“Let It Snow” (1945) Woody Herman
“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: [..]
Swing & Beyond
Where Swing is King!
Tag: swingandbeyond.com
“I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” (1946) Les Brown
“I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” Composed by Irving Berlin; arranged by Skip Martin. Recorded by Les Brown and His Orchestra for Columbia on September 16, 1946 in Hollywood. Les Brown, directing: Don Paladino, [..]
Repost Number 2: On the Air with the Great Bands (1940) Tommy Dorsey–“Hallelujah!” with Johnny Mince, Don Lodice, Buddy Rich and Bunny Berigan
“Hallelujah!” Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra from a radio broadcast live over the NBC radio network, June 1, 1940 Astor (Hotel) Roof, New York City. Composed by Vincent Youmans; Arranged by Sy Oliver. [..]
Swing and Swing Redux…”Dawn on the Desert”
“Dawn on the Desert” Composed and arranged by Charlie Shavers Recorded by the John Kirby Sextet for Vocalion on January 9, 1939 in New York. John Kirby, bass, directing: Charlie Shavers, trumpet; William “Buster” [..]
“High Society” (1938) Bunny Berigan
“High Society” Composed by Porter Steele and Walter Melrose; arranged by Joe Lippman. Recorded on September 13, 1938 by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra for Victor in New York City. Roland B. “Bunny” Berigan, first [..]
Reads and re-reads…Clark Terry and Larry Elgart – Terry “So What Else is New”? (1965) with the Tonight Show Band; and Elgart “Soon” (1966)
Some Thoughts on the Autobiography of Clark Terry, and Recollections of Larry Elgart. I have recently read two books about notable musicians, an autobiography by the great jazz trumpeter Clark Terry (1920-2015), and the other, [..]
“I Hear Music” (1940) Billie Holiday
“I Hear Music” Composed by Frank Loesser (lyric) and Burton Lane (music). Recorded by Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra for Okeh Records in New York on September 12, 1940. Billie Holiday, vocal, with: Roy Eldridge, [..]
“Body and Soul” (1939) Coleman Hawkins
“Body and Soul” Composed by Johnny Green; “Head” arrangement. Recorded by Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra for RCA Bluebird on October 11, 1939. Coleman Hawkins, tenor saxophone, directing: Tommy Lindsey and Joe Guy, trumpets; Earl [..]
“Summer Sequence Part 4” (1947) and “Early Autumn” (1948) Woody Herman
“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 [..]
“Spinnin’ the Webb” (1938) Chick Webb
“Spinnin’ the Webb” Composed by Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald. Arranged by Wayman Carver. Recorded by Chick Webb and His Orchestra on May 3, 1938 for Decca in New York City. Chick Webb, drums, [..]
“A String of Pearls” (1941) A Miller Memory… or How would you ever have anything signed by such a great bandleader?
Recently, I was fortunate enough to listen to a concert of big band music here in my home town of Canton, Ohio with a gentleman whom I have known for many years. He is 91 [..]
Gershwin’s Piano Prelude 2, played by Buddy Morrow (1964)
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 [..]
Repost Number One: “Summertime” (1945) Artie Shaw/Eddie Sauter
*************** I am taking this opportunity to celebrate the 150,000th visit to swingandbeyond.com. I am selecting one of my previous posts, which I have spruced-up a bit, to celebrate with. The music I included in [..]
“I Can’t Get Started” (1937) Bunny Berigan
“I Can’t Get Started” Music composed by Vernon Duke, lyric by Ira Gershwin. Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra for Victor on August 7, 1937 in New York. Bunny Berigan, trumpet, directing: Steve [..]
Bud, Benny and the High Holidays – “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” (1937) with Tommy Dorsey and “Topsy” (1938) with Benny Goodman
With the approach the High Holidays of the Jewish faith each year, I think of the pioneering jazz tenor saxophonist Bud Freeman. Although Bud was Jewish, I think it accurate to describe him as a [..]
Mary Lou Williams…First Woman of Swing “Big Jim Blues” (1939) and “Roll ‘Em” (1937)
I have recently been re-reading the wonderful biography of pianist/arranger/composer Mary Lou Williams entitled “Morning Glory,” by Linda Dahl, (1999) University of California Press. I have long been beguiled by Ms. Williams’s compositions and arrangements, [..]
“King Porter Stomp” (1935) Benny Goodman with Bunny Berigan
Composed by Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton, arranged by Fletcher Henderson. Recorded on July 1, 1935 by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra for Victor Records in New York. Benny Goodman, clarinet, directing: Roland B.”Bunny” Berigan, first [..]
“Begin the Beguine” (1938) Artie Shaw
“Begin the Beguine” Composed by Cole Porter; arranged by Jerry Gray Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for RCA Bluebird on July 24, 1938 in New York. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: John Best, [..]
“It Don’t Mean a Thing…If It Ain’t Got That Swing” (1932) Duke Ellington with Ivie Anderson
“It Don’t Mean a Thing…If It Ain’t Got That Swing” Music, lyric and arrangement by Duke Ellington. Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra on February 2, 1932 for Brunswick Records in New York. [..]
“Soft Winds” (1940) Erskine Hawkins
“Soft Winds” Composed by Benny Goodman? Fletcher Henderson? Charlie Christian?, arranged by Sammy Lowe. Recorded by Erskine Hawkins (The Twentieth Century Gabriel) and His Orchestra for RCA-Bluebird, November 6, 1940, New York City. Erskine [..]
Mosaic Classic 1936-1947 Count Basie and Lester Young Studio Sessions
Mosaic Classic 1936-1947 Count Basie and Lester Young Studio Sessions First Impressions: Yesterday I received the new Mosaic set of recordings featuring Count Basie and Lester Young. Whenever I receive any set of Mosaic recordings, [..]
“You Go to My Head” (1938) Jan Savitt & Carlotta Dale
“You Go to My Head” Composed by J. Fred Coots (music) and Haven Gillespie (lyric); arranged by Johnny Watson. Recorded by Jan Savitt and His Top Hatters for RCA Bluebird in New York on [..]
“Harlem Speaks” (1941) Charlie Barnet
“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” Cab Calloway (1940), with Chu Berry and Dizzy Gillespie
“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, [..]
“Prelude in C Sharp Major” (1940) Artie Shaw
“Prelude in C Sharp Major” Composed and Arranged by Ray Conniff and Artie Shaw Recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra for Victor Records December 4, 1940 in Hollywood. Artie Shaw, clarinet, directing: Billy [..]
“Loose Lid Special” (1941) Tommy Dorsey
“Loose Lid Special” Composed and Arranged by Sy Oliver Recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra for Victor Records July 15, 1941 in New York Personnel: Tommy Dorsey, lead and solo trombone, directing: Chuck [..]
“Take the ‘A’ Train” (1941) Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn with Ray Nance
“Take the ‘A’ Train” Composed and arranged by Billy Strayhorn Recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra for Victor Records; February 15,1941, Hollywood CA Duke Ellington, piano, directing: Wallace Jones, first trumpet; Ray Nance, [..]
The Birth Of Swing – Louis Armstrong and “West End Blues (1928),” Bix Beiderbecke and “Clementine” (1927)
Louis Armstrong and “West End Blues,” Bix Beiderbecke and “Clementine,” and the “Birth” of Swing An introduction to the music, musicians and singers of the swing era. During the swing era, big bands were the [..]