The big bands are back
in a new and exciting way
MAY 2016
"BIG BAND NEWS"
compiled by Music Librarian
CHRISTOPHER POPA
BIG BAND BONANZA ON COMPACT DISCS
Fans of our kind of music will be delighted at the variety of new releases now available or on their way, including several must-buys!
Louis Armstrong. “Louis Armstrong ‘live’: On The Small Screen,” Mr. Music MMCD
7043. Twenty selections from his appearances on the “Eddie Condon Floor Show” TV programs in 1949. Satch’s “All-Stars” featured, among others, Jack Teagarden and Earl Hines. The sound quality from Mr. Music (aka producer Wayne Knight) is always good.
Georgie Auld. “Four Classic Albums: In the land of Hi-Fi with Georgie Auld and his orchestra / Misty: tenor sax solos by Georgie Auld / the melody lingers on: georgie auld and the mello larks / Georgie Auld And His Sextet: good enough to keep,” Avid (E) AMSC 1192. Four LPs on two discs, but much of it has already been out on CD.
Count Basie. “Blues Backstage: Count Basie Orchestra,” 55 Records Dutch Jazz Archive Series (J) NJA 1502. As performed live at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam on September 22, 1956. The tunes include You for Me, Shiny Stockings, Be My Guest, and April in Paris. Basie’s voice starts things off, and it’s interesting to hear his enjoyment and verbal asides throughout.
---. The “Complete Live at the Crescendo 1958,” Phono Records PHN 147920, is said to be for the first time ever on a single set, 5 CDs with all existing live recordings made by Basie’s “Atomic Band” at the Crescendo Club in Los Angeles during the summer of 1958. Plus (as “bonus tracks”) the band’s appearance on Bobby Troup’s NBC “Stars of Jazz” TV show on June 23, 1958.
---. “Classic 1936-1947 Count Basie And Lester Young Studio Sessions,” Mosaic MD8-263. It will be an 8-CD package with music from record labels such as Bluebird, Brunswick, Columbia, Decca, Victor, and Vocalion. Included will be an alternate take of Honeysuckle Rose, which is the earliest known recording of the Basie Orchestra as well as three previously-unissued alternate takes of Young’s first record date in 1936.
Tex Beneke. “The Complete Tex Beneke And The Glenn Miller Orchestra: Part Three: 1947,” Sounds of YesterYear (E) 2024. The playlist includes Without Music and Lone Star Moon.
---. “The Complete Tex Beneke And The Glenn Miller Orchestra: Part Four (1946-1950),” Sounds of YesterYear (E) DSOY 2027. The band finishes 1947 then moves into 1949, with Cherokee Canyon, At the Flying “W,” and Ichabod.
Les Brown. “Four Classic Albums: The Les Brown All Stars / that sound of renown: Les Brown / Jazz Song Book / Swing Song Book,” Avid (E) AMSC 1193. 2-CDs of good music; too bad the latter two albums have already been reissued on CD.
Duke Ellington. “Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Rotterdam 1969,” Storyville (Sw)
101 8440. A good-quality, representative stereo concert recording of Ellington at De Doelen Concert Hall in Rotterdam in The Netherlands.
Coleman Hawkins. “Intimate: Duo, Trio, Quartet & Quintet Recordings: 1934-38,”
Acrobat (E) ACMCD 4387. Alternate takes are included with many tunes.
Tiny Hill. “Dancin’ and Singin’,” Music Boutique CD-R. Originally a Mercury LP compiled from 78s, but here with phony stereo and sounding disappointingly muffled.
Stan Kenton. “The Stuttgart Experience: Stan Kenton Orchestra,” SWR (G) 30099 4575. A live performance from 1972 with ten lengthy selections such as Intermission Riff (10:32!), Chiapas (8:29), and Theme From Love Story (6:10).
---. “stan kenton and his orchestra: Concerts In Miniature: Vol 14,” Sounds of YesterYear (E) DSOY 2028. Now up to February 1953.
Glenn Miller. “Sun Valley Serenade / Orchestra Wives,” Kritzerland KR 20030-7. Most of the important stuff from Miller’s two movies has been out many times before, going back over 50 years, but this, admittedly sounds very good (try The Spirit Is Willing, for example). There are additional sounds or pieces of unreleased music that Miller aficionados seemingly crave (and love to compare against previous issues), but it’s not all by him – much music here is by the 20th Fox studio orchestra. I’m surprised that The Kiss Polka opening title music wasn’t identified as Miller’s band and am given the impression that I Know Why was the real “plug” tune of “Sun Valley Serenade” since it’s heard repeatedly. Listing Sun Valley Jump as Sunny Valley Jump was a silly error.
Vaughn Monroe. “Vaughn Monroe’s Greatest Hits,” Acrobat (E) ADDCD 3159. All 48 of his hits that made the top 20 are included here, such as So You’re the One, G’Bye Now, The Shrine of Saint Cecilia, Tangerine, and Fishin’ for the Moon. In other words, along with his biggest successes, some other songs that typically have been ignored in previous reissues.
Paul Whiteman. “The Complete Columbia Recordings,” Crystal Stream Audio (Aus) IDCD 325~329. Five CDs in all, with Pops’ Columbia discs of 1928-29.
Various artists. “America’s Greatest Hits: 1940: The First Chart Year,” Acrobat (E) ADDCD 3153. As listed in Billboard magazine starting in July 1940, the top 47 pop records by bands including T Dorsey, J Dorsey, Miller, Kyser, Barnet, Ayres, Savitt, Shaw, E Hawkins, Bradley, Chester, Crosby, and Monroe on 2 CDs.
---. “The Bennie Moten Collection: 1923 - 32,” Acrobat (E) FADCD 2058. 2-CDs of recordings by Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra which included Count Basie on piano and future Basie band singer Jimmy Rushing on vocals.
---. “Stormy Weather,” Kritzlerland KR 20029-7. 2-CDs of joyous music by Fats Waller, Cab Calloway, and others. Most of this had been out before (in fact, the liner notes from the 1993 CD are included), but this expanded edition is the most comprehensive and superior.
NEW DVD
Carmen Cavallaro. “The Time, The Place and the Girl,” Warner Bros Archive Collection. The 1946 movie which was done in Technicolor.
NEW COLLECTOR’S CHECKLISTS
I continue to work very hard at compiling checklists for collectors of 33 rpm big band records. Completed this month are Coleman Hawkins, Louis Jordan, Sammy Kaye, Elliot Lawrence, and Vaughn Monroe. Use them to compare to what you have or see what was issued.
ON TOUR WITH THE BIG BANDS
Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Nick Hilscher. May 1, Lebanon High School, Lebanon, PA; May 2, private; May 6, The Carlyle Club, Alexandria, VA; May 8, Fogelberg Performing Arts Center, Burlington, MA; May 9, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River, VT; May 10-11, Saco River Theatre, Buxton, ME; May 13, Doubletree Hotel, Monroeville, PA; May 14, Peoples Bank Theatre, Marietta, OH; May 15, Valley High School, New Kensington, PA; May 17, Memorial Hall, Ft. Jennings, OH; May 18, Music Hall Ballroom, Cincinnati, OH; May 20, Poretta’s, Chicago, IL, May 22, The Arcada Theatre, St. Charles, IL.
BUNNY BERIGAN JUBILEE
The annual "Bunny Berigan Jazz Jubilee" will be held on the 13th through the 15th of this month with musical programs and more.
The schedule includes a special service at Berigan’s grave on the 14th and a performance by The Kaye Berigan 5Tet on the 15th.
Begun in 1973 as a single-day event, it has developed into a weekend celebration and complete information about the "Jubilee" is on the website bunnyberiganjazzjubilee.com.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO…
Lorry Peters, b.May 20, 1932. Vocalist with McKinley-Miller Orch '57-'59.
Gene DiNovi, b.May 26, 1928. Pianist with Shaw '49 (5/31 Columbia session);
Goodman '48 (9/9 Capitol session) / '59.
REMEMBERING YOU
Billy Byers, b.May 1, 1927. Trombonist with Auld '49; Goodman '49 (3/31 Capitol
session); Ventura '50. Arranger for Basie '64-'65.
Henderson Chambers, b.May 1, 1908. Trombonist with Armstrong '41-'43; Redman
'43 (V-Discs) / '46; Oliver '47-'52; Millinder '50-'53? / '55; Basie '53 / '64-'66;
Ellington '57 (Blue Note 6/12 broadcast); Calloway '58 (Gone album).
Bing Crosby, b.May 2, 1904. Vocalist with Whiteman '26-'30; recorded with Dorsey
Bros '29 / '32 / '33 / '35; Ellington ' 30 / '32; J Dorsey '31 / '36 / '37 / '46; Redman ‘32.
Bob Crosby '38 / '40 / '42; Venuti '39 / Herman '41 / '42; Teagarden '41; Jordan '44;
Hampton '46; Nichols '51; Armstrong '51 / '56 / '60.
Van Alexander, b.May 2, 1915. Arranger with Webb '36-'38 and bandleader '39-'43 /
Capitol LPs '59-'62.
Yank Lawson, b.May 3, 1911. Trumpeter with Pollack '33-'34; Crosby '35-'38 / '41-'42 /
'50 / '58 / '64 / '66 / '85; T Dorsey '38-'39; Goodman '43 / '85; Byrne '53; Armstrong
'57.
Maynard Ferguson, b.May 4, 1928. Trumpeter with J Dorsey '49; Barnet '49. Leader of
own band.
Mary Ann McCall, b.May 4, 1919. Vocalist with Herman '39 / '46 / '47-'49 / '76; Barnet
'39-'40; Shaw '50 (1/6 Gramercy Five Decca session); Ventura '54-'55?.
Sonny Payne, b.May 4, 1926. Drummer with E Hawkins '50-'53; Basie '55-'62 /
'62-'64 / '73-'74; James '67-'73?; Jacquet '76.
Moe Purtill, b.May 4, 1916. Drummer with Norvo '36-'37; T Dorsey '38; Miller '39-'42.
Paul Barbarin, b.May 5, 1901. Drummer with Armstrong '35-'38.
Frankie Carlson, b.May 5, 1914. Drummer and / or tympany with Herman '36-'43;
Miller '39; Nichols '44; Auld '52; Kenton '63 / '6 / '65 / '66.
Paul Quinichette, b.May 7, 1921. Tenor saxophonist with McShann '43-'44; Millinder
'48?-'49; Basie '51-'53; Goodman '55.
Herbie Steward, b.May 7, 1926. Saxophonist with Shaw '44-'45 / '49-'50; Rey '46;
Herman '47 / E Lawrence '50 (Decca "Prom Night" LP) / '57 (Four Brothers:
"Together Again" Vik LP); James '51-'54.
Red Nichols, b.May 8, 1905. Leader of own band.
Mary Lou Williams, b.May 8, 1910. Pianist / composer / arranger for Kirk '29-'42?;
Goodman '37 (Roll 'Em) / '48 (Mary's Idea) / '78; Ellington '46 (Blue Skies).
Bob Zurke, b.May 9, 1910. Pianist with Crosby '36-'39. Leader of own band.
Al Hendrickson, b.May 10, 1920. Guitarist with Shaw '40-'41; Slack '41 / '44 / '46 / '55
(EmArcy album); Goodman '47; Herman '47 / '51 / '55 / '57; May '53-'58?.
Pee Wee Hunt, b.May 10, 1907. Trombonist / vocalist with G Gray '29-'43.
Mel Lewis, b.May 10, 1929. Drummer for Anthony '49-'50 / '53 / '54; Beneke '50-'53;
Kenton '54-'57?.
J.C. Higginbotham, b.May 11, 1906. Trombonist with F Henderson '31-'33? / '37;
Carter '33; Millinder (Mills Blue Rhythm Band) '34-'36?; Armstrong '37-'40; Shaw '41
(6/26 Victor session).
Jack Jenney, b.May 12, 1910. Trombonist with Norvo '34-'35; Miller '35 (4/25 Columbia
session); Shaw '40-'41 / '41-'42?; Goodman '43. Leader of own band.
Bobby Plater, b.May 13, 1914. Saxophonist for Hampton '45-'51?; Basie '64-'82.
Skip Martin, b.May 14, 1916. Saxophonist or composer / arranger for Barnet '39-'40;
Goodman '41; Basie '41; Miller '41-'42; Brown '45? / '49.
Al Porcino, b.May 15, 1925. Trumpeter with Prima '44; Auld '45-'46; Herman '46 / '49 /
'54; Krupa '46; Kenton '50 / '55; Basie '51 / '62 (Sinatra / Basie Reprise album);
Barnet '52; J Gray '56-'57.
Zutty Singleton, b.May 14, 1898. Drummer with Armstrong '28; Eldridge '36?-'37;
Hampton '39 (12/24 Victor session); Waller '43; Teagarden '43 (11/16).
Dud Bascomb, b.May 16, 1916. Trumpeter with E Hawkins '36-'43; Ellington '47.
Eddie Bert, b.May 16, 1922. Trombonist with Norvo '41?-'42; Herman '43 / '50 (5/5
Capitol session); Kenton '47; Raeburn '48 / '56; Les Elgart '53-'54; E Lawrence
'54-'58?; Goodman '58 / '85?.
Woody Herman, b.May 16, 1913. Clarinetist with I Jones '34?-'36. Leader of own band.
Joe Roland, b.May 17, 1920. Vibraphonist with Shaw '53-'54.
Kai Winding b.May 18, 1922. Trombonist with Goodman '45-'46; Kenton '46-'47;
Ventura '47-'48?; Herman '53; McKinley '54 (Decca); Hampton '79.
Georgie Auld, b.May 19, 1919. Saxophonist with Berigan '37-'38; Shaw '38-'39 /
'41-'42; Savitt '40; Goodman '40-'41; Barnet '54 (6/27 Clef session). Leader of
own band.
Fats Waller, b.May 22, 1904. Pianist / vocalist with own band.
Roger Segure, b.May 22, 1905. Composer / arranger for Lunceford '40-'44; Shaw
'49?-'50.
Artie Shaw, b.May 23, 1910. Leader of own band.
Milt Bernhart, b.May 25, 1926. Trombonist with Raeburn '47; Kenton '47?-'51 / '55 /
'56 ("Kenton in Hi-Fi" album); Goodman '48-'49; Ferguson '50 / '52 / '54.
Edgar Hayes, b.May 25, 1904. Pianist / arranger with Millinder (Mills Blue Rhythm Band)
'31-'36. Leader of own band.
Ziggy Elman, b.May 26, 1914. Trumpeter with Goodman '36-'40; T Dorsey '40-'42? /
'46. Leader of own band.
Peggy Lee, b.May 26, 1922. Vocalist with Goodman '41-'43 / '59 ("Swing Into Spring"
TV show).
Bud Shank, b.May 27, 1926. Saxophonist with Barnet '48; Kenton '50-'51.
Dave Barbour, b.May 28, 1912. Guitarist with Norvo '36; Armstrong '38 (6/24 Decca
session); Shaw '39; Auld '40 (2/40 Varsity session); Goodman '42-'43; Teagarden '43
(11/16); Barnet '45.
Andy Kirk, b.May 28, 1898. Leader of own band.
Dick Hafer, b.May 29, 1927. Saxophonist with Barnet '49 / '58; Thornhill '50? (incl
RCA Victor "Gershwin" album); Herman '51-'55; Beneke '55; Hackett '57-'58;
Goodman '58 / '62.
Benny Goodman, b.May 30, 1909. Clarinetist with Pollack '25-'28; Nichols '29 /
'30-'31. Leader of own band.
Dave McKenna, b.May 30, 1930. Pianist with Herman ' 50-'51.
Bobby Sherwood, b.May 30, 1914. Guitarist / arranger with Shaw '40. Leader of own
band.
Gene Gifford, b.May 31, 1908. Composer / arranger for G Gray '29-'39?.
Otto (Toby) Hardwick, b.May 31, 1904. Alto saxophonist with Ellington '26-'28 / '32-'46.
BITS AND PIECES
Doug Flood, a one-time Police Officer who served as Curator of Guy Lombardo’s music center on Wonderland Road in London, Ontario, Canada until it was closed by the City in 2007, died on March 26th at the age of 86. Flood was said to have a real passion for local history, including Lombardo’s achievements ... Congratulations to the residents of Tower City, PA for another (the 10th) successful “Les Brown Big Band Weekend” held last month at Williams Valley High School. Hundreds of people attended, including Les’ son, Les Brown Jr., now age 76, and pianist Donn Trenner, 89, a former member of the Band of Renown, who were special guests … After some trouble with the cardboard box, Rollofone Records now promises an early summer delivery on their set of newly-pressed and mastered Glenn Miller 78s ...
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