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.
“Boogie Woogie” Composed by Clarence “Pinetop” Smith; arranged by Deane Kincaide. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Victor on September 16, 1938 in New York. Tommy Dorsey, first and solo trombone, directing: Charlie [..]
“Tuxedo Junction” Composed by William Johnson, Julian Dash and Erskine Hawkins; head arrangement organized by William Johnson(*) and then modified by the Berigan band. (*) Gary Letts has advised: “Bunny is playing the published stock [..]
“Shadows” Composed by Frankie Carle; arranged by Jerry Gray. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for RCA Bluebird on November 9, 1939 in New York. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing Harry Geller, first trumpet; Bernie [..]
“Lullaby of Birdland” Composed and arranged by George Shearing. Recorded by the George Shearing Quintet for MGM on July 17, 1952 in New York. George Shearing, piano, directing: Richard “Dick” Garcia, guitar; Joe Roland, vibraphone; [..]
“Oh, Lady Be Good” Composed by George Gershwin; head arrangement. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Decca on February 4, 1939 in New York. William J. “Count” Basie, piano, directing: Ed Lewis, first [..]
“My Heart Stood Still” Composed by Richard Rodgers; arranged by Jerry Gray. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Bluebird on January 17, 1939 in New York. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: John Best, first [..]
“It’s Time to Jump and Shout” Composed and arranged by Eddie Durham. Recorded by Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra for Vocalion on January 5, 1940 in New York. Jimmie Lunceford, directing: Eugene “Snooky” Young, first [..]
“Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” Composed by Harold Arlen; arranged by Bob Haggart. Recorded by Bob Crosby and His Orchestra for Decca on February 8, 1937 in New York. Bob Haggart, bass, [..]
“Mean to Me” Composed by Fred E. Ahlert (music) and Roy Turk (lyric); arranged by Freddie Slack. . Recorded by Will Bradley and His Orchestra for Vocalion on October 26, 1939 [..]
“Prelude to Carmen” Composed by Georges Bizet; arranged by Jack Pleis and Jan Savitt. Recorded by Jan Savitt and His Top Hatters for Victor on May 5, 1941 in Chicago. Jan Savitt, directing: Johnny Napton, [..]
“Roll ‘Em” Composed and arranged by Mary Lou Williams. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Victor on July 7, 1937 in Hollywood, California. Benny Goodman, clarinet; directing: Harry James, first and solo trumpet; [..]
“Moten Swing” Composed by Bennie and Buster Moten; arranged by Ray Conniff. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra live from a broadcast over WABC-New York from Roseland Ballroom in New York City in October [..]
“Blowin’ Up a Storm” Composed by Woody Herman; head arrangement. Recorded by Woody Herman and His Orchestra for Columbia on November 26, 1945 in New York.(*) (*)This recording session likely took place in Liederkranz Hall [..]
“Day In, Day Out” Composed by Rube Bloom (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyric); arranged by Johnny Watson. Recorded by Jan Savitt and His Top Hatters live from a broadcast from the Blue Room of Hotel [..]
“Yellow Days” Composed by Alvaro Carrillo Alarcon. Recorded by Bobby Hackett for Project 3 in December of 1968 in New York. Bobby Hackett, cornet; Don Forestieri, piano; Tito Russo, bass; Joe Brancato, drums. The story: [..]
“Sobbin Blues” Composed by Art Kassel and Vic Berton; arranged by Joe Lippman. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra for Victor on November 22, 1938 in New York. Bunny Berigan, trumpet, directing: Johnny Napton, [..]
“It’s the Dreamer in Me” Composed by Jimmy Dorsey and Jimmy Van Heusen; arranged by Edgar Sampson. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Victor on April 8, 1938 in New York. Benny Goodman, [..]
“Let’s Get Together” Composed by Chick Webb; arranged by Edgar Sampson. Recorded by Chick Webb and His Orchestra for Columbia on January 15, 1934 in New York. Chick Webb, drums, directing: Mario Bauza, first trumpet; [..]
“I’ll Never Be the Same” Composed by Matty Malneck and Frank Signorelli; arranged by Ray Conniff. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Victor on January 9, 1945 in New York. Artie Shaw, directing: [..]
“Lester Leaps In” Composed by Lester Young; “head” arrangement by Lester Young and Count Basie. Recorded by Count Basie Kansas City Seven for Vocalion on September 3, 1939 in New York. (Session produced by John [..]
“The Sidewalks of New York” (“East Side, West Side”) Composed by Charles B. Lawlor (music) and James W. Blake (lyric); arranged by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor on December [..]
“I’ve Heard That Song Before” Composed by Jule Styne (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyric); arranged by Dave Matthews. Recorded by Harry James and His Orchestra for Columbia on July 31, 1942 in Hollywood. Harry James, [..]
“Lois” Composed and arranged by Charlie Barnet. Recorded by Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra for Bluebird on June 11, 1941 in New York. Charlie Barnet, alto and soprano saxophones, directing: Charles Zimmerman, Walter Price, Lyman [..]
“Azure” Composed by Duke Ellington; arranged by Joe Lippman. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra for Victor on April 21, 1938 in New York. Bunny Berigan, first and solo trumpet, directing: Steve Lipkins and [..]
“Mood Indigo” Composed by Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard and Irving Mills; and arranged by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor on December 19, 1930 in New York.(*) (*) Victor studio [..]
“A Child is Born” Composed and arranged by Thad Jones. Recorded by the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra for Blue Note on May 25, 1970 in New York. Thad Jones, flugelhorn, directing: Eugene “Snooky” Young, first [..]
“Two Beats on a Bat” Composed and arranged by Bill Finegan. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra in mid-March 1952 for Standard Transcription Service in New York. Tommy Dorsey, first trombone, directing: Charlie Shavers, [..]
“How Deep Is the Ocean?” Composed by Irving Berlin; arranged by Eddie Sauter. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Columbia on October 8, 1941 in New York. Benny Goodman, clarinet, directing: Billy Butterfield, [..]
“Li’l Darlin’” Composed and arranged by Neal Hefti. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Roulette on October 21, 1957 in New York. William J. “Count” Basie, piano, directing: Eugene “Snooky” Young, first trumpet; [..]
Two By Zentner “Midnight in Moscow” Composed by Vasily Solovyov-Sedoi; arranged by Bob Florence. Recorded by Si Zentner and His Orchestra for Liberty in 1962 in Los Angeles. Simon H. Zentner, first and solo trombone, [..]