I BELIEVE IN YOU
6.29.2010
Dynamite Ham, "I Believe In You" 2005
I BELIEVE IN YOU
6.19.2010
Ralph Flanagan "Box Lunch" 1950
Ralph Flanagan was a successful bandleader who is remembered mostly for mimicking the "Glenn Miller sound." This track doesn't sound like Miller at all to me though--it's a good example of big band jazz morphing into R&B. A live recording from the Hotel Statler in New York. I think the tenor solo is by Steve Benoric. Enjoy!
箱の昼食
箱の昼食
6.15.2010
Hans Brändle, "Karussel" 1943
I can't find much info on the web about Hans Brändle. The LP I found this song on has limited liner notes, and those are in German. This appears to have been recorded in 1943, right in the middle of WWII. I'm not sure how well the Nazis tolerated this kind of swing music. (Maybe it helped bring about their downfall, bwaahahahaha!!) "Karussel" is a well-recorded, smoothly executed bit of minor key swing. Enjoy!
DIE GROSSEN TANZ-ORCHESTER
DIE GROSSEN TANZ-ORCHESTER
6.09.2010
Teddy Powell, "Sans Culottes" 1942
Hey folks, sorry I haven't posted in a while. I'll try to be more diligent.
Today's entry is "Sans Culottes" written by Bob Mersey for Teddy Powell's orchestra. It is one of many pop songs to incorporate the famous faux-Arabic riff The Streets of Cairo or "The Snake Charmer Song" into its chart. Gramaphone gave the recording a positive-to-mixed review in its February 1942 edition, saying:
Sans Culottes (meaning " Without Trousers ") has its points. Composition is a bright concoction, and although the preponderance of higher frequencies ill the recording have not made the band sound any better, it plays with plenty of verve. The brass and sax teams play good style ; the rhythm department kicks invigoratingly ; and there are lively moments by the trumpet and sax soloists and the drummer.
Of course, I'm a sucker for a hard-swinging, minor key riff with big ensembles. That's pretty much what this blog is about, after all.
WITHOUT TROUSERS
Today's entry is "Sans Culottes" written by Bob Mersey for Teddy Powell's orchestra. It is one of many pop songs to incorporate the famous faux-Arabic riff The Streets of Cairo or "The Snake Charmer Song" into its chart. Gramaphone gave the recording a positive-to-mixed review in its February 1942 edition, saying:
Sans Culottes (meaning " Without Trousers ") has its points. Composition is a bright concoction, and although the preponderance of higher frequencies ill the recording have not made the band sound any better, it plays with plenty of verve. The brass and sax teams play good style ; the rhythm department kicks invigoratingly ; and there are lively moments by the trumpet and sax soloists and the drummer.
Of course, I'm a sucker for a hard-swinging, minor key riff with big ensembles. That's pretty much what this blog is about, after all.
WITHOUT TROUSERS
5.24.2010
Alvino Rey, "Sleepytown Train" 1942
Got a real fun treat for today. Alvino Rey was a guitarist and bandleader with an innovative bent. Thirty years before Peter Frampton was blowing our minds talking through his guitar, Rey devised a way to modulate the sound of his pedal steel with vocals. A few of his recordings from this period demonstrate the new technique, but none more wildly than this live recording from 1942. Enjoy!
ALL ABOARD
ALL ABOARD
5.23.2010
Artie Shaw, "Powerhouse" 1938

HAPPY 100TH, ARTIE!
5.21.2010
Mills Blue Rhythm Band, "Blue Rhythm Jam" 1947
This ferociously swinging chart was written by Van Alexander who led a couple of sessions under the MIlls Blue Rhythm Band name in 1947. It was really more of a tribute to the popular band of the same name from the '30s. The ensembles are tight, the solos are wailin'--what a fine way to kick off a beautiful springtime weekend. Enjoy!
MILLS
5.20.2010
Joe Marsala, "Topsy" 1942
Adele Girard may have been the first real "swing harpist." There had been a couple of other instances of harp showing up on jazz records, but Girard appears to be the first harpist to be a regular featured soloist in a swing band. Here's a good example of her sound recorded live in 1942 with Joe Marsala's band.
SWING THAT HARP
SWING THAT HARP
5.18.2010
Bob Chester, "Dewey Square" 1941
Here's a little fugue-like number with some brilliant unison reed section work. Much of Bob Chester's catalogue is available on CD and well worth checking out.
DEWEY
DEWEY
Lionel Hampton, "Calling Dr. Mancuso" 1948
This is a good example of a song title that gets me excited. When browsing through LPs or 78s from this era, you come across a lot of yawn-inducing stuff like "I'll Be Yours Forever" or "Take Me In Your Arms." Now, I'm as much a fan of the great Tin Pan Alley songs as anyone, but I get a special tingle in my toes when I stumble on a "Calling Dr. Mancuso" among the moons and Junes. This track is a hard-swinging number recorded live during the musicians' recording strike of 1948. Hampton's instrumental sides of this period are particularly invigorating and this one is no exception.
MANCUSO
MANCUSO
5.17.2010
Jan Savitt, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" 1941
It was a common practice for big bands to record updated versions of classical standards. Though criticized by many jazz critics of the day as non-jazz novelties, I find this to be an enjoyable sub-genre of swing music. The first example of this style on this blog comes to us courtesy of Jan Savitt, one of its finest purveyors. This swinging arrangement of Paul Dukas's symphonic poem was penned by Jack Pleis. It shows respect to the original without sacrificing the big swing sound.
SORCERY
SORCERY
Labels:
1941,
Classical Updates,
Jack Pleis,
Jan Savitt
Eddie Miller, "Hum Drum" 1945

FATOOL
5.16.2010
Brick Fleagle, "Pastiche" 1945

HANGOVER
Welcome!
Hey everybody, welcome to my new blog. I've recently discovered the treasures offered by the music blogging world--some of my favorite purveyors are listed there on the right. I love the idea of sharing music that would otherwise go unheard . While I adore all kinds of music from all over the globe and all periods of history, what I have to offer the blogosphere is very specific. I have a vast collection of records from the big band era, roughly 1935 to 1949. My favorite songs from this period are the brilliant instrumentals concocted by ace composers and arrangers. They usually have funny little titles and feature moments of virtuostic playing, inventive harmonies, and head-shaking grooves at all tempos. My intention is to never share music that is still in print--I encourage you to support music retailers and the artists whose records are still available. Also, unlike most music blogs, I will usually only post individual songs, as the concept of the long-playing record didn't emerge until after the big band era. Enjoy!
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