Where Swing is King!
“It Never Entered My Mind” Composed by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. Recorded by George Shearing for Concord Jazz in San Francisco, California in May of 1985. George Shearing, solo piano. The story: Two of [..]
“Robbins’ Nest” Composed by Illinois Jacquet and Sir Charles Thompson; arranged by Henry Mancini. Recorded by Henry Mancini and His Orchestra for RCA Victor on August 11, 1959 in Hollywood, California. Henry Mancini, directing: Dick [..]
“Happy-Go-Lucky Local” Composed and arranged by Duke Ellington, with probable revisions in Duke’s original arrangement by Mercer Ellington. Recorded by Mercer Ellington with The Duke Ellington Orchestra for Fantasy on May 12, 1975 in New [..]
“Everything Happens to Me” Composed by Matt Dennis and Tom Adair; arranged by Axel Stordahl. Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Victor on February 7, 1941 in New York. Thomas Francis Dorsey, Jr., [..]
“Big Noise From Winnetka” Composed by Bob Haggart and Ray Bauduc Recorded by Bob Haggart and Ray Bauduc for Decca on October 14, 1938 in Chicago. Bob Haggart, bass and whistling; Ray Bauduc, drums. The [..]
“Cherry Juice” Composed and arranged by Thad Jones. Recorded by the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra for Horizon on January 10, 1976. Thad Jones, flugelhorn, directing: Al Porcino, first trumpet; Sinclair Acey, Waymon Reed,Cecil Bridgewater, trumpets; [..]
Dr. Funk Makes a House Call The story: Although I was fortunate to have a father who exposed me to swing music when I was a child, my awareness of mainstream jazz came when I [..]
“Blues in Hoss’ Flat” Composed and arranged by Frank Foster. Recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra for Roulette on April 28, 1958 in New York City. William J. “Count” Basie, piano, directing: Eugene “Snooky” [..]
“White Christmas” Composed by Irving Berlin. Recorded by Barbra Streisand for Columbia in September 1967 in Los Angeles. The story: Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” was used in the 1942 Paramount film, Holiday Inn, starring Bing Crosby [..]
“Jingle Bells” Composed by J.S. Pierpont; arranged by Bill Finegan and Glenn Miller. Additional lyrics by Hal Dickinson and Bill Conway. Recorded live on the CBS “Moonlight Serenade Chesterfield Time with Glenn Miller” radio show [..]
“Let It Snow” Composed by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne; arranged by Neal Hefti. Recorded by Woody Herman and His Orchestra for Columbia on December 10, 1945 in New York City. Woody Herman, vocal, directing: [..]
Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra live over the NBC radio network, June 1, 1940 Astor (Hotel) Roof, New York City. “Hallelujah!” Composed by Vincent Youmans; Arranged by Sy Oliver. Tommy Dorsey, first and solo trombone; [..]
“Summer Sequence Part 4” Composed and Arranged by Ralph Burns. Recorded by Woody Herman and His Orchestra for Columbia on December 27, 1947 in Hollywood, California. Woody Herman, alto saxophone, directing: Bernie Glow,Stan Fishelson, Marky [..]
More Music by Gershwin I continue my tribute to the music of George Gershwin by presenting a superb 1964 performance of his Piano Prelude 2 in a magnificent arrangement by John Woehrmann, for trombone virtuoso Buddy [..]
“Harlem Speaks” Composed by Duke Ellington; arranged by Andy Gibson. Recorded by Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra for RCA-Bluebird on August 14, 1941 in Hollywood, California. Charlie Barnet, alto saxophone, directing: Seymour “Sy” Baker, first [..]
“Boo-Wah Boo-Wah” Composed by Larry Clinton; arranged by Buster Harding Recorded by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra for OKeh Records on August 5, 1940 in New York City. Cab Calloway, vocal, directing: Mario Bauza, [..]