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.
“Dragonwyck” Composed and arranged by Gene Roland. Recorded by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra for Capitol on December 13, 1961 in Hollywood. Stan Kenton, piano, directing: Dalton Smith, first trumpet; Bob Behrendt, Bob Rolfe, Norman [..]
“One Sweet Letter from You” Composed by Harry Warren (music), Sidney Clare and Lew Brown (lyric); arranged by Fletcher Henderson. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Columbia on September 13, 1939 in New [..]
“Night and Day” Composed by Cole Porter; informal head arrangement by Charlie Barnet and his band. Recorded by Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra for RCA Bluebird on September 17,1940 in New York. Charlie Barnet, tenor [..]
“Goin’ Home” Composed by Antonin Dvorak; arranged by Jerry Gray. Recorded live in performance by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra on a CBS Chesterfield broadcast on December 18, 1940 in New York. Glenn Miller, first [..]
“Then I’ll Be Happy” Composed by Cliff Friend; arranged by Sy Oliver. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for RCA Victor in New York on April 8, 1946. Tommy Dorsey, first and solo trombone, [..]
“A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing” Composed and arranged by Billy Strayhorn. Recorded by Billy Strayhorn for United Artists Records in Paris, France in January of 1961. Billy Strayhorn, piano, directing: Michel Gaudry, bass; and [..]
“Slaughter on Tenth Avenue” Composed by Richard Rodgers; probably arranged by Charlie Albertine. Recorded by Les Elgart and His Orchestra for Columbia on August 30, 1960 in New York. Personnel unknown. Les Elgart on trumpet. [..]
“Big Beaver” Composed by Bob Wills; probably arranged by Billy Moore. Recorded by Jan Savitt and His Top Hatters for Decca on February 27, 1941 in New York. Jan Savitt, directing: Jack Hansen, first trumpet; [..]
“Blues” from Lenox Avenue Composed and arranged by William Grant Still. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Victor on December 4, 1940 in Hollywood. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Billy Butterfield, George “Jumbo” Wendt and [..]
“High on a Windy Trumpet” Composed and arranged by Bob Higgins. Recorded by Les Brown and His Orchestra for Columbia on March 27, 1946 in New York. Les Brown, conducting: Al Muller, Jimmy Zito, [..]
“Guess I’ll Go Back Home (This Summer)” Composed by Willard Robison (music) and Ray Mayer (lyric); arranged by Bill Challis. Recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra for RCA Bluebird on June 2, 1939 in [..]
“Sometimes I’m Happy” Composed by Vincent Youmans; arranged by Fletcher Henderson. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Victor in New York on July 1, 1935. Benny Goodman, clarinet, directing: Bunny Berigan, first and [..]
“The Blues I Like to Hear” Music composed by Henry “Buster” Smith, lyric by Jimmy Rushing; arranged by Buster Smith. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Decca on November 16, 1938 in New [..]
“Rose Room” Composed by Art Hickman; arranged by Artie Shaw. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Bluebird on January 31, 1939 in New York. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: John Best, first trumpet; Chuck [..]
“The House of the Rising Sun” Composed by Alan Price; arranged by Henry Mancini. Recorded by Henry Mancini and His Orchestra for RCA Victor on February 28, 1966 in Hollywood. Henry Mancini, directing: Al [..]
“Tippin’ In” Composed and arranged by Bobby Smith. Recorded by Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra for Victor on January 10, 1945 in Chicago. Erskine Hawkins, trumpet, directing: Sammy Lowe, first trumpet; Bobby Johnson, Chuck Jones, [..]
“Opus in Pastels” Composed and arranged by Stan Kenton. Recorded by Stanley Kenton and His Orchestra for C.P. MacGregor Transcription Service, Hollywood, CA, October 10, 1941. Stanley Kenton, piano, directing: Jack Ordean, first alto [..]
“Clementine” Composed and arranged by Billy Strayhorn. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor on July 2, 1941 in Hollywood. Duke Ellington, piano; directing: Wallace Jones and Ray Nance, trumpets; Rex Stewart, cornet; [..]
“And the Angels Sing” Composed by Ziggy Elman (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyric); arranged by Abe Osser. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Victor on February 1, 1939 in New York. Benny Goodman, [..]
“Nina Never Knew” Composed by Louis Alter (music) and Milton Drake (lyric); arranged by Bill Finegan. Recorded by the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra for RCA Victor on November 3, 1952 in New York. Bill Finegan, celeste, [..]
“St. James Infirmary” Composed by Joe Primrose; arranger Daniel Y. Mendelsohn.(*) Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Victor on November 12, 1941 in New York. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Steve Lipkins, first [..]
“‘T’Aint So Honey, ‘T’Aint So” Composed by Willard Robison; arranger unknown, possibly Dick Rose. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra for Thesaurus Transcription Service on August 8-9, 1938 in New York. Bunny Berigan, first [..]
“Basin Street Blues” Composed by Spencer Williams; arranged by Glenn Miller. Recorded by Benny Goodman (as “The Charleston Chasers” under direction of Bennie Goodman) for Columbia on February 9, 1931 in New York. Benny Goodman, [..]
“Poinciana” Composed by Nat Simon (music) and Buddy Bernier (lyric); arranged by Frank Comstock. Recorded by Benny Carter and His Orchestra for Capitol on October 25, 1943 in San Francisco, California. Bennett Lester “Benny” Carter, [..]
“The Earl” Composed and arranged by Mel Powell. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Columbia-Okeh on September 25, 1941 in New York. Benjamin D. “Benny” Goodman, clarinet, directing: Billy Butterfield, first trumpet; Cootie [..]
“Every Tub” Composed by Count Basie and Eddie Durham; “Head” arrangement worked out by Count Basie, Eddie Durham and the members of the Basie band. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Decca [..]
“Campina” Composed and arranged by Chico O’Farrill. Recorded by Chico O’Farrill and His Afro-Cuban Orchestra for Milestone Records in February 1995 in New York. Arturo “Chico” O’Farrill, directing: Vitin “Victor” Paz, Michael Mossman, Jim Seeley, [..]
“Any Old Time” Composed and arranged by Artie Shaw. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for RCA Bluebird on July 24, 1938 in New York. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: John Best, first trumpet; Chuck [..]
“Bolero in Blue” Composed and arranged by Larry Clinton. Recorded by Larry Clinton and His Orchestra for RCA Victor on May 28, 1956 in New York. Larry Clinton, directing: Jimmy Maxwell, first trumpet; Gordon “Chris” [..]
“Afternoon in August” Composed and arranged by Bill Stegmeyer. Recorded by Billy Butterfield and His Orchestra for Capitol on November 10, 1947 in New York. Billy Butterfield, trumpet, directing: Archie Johnson, Bob Peck and Jack [..]