FEBRUARY 2016 "BIG BAND NEWS"
compiled by Music Librarian CHRISTOPHER POPA
The big bands are back
in a new and exciting way!
COMPACT DISC OF THE MONTH
Count Basie and His Orchestra
“Newly Discovered Recordings: Kurhaus Concert 1954”
Doctor Jazz Magazine (Neth) DJ 015
After the Doctor Jazz Foundation, headquartered in The Netherlands, gathered some previously-unreleased 1947-48 Lionel Hampton broadcast performances into an excellent compact disc in 2014, the Editor of their magazine, Ben Kragting Jr., told me that they hoped to sometime in the future issue some Count Basie music that hadn’t ever come out.
As a matter of fact, they first intended it to be a CD of airchecks by the so-called “Old Testament” Basie band from Salt Lake City, Utah during December 1947. But plans changed when they discovered some concert recordings made by sound technician Ge Bakker when a different edition of the Basie band, referred to as the “New Testament” group, was on tour in Europe more than 60 years ago - the precise location and date was the Kurhaus in Scheveningen on March 27, 1954.
The Basie ensemble was in great shape that day, with so many fine musicians including Joe Newman and Joe Wilder, trumpets; Bill Hughes, trombone; Marshall Royal, alto sax; Frank Wess and Frank Foster, tenor saxophones; Freddie Greene, guitar; and, of course, Count Basie on piano.
Besides new tunes such as Basie English, written by Johnny Guarnieri, and Why Not, composed by Neal Hefti, you’ll enjoy some older favorites, namely Jumpin’ At the Woodside, Jive At Five, and Basie Boogie.
The sound quality, restored by Harry Coster, is impressive. Lengthy liner notes by Mr. Kragting and archivist Tim de Wolf place the concert and music in context, identify the band personnel, soloists, and composers. And nicely-designed graphics and a half-dozen photographs from the day of the concert also enhance the presentation.
You may notice that Count Basie evidently was a man of few words, for he introduces several different selections with the same phrase: “ . . . Right about now . . . ” But this is the real thing (so much more authentic than the recent Concord Jazz CD of today’s Basie Orchestra playing Christmas music).
Mr. Kragting included a note to me, “Thank you for your purchase and a happy New Year.” Sir, same to you and please, let’s have more like this!
BIG BAND LIBRARY RATING: Just like their earlier Hampton CD, great!
OTHER NEW COMPACT DISCS
Duke Ellington. “Duke Ellington And His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows Vol 20,”
D.E.T.S. (Sw) 903 9020. 2-CD set.
Maynard Ferguson. "It's My Time / Hollywood," BGO Records (E) BGOCD1202.
---. "The Ballad Style of Maynard Ferguson / Alive & Well In London," BGO Records
(E) BGOCD1206.
Neal Hefti. “Boeing Boeing / Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama’s Hung You in the Closet
and I’m Feelin’ So Sad,” Vocalion (E) CDLK 4578.
MORE COLLECTOR’S CHECKLISTS
I continue to work very hard on creating Collector’s Checklists of 33 rpm albums by the big bands. My latest include Benny Goodman, Bobby Hackett, Lucky Millinder, Raymond Scott, and Muggsy Spanier. Use the lists to see what was issued or to compare it to what you have in your collection.
NECROLOGY
John Chilton, 83, d.Feb 25, 2016. Author of Who's Who of Jazz! (Philadelphia: Chilton
Book Co, 1972), Let the Good Times Roll: The Story of Louis Jordan & His Music
(Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press, 1994), and roy eldridge: little jazz
giant (New York City: Continuum, 2002) and writer who (along with Richard M.
Sudhalter) won a Grammy Award in 1983 for his album notes to "Giants of Jazz:
Bunny Berigan" (Time-Life).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
Sammy Nestico, b.Feb 6, 1924. Arranger - composer with Basie '67-'84.
Elliot Lawrence, b.Feb 14, 1925. Pianist and bandleader.
Les Brown, Jr., b.Feb 15, 1940. Son of bandleader Les Brown. Sang with his father's
band, then, upon Les Sr.'s death, took it over.
Peggy King, b.Feb 16, 1930. Vocalist with Spivak '50; Flanagan '51; J Gray '55 "Stand
By for Music."
Pete Christlieb, b.Feb 16, 1945. Tenor saxophonist with J Gray '63-'64; Zentner '65;
Bellson '67; Severinsen / Tonight Show '72-'92.
Joe LaBarbera, b.Feb 22, 1948. Drummer with Herman '72 "The Raven Speaks."
Michael Berkowitz, b.Feb 23, 1949. Drummer and leader of Krupa Orch '03- .
Dave Pell, b.Feb 26, 1925. Tenor saxophonist with Brown '48-'55.
REMEMBERING YOU
Tricky Sam Nanton, b.Feb 1, 1904. Trombonist with Ellington '26-'45.
Stan Getz, b.Feb 2, 1927. Tenor saxophonist with Kenton '44-'45; Goodman '45-'46;
Herman ' 47-'49.
Tony Gottuso, b.Feb 2, 1917. Guitarist with Shaw '36-'37; Whiteman '38.
Joe Mondragon, b.Feb 2, 1920. Bassist with Herman '46; Rich '56-'57.
Sonny Stitt, b.Feb 2, 1924. Saxophonist with Eckstine '45-'46; Gillespie '46.
Chico Alvarez, b.Feb 3, 1920. Trumpeter with Kenton '41-'3 / '46-'51.
Snooky Young, b.Feb 3, 1919. Trumpeter with Lunceford '39-'42; Hampton '42-'43;
Basie '45-'47 / '57-'62.
Gil Bernal, b.Feb 4, 1931. Tenor saxophonist with Hampton '50-'51.
Artie Bernstein, b.Feb 4, 1909. Bassist with Nichols '31; Dorsey Bros '32-'34; Norvo
'33; Clinton '37; Thornhill '37; Goodman '39-'41.
Manny Klein, b.Feb 4, 1908. Trumpeter with Whiteman '28; Dorsey Bros '33;
Goodman '34; Shaw '40.
Don Goldie, b.Feb 5, 1930. Trumpeter with Teagarden '59-'61.
Don Fagerquist, b.Feb 6, 1927. Trumpeter with Krupa '45 / '47-'49 / '50; Shaw '49-'50;
Herman '51-'52; Brown '52-'56.
Bernie Glow, b.Feb 6, 1926. Trumpeter with Shaw '45; Raeburn ' 47 / '56 / '57;
Herman ' 47-'49 / '50 / '53.
Conrad Gozzo, b.Feb 6, 1922. Trumpeter with I Jones '38; Norvo '40; Chester '41;
Thornhill '41-'42; Shaw '42-'44; Herman '46 / '51-'57; Beneke-Miller Orch '47-'48;
then studio work for Crosby '47?-'51; J Gray '49-'53; Anthony '51-'58; May '51-'64.
Howard McGhee, b.Feb 6, 1918. Trumpeter with Hampton '41; Kirk '41-'42 / '43-'44;
Barnet '42-'43; Auld '44.
Joe Maini, b.Feb 8, 1930. Saxophonist with Rey '48; Thornhill '51.
Buddy Morrow, b.Feb 8, 1919. Trombonist with Shaw '36-'37 / '68 (Capitol LP); Duchin
'37; T Dorsey '38; Whiteman '39; Crosby '40-'42; J Dorsey '45. Leader of own band.
Leader of T Dorsey Orch '77-'91.
Peanuts Holland, b.Feb 9, 1910. Trumpeter with F Henderson '41-'42; Barnet '42-'46;
Redman '46.
Walter Page, b.Feb 9, 1900. Bassist with Moten '31-'34; Basie '36-'42 / '46-'49.
Foots Thomas, b.Feb 10, 1907. Saxophonist with Calloway '30-'43; Redman '43.
Chick Webb, b.Feb 10, 1909. Leader / drummer of own band.
Tex Beneke, b.Feb 12, 1914. Tenor saxophonist / vocalist with Miller '38-'42. Leader
of MIller Orch '46-'50. Leader of own band.
Buddy Childers, b.Feb 12, 1926. Trumpeter with Kenton '43-50 / '52-'54; T Dorsey
'51-'52.
Mel Powell, b.Feb 12, 1923. Pianist / composer with Goodman '41-'42; Miller AAF
'43-'44.
Bernie Privin, b.Feb 12, 1919. Trumpeter with Shaw '38-'39 / '68 (Capitol LP); Barnet
'40-'41 / '43; Goodman '41 / '42 / '45-'46; Miller '43-'45; Hefti '54.
Lennie Hayton, b.Feb. 13, 1908. Pianist / arranger with Nichols '27-'28; Whiteman
'28-'30. Arranger for Shaw '40-'41.
Jack Lesberg, b.Feb 14, 1920. Bassist with Spanier '40; Goodman '46 / '67;
Teagarden '47; Armstrong '47 / '49; T Dorsey '50; McKinley '50 / '53; Butterfield '54 /
'56-'5 / Hackett '63 / '69-'70.
Taft Jordan, b.Feb 15, 1915. Trumpeter with Webb '33-'39; Ellington '43-'47;
Oliver '50-'52?; Goodman '58.
Charlie Fowlkes, b.Feb 16, 1916. Baritone saxophonist with Hampton '44-'48;
Basie '51-'69 / '75-'80.
Buddy DeFranco, b.Feb 17, 1923. Clarinetist with Fio Rito '42; Barnet '43-'44; T Dorsey
'44-'45 / '45-'46 / '47; Basie '50. Bandleader '51; Miller Orch '66-'74.
Tadd Dameron, b.Feb 21, 1917. Arranger / composer for Leonard '40-?; C Hawkins
'47; Shaw '49.
Rex Stewart, b.Feb 22, 1907. Cornetist with Henderson '26 / '28-'33; Ellington '34-'45.
Joe Wilder, b.Feb 22, 1922. Trumpeter with Hampton '46; Lunceford '47; Basie '53-'54.
John Carisi, b.Feb 23, 1922. Trumpeter with Miller AAF '43; Thornhill '49 / '50;
McKinley '51-'52.
Flip Phillips, b.Feb 26, 1915. Tenor saxophonist with Herman '44-'46 / '72 (Newport,
RI Jazz Festival) / '78 (Century LP); Goodman '59-'60.
Mildred Bailey, b.Feb 27, 1907. Vocalist with Whiteman '29-'33; Norvo '36-'39;
Goodman '39.
Abe Most, b.Feb 27, 1920. Clarinetist / saxophonist with Brown '41-'42 / '49?-'50;
T Dorsey '46-'47.
Leo Watson, b.Feb 27, 1898. Vocalist with Shaw '37; Krupa '38.
Ben Webster, b.Feb 27, 1909. Tenor saxophonist with Moten '31-'33; F Henderson 34;
Calloway '36-'37; Ellington '35-'36 / '40-43 / '48-'49; Herman '43.
Lee Castle, b.Feb 28, 1915. Trumpeter with Shaw '36-'37 / '41-'42/ '50; T Dorsey ' 37-'39;
Bradley '41; Dorsey Brothers '53-'56; McKinley ('55 Grand Award LP).
Jimmy Dorsey, b.Feb 29, 1904. Alto saxophonist / clarinetist with Nichols '26-'27;
Whiteman '27-'28; Dorsey Brothers '34-'35 / '53-'56; leader of own band.
ITINERARIES
Tex Beneke Orchestra directed by Jim Snodgrass. Feb 22, "A Tribute to Glenn Miller
and the Big Band Singers," McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, CA; Feb 24, "A
Tribute to Glenn Miller and the Vocalists," Bankhead Theater, Livermore, CA; Feb
28, "A Tribute to Glenn Miller," Gallo Center for the Arts, Modesto, CA. NOTE:
on the 22nd, the singers include Patty Clark, who did the 1961 "Glenn Miller Time"
TV show with The Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Ray McKinley.
Harry James Orchestra directed by Fred Radke. Feb 27, Seattle, WA.
Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Nick Hilscher. Feb 1, Village Church, Live Oak,
FL; Feb 2, Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Niceville, FL; Feb 3, Chipley High School,
Chipley, FL; Feb 4, Naval Air Museum, Pensacola, FL; Feb 5, Fontainebleau
High School, Mandeville, LA; Feb 6, John F. Gibson Center, Monticello, AR; Feb 9,
Freedom Hall, Park Forest, IL; Feb 10, Lincoln-Way North High School, Frankfort,
IL; Feb 11, Farmington Civic Center, Farmington, MO; Feb 12, Thomas Jefferson
Day School, Joplin, MO; Feb 13, Christ Fellowship, McKinney, TX; Feb 14,
CityPlace Tower, Dallas, TX; Feb 16, Heber Springs Performing Arts Center,
Heber Springs, Arkansas, Feb 19, McGregor Hall, Henderson, NC; Feb 20,
The Alabama Theatre, North Myrtle Beach, SC; Feb 22-27, Busch Gardens Tampa
Bay, Tampa, FL.
Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Jan Slottenas. Feb 28, Culturum, Nykoping,
Sweden.
BITS AND PIECES
After 15 years in East Harlem, The National Jazz Museum will move to 58 W 129th Street as of the 16th of this month … The Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, Queens, New York presents a new exhibit, “Hotter Than That: 90 Years of Luis Armstrong and His Hot Five.” The Hot Fives were the first records to be issued under Armstrong’s own name. Meanwhile, the House Museum is looking for additional volunteers “that are 18-118 years old” to help tell Louis’ story to visitors … Francine (Wright) Bellson, married to Louie Bellson from 1992 until his death in 2009, continues to promote his legacy with the website louiebellson.info. The latest addition there is a brief section about her – she’s still a lovely, young Christian lady …
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