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.
“Star Burst” Composed by Eddie Finckel and Gene Krupa; arranged by Eddie Finckel, with assistance from Dick Taylor. Recorded by Gene Krupa and His Orchestra for Columbia on February 8, 1947 in New York. Gene [..]
“The Grabtown Grapple” Composed by Artie Shaw and Buster Harding; head arrangement worked out by Artie Shaw and His Gramercy Five. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Gramercy Five for Victor on January 9-10, 1945 [..]
“‘Round Midnight” Composed by Thelonoius Monk; arranged by Gene Roland. Recorded by Gene Roland and His Swingin’ Friends for Brunswick on May 23-24, 1963 in New York. Gene Roland directing: Eugene “Snooky” Young, first trumpet; [..]
“Long Tall Mama” Composed and arranged by Billy May. Recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra on November 3, 1941 for RCA Victor in New York. Glenn Miller, first trombone, directing: R.D. “Mickey” McMickle, first [..]
“It Never Entered My Mind” Composed by Richard Rodgers (music) and Lorenz Hart (lyric); vocal arrangement by Gene Puerling. Recorded by the Oscar Peterson Trio and the Singers Unlimited in July of 1971 for MPS [..]
“Flying Home” Composed by Lionel Hampton and Benny Goodman. Head arrangement organized by Lionel Hampton. Recorded by Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra for Decca on May 26, 1942 in New York. Lionel Hampton, vibraphone, directing: [..]
“The Pied Piper” Composed by Buddy Arnold and Jack Gould; arranged by Joe Lippman. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra for Victor on June 8, 1938 in New York. Bunny Berigan, trumpet, directing: Steve [..]
“Ring Dem Bells” Composed by Duke Ellington; arranged by Johnny Watson. Recorded by Jan Savitt and HisTop Hatters live from a broadcast from the Blue Room of Hotel Lincoln in New York City on August [..]
“I Surrender, Dear” Music by Harry Barris; arrangement by Jerry Gray and Artie Shaw. Recorded on August 27, 1939 by Artie Shaw and his Orchestra for RCA/Bluebird in New York. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Bernie [..]
“No Name Jive” Composed and arranged by Larry Wagner. Recorded by Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra for Decca on March 18, 1940 in New York. Glen Gray, directing: Frank Ryerson, first trumpet; H. [..]
“Hay Burner” Composed and arranged by Sammy Nestico. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Dot on September 3-4, 1968 in Hollywood, California. Sammy Nestico, piano, directing: Gene Coe, first trumpet; George “Sonny” Cohn, [..]
“Arab Dance” Composed by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky; arranged by Gil Evans. Recorded by Claude Thornhill and His Orchestra for Columbia on July 17, 1946 in New York. Claude Thornhill, piano, directing: Louis Mucci, first trumpet; [..]
“Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” Composed by Harold Arlen (music) and E.Y. Harburg (lyric); arranged by Ralph Burns. Recorded by Woody Herman and His Orchestra for Columbia on February 26, 1945 in New York. [..]
“Big John Special” Composed and arranged by Horace Henderson. Recorded on November 16,1937 by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra from a CBS Camel Caravan broadcast. Benny Goodman, clarinet, directing: Harry James, first trumpet; Ziggy Elman [..]
“Something to Live For” Composed and arranged by Billy Strayhorn. Recorded by Ella Fitzgerald with Duke Ellington and His Orchestra on December 20, 1965 in Hollywood, California. Ella Fitzgerald, vocal; with Duke Ellington, directing: William [..]
“Flat Foot Floogie” Composed by Slim Gaillard, Slam Stewart and Bud Green; probably arranged by Edgar Sampson. Recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Victor on May 31, 1938 in New York. Benny Goodman, [..]
“Gypsy Without a Song” Composed by Duke Ellington, Juan Tizol and Lou Singer; arranged by Lou Singer. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Master/Brunswick on June 20, 1938 in New York. Duke Ellington, [..]
“Milenberg Joys” Composed by Jelly Roll Morton(*); arranged by Deane Kincaide. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Victor on January 19, 1939 in New York. Tommy Dorsey, first and solo trombone, directing: Andy [..]
“Easy Does It” Composed by Sy Oliver and James “Trummy” Young; arranged by Jimmy Mundy. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Columbia on March 20, 1940 in New York. William J. “Count” Basie, [..]
“Just Kiddin’ Around” Composed and arranged by Ray Conniff. Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra on October 30, 1941 in Chicago for Victor Records. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Steve Lipkins, first trumpet; Aniello “Lee” [..]
“Yard Dog Mazurka” Composed and arranged by Gerald Wilson. Recorded by Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra for Decca on August 26, 1941 in New York. Jimmie Lunceford, directing: Eugene E. “Snooky” Young, first trumpet; Paul [..]
“4:30 Blues” Composed and arranged by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra in concert on November 25-26, 1969 in Manchester, England. Duke Ellington, piano, directing: William “Cat” Anderson, Charles M. “Cootie” Williams, [..]
“Morning Glory” Composed and arranged by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor on March 6, 1940 in Chicago. Duke Ellington, piano, directing: Wallace Jones, first trumpet, Cootie Williams, trumpet, Rex [..]
The story: Try to rewind your mind to the summer of 1945, in the San Fernando Valley district of Los Angeles, California. I quote singer Mel Torme’ to fill in the rest of the details: “One [..]
“New Blues” Composed and arranged by Donall Piestrup. Recorded by the Buddy Rich Big Band on June 15, 1967 for Pacific Jazz/Liberty in Hollywood. Buddy Rich, drums, directing: Ollie Mitchell, Chuck Finley, John Scottile and [..]
Johnny Mercer…Poet of American Popular Song The story: I have found over time that my reading is very often directed by the music I have listened to recently. Last month, I rediscovered (for the umteenth [..]
“Swanee River” Composed by Stephen Foster; arranged by Sy Oliver. Recorded by Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra for Decca on September 23, 1935 in New York. Jimmie Lunceford, directing: Eddie Tompkins, Paul Webster and Sy [..]
“Invitation” Composed by Bronislaw Kaper; arranged by Walt Stuart. Recorded by Buddy Morrow and His Orchestra in New York in 1963. The Story: Bronislaw Kaper (shown at left in the 1950s) was born on February 5, 1902 [..]
“Harlem Nocturne” Composed and arranged by Earle Hagen. Recorded by Ray Noble and His Orchestra for Columbia on August 8, 1940 in Chicago. (*) Ray Noble, directing: Don Anderson, Bob Goodrich, Bert Harry, trumpets; Earle [..]
“The Chant” Composed and arranged by Artie Shaw. Recorded from a CBS Melody and Madness radio broadcast on March 12, 1939. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: John Best, first trumpet; Chuck Peterson and Bernie Privin, trumpets; George [..]