat) King Cole Trio

“(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” Composed by Bobby Troup; arranged by the King Cole Trio. Recorded by the King Cole Trio for Capitol Records at Radio Recorders(*) in Los Angeles, March 15, 1946. Nat [..]

Swing and Swing Redux Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo August 20, 2022 3 COMMENTS

“Oh, Lady Be Good” (1937) Benny Goodman/(1939) Artie Shaw

“Oh, Lady Be Good” Composed by George Gershwin; probably arranged by Fletcher Henderson. Recorded live in performance by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra from a Mutual radio broadcast on March 11, 1937 from the Madhattan [..]

Sleepers Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo July 27, 2022 1 COMMENTS

“Begin the Beguine” (1958) Gene Krupa with Doc Severinsen, Urbie Green and Phil Woods

“Begin the Beguine” Composed by Cole Porter; arranged by Gerry Mulligan. Recorded for Verve on October 21, 1958 by Gene Krupa and His Orchestra in New York. Gene Krupa, drums, directing: Carl H. Severinsen, first [..]

Spotlight on Sidemen Swing and Swing Redux Swingscapes
Mike Zirpolo July 15, 2022 1 COMMENTS

“Indian Love Call” (1938) Artie Shaw with Tony Pastor/(1947) Tony Pastor

“Indian Love Call” Composed by: music by Rudolph Friml; lyric by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II. Arranged by Artie Shaw. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Bluebird on July 24, 1938 in [..]

Sleepers Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo June 24, 2022 1 COMMENTS

“Swing Out”/”Baltimore Bounce” and “Gin Mill Special” (1940) – live Erskine Hawkins

“Swing Out”/”Baltimore Bounce” “Swing Out” was composed by Erskine Hawkins and Avery Parrish. Parrish wrote the arrangement. “Baltimore Bounce” was composed by Erskine Hawkins and Sammy Lowe. Lowe wrote the arrangement. Recorded by Erskine Hawkins [..]

Movie music Swingscapes
Mike Zirpolo June 10, 2022 2 COMMENTS

“The Pink Panther Theme” (1963) Henry Mancini with Plas Johnson/”Piano and Strings” Henry Mancini with Jimmy Rowles

“The Pink Panther Theme” Composed and arranged by Henry Mancini. Recorded by Henry Mancini and His Orchestra for RCA Victor on September 16, 1963 in Hollywood. Henry Mancini, directing an orchestra of Hollywood studio musicians [..]

Spotlight on Sidemen (and Women) Swing and Swing Redux Swinging the Classics Swingscapes
Mike Zirpolo May 13, 2022 4 COMMENTS

“My Reverie” (1938) Larry Clinton with Bea Wain/ (1938) Artie Shaw with Helen Forrest/ (1970) Billy May with Eileen Wilson

  “My Reverie” Composed by Claude Debussy; lyric by Larry Clinton. Recorded by Larry Clinton and His Orchestra for Victor on July 16, 1938 in New York. Larry Clinton, directing: Walter Smith, Ricky Traettino and [..]

Movie music Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo May 7, 2022 1 COMMENTS

“Over the Rainbow” (1961) Ella Fitzgerald

“Over the Rainbow” Composed by Harold Arlen, music; and E.Y. Harburg, lyric. Arranged by Billy May. Recorded by Ella Fitzgerald on January 15, 1961 for Verve in Hollywood. Billy May, arranger, directing: Don Fagerquist, trumpet; [..]

Sleepers Swinging the Classics Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo April 29, 2022 0 COMMENTS

“My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice” (1940) Jan Savitt and His Top Hatters – arranged by Billy Moore

Swing and Swing Redux Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo April 16, 2022 1 COMMENTS

“Solitude” (1934) Duke Ellington; and Maxwell Davis (1960)

“Solitude” Composed and arranged by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor on January 10, 1934 in Chicago. Duke Ellington, piano, directing: Arthur Whetsel, Freddie Jenkins, Louis Bacon and Cootie Williams, [..]

Movie music Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo March 31, 2022 4 COMMENTS

“Temptation” (1940) Artie Shaw with Les Robinson and Nick Fatool

“Temptation” Composed by Nacio Herb Brown; arranged by Lennie Hayton. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Victor on September 7, 1940 in Hollywood. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Charles William “Billy” Butterfield, first trumpet; [..]

Sleepers Swing and Swing Redux Swingscapes
Mike Zirpolo March 12, 2022 4 COMMENTS

“Lonely Moments” – Music of Mary Lou Williams – Benny Goodman (1947); and Dutch Jazz Orchestra (2005)

Sleepers Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo March 4, 2022 0 COMMENTS

“Smack-a-Mac” (1966) James Moody and the Brass Figures

“Smack-a-Mac” Composed and arranged by Tom McIntosh. Recorded by James Moody and the Brass Figures for Milestone during October-November 1966 in New York. Tom McIntosh, arranger/conductor, directing: James Moody, tenor saxophone; Eugene “Snooky” Young, first [..]

Sleepers Swing and Swing Redux Swingscapes Too Good Not to Share
Mike Zirpolo February 18, 2022 0 COMMENTS

“Tango Blues” (1951) Harry James / Glen Gray with Joe Graves (1961)

“Tango Blues”  Composed by Harry James; arranged by Ray Conniff. Recorded by Harry James and His Orchestra for Columbia on April 11, 1951 in Hollywood, California. Harry James, trumpet, directing: Everett McDonald, first trumpet; Dominic [..]

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Featured Posts

Disc Jockey Jump (1947) Gene Krupa/Gerry Mulligan

"Disc Jockey Jump" Composed and arranged by Gerry Mulligan.(*) Recorded by Gene Krupa and His Orchestra for Columbia on January 22, 1947  ...

Read More

125th Street Prophet (1944) Woody Herman with Neal Hefti and Dave Tough

"125th Street Prophet" Composed by Phil Moore; arranged by Neal Hefti. Recorded by Woody Herman and His Orchestra from a CBS Old ...

Read More

Strictly Instrumental (1941) Harry James / (1942) Jimmie Lunceford

"Strictly Instrumental" Composed by Edgar Battle, Bennie Benjamin, Sol Marcus and Edward Seiler; arranged by Jack Matthias. Recorded by Harry James and ...

Read More

Blue (Because of You) (1935) Earl Fatha Hines / (1940) Lionel Hampton and Nat King Cole

"Blue (Because of You)" Composed by Quinn Wilson, Louis Dunlap and Charlie Carpenter; arranged by Quinn Wilson. Recorded by Earl Hines and ...

Read More

Ridin' High (1937) Benny Goodman with Harry James

"Ridin' High" Composed by Cole Porter; arranged by Jimmy Mundy. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra live in performance from a ...

Read More

Archives

Recent Posts

  • “125th Street Prophet” (1944) Woody Herman with Neal Hefti and Dave Tough
  • “Disc Jockey Jump” (1947) Gene Krupa/Gerry Mulligan
  • “Strictly Instrumental” (1941) Harry James / (1942) Jimmie Lunceford
  • “Blue (Because of You)” (1935) Earl “Fatha” Hines / (1940) Lionel Hampton and Nat “King” Cole
  • “Ridin’ High” (1937) Benny Goodman with Harry James
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