"BIG BAND NEWS"
JULY 2005
reported by Christopher Popa
1. Who Said Shorty Wasn't Coming Back Lee Richardson, vocal
2. Mr. Trumpet Man
3. Let It Roll Again Lucky Millinder, vocal
4. My Little Baby
5. The Jumpin' Jack
6. Clap Your Hands
7. Please Open Your Heart Lee Richardson, vocal
8. Silent George
9. Chew Tobacco Rag Joe Carroll, vocal
10. Georgia Rose
11. I'm Waiting Just for You Annisteen Allen, vocal
12. Bongo Boogie
13. The Right Kind of Lovin'
14. No One Else Could Be Annisteen Allen and Melvin Moore, vocal
15. It's Been a Long, Long Time
16. The Grape Vine Melvin Moore, vocal
17. Please Be Careful Pigmeat Pederson, vocal
18. Loaded with Love Corky Robbins and Johnny Bosworth, vocal
19. When I Gave You My Love
20. Lord Knows I Tried
21. I'm Here Love
22. It's a Sad, Sad Feeling Cathy Ryan and The Admirals, vocal
23. Ow!
24. Goody Good Love
MORE NEW CD RELEASES:
Louis Armstrong: "Volume 2," Jazz Archives 16064; "The Complete Town Hall Concert 1947,"
Fresh Sound 701; "Historic Barcelona Concerts At the Windsor Palace 1955," Fresh Sound
3004 (2-CDs); "In Scandanavia, Vol.2" Storyville 8349
Charlie Barnet, "The Everest Years - Expanded Edition," Universal 450704
Count Basie: "The Start of a Jazz Legend, Volume 1," Jazz Archives 16065
Benny Carter, "Master Lessons 1952," Hep Cat Records
June Christy, "Sings Something Cool," ASV 5570
Buck Clayton: "From New York to Paris," Jazz Archives 16066
Buddy DeFranco: "1949-'52 Studio Performances," Hep 77
Tommy Dorsey: "The Tommy Dorsey Centennial Album," Sounds of Yesteryear 673
Duke Ellington: "The Piano Player," Storyville 8399
Ella Fitzgerald: "Hello Dolly," Verve
Maynard Ferguson: "Band Ain't Draggin'," Fresh Sound 2204
Dizzy Gillespie: "Gettin' Dizzy: The High-Flying Dizzy Gillespie," Savoy; "Closer to the Square,"
Collectibles 6738; "Town Hall, New York City," Uptown 2751
Paul Gonsalves: "Humming Bird," Vocalion 8404
Benny Goodman: "Live Swing Sessions 1943 - 1949," Jazz Unlimited 2092 (2-CDs)
Chubby Jackson, "Chubby Takes Over," Empire Music Werks
Harry James: "The Jazz Sides: 1937-1947," Jazz Legends 1024; "Young Dick Haymes with
Harry James Live (1940-1941)," Ballad 9
Isham Jones: "Swingin' Down the Lane," ASV 5320
Thad Jones: "Live At the Village Vanguard," Capitol 60438
Louis Jordan: "#1s (Number Ones)," Universal 2789
Sammy Kaye: "Kaye's Melody," Sounds of Yesteryear 674
Stan Kenton: "At the Hollywood Bowl 1948," Sounds of Yesteryear 672; "Stan Kenton Conducts
the Los Angeles Neophonic Orchestra, Vol.1," Tantara 1120; "Stan Kenton Conducts the Los
Angeles Neophonic Orchestra, Vol.2," Tantara 1121
John Kirby: "Night Whispers: 1938-1946," Jazz Legends 1022
Kay Kyser, "Kollege of Musical Knowledge," ASV 5332
Johnny Mercer: "Dream Team," Sepia 1051
Ella Mae Morse: The Morse Code," Jasmine 418
Bennie Moten: "Moten Swing," ASV 5578
Gerry Mulligan: "Bernie's Tune," Jazz Archives 16060; "Jeru," Columbia/Legacy
The Pied Pipers: "Dreams From the Sunny Side of the Street," Jasmine 412
Louis Prima: "Boogie Woogie," Fruit Tree 831
Buddy Rich: "Different Drummer," BMG Japan BVCJ-37432; "Rich in London," BMG
Japan BVCJ-37433; "Stick It," BMG Japan BVCJ-37434; "Buddy Rich Plays & Plays
& Plays," BMG Japan BVCJ-37435
Pete Rugolo: "Rugolovations," Jasmine 413 (2-CDs)
Artie Shaw: "The Complete Rhythm Makers Sessions 1937-1938 Volume III," Jazz Band 2194;
"Summit Ridge Drive," ASV 2007 (2-CDs); "The Artie Shaw Story," Proper Box 85 (4-CDs)
Jack Teagarden, "A Hundred Years From Today," ASV 2005
Fats Waller: "Fats Waller," Jazz Archives 16067
Ted Weems, "The Complete . . . Volume 1: My Gal Sal and 24 More Classic 1923 - 1926
Recordings," Renovation 7005
various: "Yesterday's Dreams," ASV 2001 (2-CDs)
NEW DVDs:
Billie Holiday, "Lady Day's Life," Music Video Distributors
ITINERARIES - SELECT LIST:
Count Basie Orchestra directed by Bill Hughes: July 1-3, Blues Alley, Washington, DC;
July 6, Patras, Greece; July 8, Torre Vieja, Spain; July 9, North Sea Jazz Festival, Hague,
Netherlands; July 10, Estoril, Portugal; July 12, Tunis, Tunisia; July 14-15, Perugia, Italy;
July 16, Wigan, United Kingdom
Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra directed by Bill Tole: July 4, Long Island, NY; July 28, Camden, NJ
Jan Garber Orchestra under the direction of Howard Schnieder: July 21, Wisconsin
Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI
Woody Herman Orchestra directed by Frank Tiberi: July 1-2, Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club,
London, England
The Famous Vincent Lopez Orchestra directed by Vincent Lopez Jr.: July 4, concert,
Quakertown, PA; July 17, concert, Northampton, PA; July 19, concert, Southampton, PA;
July 20, private party, Princeton, NJ; July 22, private party, Hopewell, NJ; July 25, private party,
Trump Casino, Atlantic City, NJ; July 29, private dinner-dance, Long Island, NY
Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Larry O'Brien: July 2, Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove,
NJ; July 5, Farthing Auditorium, Boone, NC; July 8, Pabst Theatre, Milwaukee, WI; July 9,
Lucius Woods Performing Arts Center, Solow Springs, WI; July 10, Calumet Theater,
Calumet, MI; July 12, Cheboygan Opera House, Cheboygan, MI; July 15, Leelanau Sands
Casino, Peshawbestown, MI; July 17, Fredonia Opera House, Fredonia, NY; July 18, Art Park,
Lewistown, NY; July 19, Central Parklett, State College, PA; July 21, Tanner Park, Copiague,
NY; July 22, Rhodes On The Pawtuxet (by invitation), Cranston, RI; July 23, YMCA, Boothbay
Harbor, ME; July 24, Messalonskee Performing Arts Center, Oakland, ME; July 25, Saratoga
National Golf Club (private), Saratoga Springs, NY; July 26, Southern Vermont Arts Center,
Manchester, VT; July 27, City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA; July 28-29, The Stoneham Theatre,
Stoneham, MA; July 30, (private), Mt. Arlington, NJ; July 31, Sellersville Theatre, Sellersville, PA
Russ Morgan Orchestra directed by Jack Morgan: July 10, Indiana Roof Ballroom,
Indianapolis, IN
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see also
Bayot, Jennifer. "Myron Floren, 85, Welk's Accordion Player, Dies," The New York Times,
nytimes.com, July 25, 2005.
Kirschenmann, Jay. "Floren was down-to-earth, versatile player: Accordionist remembered
as one of state's most noted musicians," Sioux Falls [SD] Argus Leader, argusleader.com,
July 26, 2005.
Maloney, Ron. "Wurstfest headliner dies of cancer," The [New Braunfels, TX] Herald-Zeitung,
hearld-zeitung.com, July 24, 2005.
McClellan, Dennis. "Accordion Player Featured on Welk Show Dies," The Los Angeles Times,
latimes.com, July 24, 2005.
Potempa, Philip. "Lawrence Welk's Myron Floren musically remembered," Northwest Indiana
Times, thetimesonline.com, July 25, 2005.
ADDITIONAL NECROLOGY:
Tom Talbert, 80, pianist - arranger (Thornhill, Pastor, Kenton), July 1, 2005, after a severe stroke
June Haver, 79, actress - singer (Martin, Fio Rito), July 4, 2005, respiratory failure
Frances Langford, 92, singer - actress ("The Glenn Miller Story"), July 11, 2005, congestive
heart failure
Gene Bockey, 80, alto saxophonist (J. Dorsey '47-'49), July 18, 2005
Jules Herman, 93, trumpeter (Welk), July 22, 2005, heart failure
Al McKibbon, 86, bassist (Millinder '44), July 29, 2005, kidney failure
Lucky Thompson, 81, tenor saxophonist (Basie '44-'45), July 30, 2005, had suffered from
Alzheimer's Disease
SUNNYBROOK BALLROOM:
Attempts to preserve and re-open the historic Sunnybrook Ballroom in Pottstown, PA continue, with a bank now in possession of the landmark, following a sheriff's sale on July 27th. A lawyer representing Cap Financial Properties, which held the $1.6 million debt on the 15-acre property, was the only bidder, so they won the property by paying cost, or $4,429 (that is, the cost the bank paid to advertise the sale, after it foreclosed on the mortgage of the former owner). The Ballroom was built in 1931 and its 18,000 square foot dance floor was said to be one of the largest in the nation. Costs to renovate the building as a ballroom-restaurant are estimated at $2 million.
see also
Hessler Jr., Carl. "Bank wants to sell Sunnybrook Ballroom," The [Pottstown, PA] Mercury,
pottstownmercury.com, July 28, 2005.
SWEET'S BALLROOM:
Another famous big band site, Sweet's Ballroom in Oakland, CA, is up for sale, amid planned revitalization in the area. Asking price is $5.2 million for the building, which presently houses the Ballroom, a public charter school, and a clothing shop. Sweet's first opened in the 1920s.
see also
Katz, Alex. "Ballroom could be Sweet deal for right investor," Inside Bay Area,
insidebayarea.com, July 26, 2005.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG:
To attract attention to the Louis Armstrong House at 34-56 10th St. in Corona, NY, a free, outdoor Jazzmobile concert and block party was held July 7th. The House stayed open late that evening, and visitors were able to take a guided tour of the building before or during the concert. Jazzmobile has been presenting music around New York City for over three decades. Performing on this occasion was the Ray Vega Latin Jazz Sextet.
A few weeks later, Queens College in Flushing, NY, which holds the Louis Armstrong Archives, joined with the Office of the Queens Borough President, to hold the first annual Queens Summer Fest on July 31st. The Fest took place on the College's campus and featured The Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra and other Latin-inspired music. Both the Armstrong Archives and the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, NY were open that day, with the "Satchmobile" providing free, roundtrip transportation between the locations.
NEW IN-PRINT:
Dubinski, Kate. "Volunteer decries state of Lombardo garden," The London [Canada] Free
Press, July 29, 2005.
Friedwald, Will. "The Reinvention of the Basie Band," The New York Sun, nysun.com,
July 19, 2005.
Lee, William F. America's Big Band (Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard, July 2005), 350 pp.
Pacheco, Ferdie. Who Is Artie Shaw and Why Is He Following Me? (Authorhouse, July 2005),
128 pp.
Parker, Melody. "Big band legend Buddy Morrow brings Dorsey Orchestra to Iowa,"
Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier, wcfcourier.com, July 24, 2005.
Weber, Ann. "Johnny Knorr band celebrates 45 years," The Toledo [OH] Blade,
toledoblade.com, July 28, 2005.
BLUE BARRON (1913-2005)
Legendary sweet band leader Blue Barron died in his sleep July 16, 2005 at the age of 91. I would like to express my sympathy and sadness, and send condolences to his family, including his sister, Clarisse B. Mechanic, who shared a home with him in the Tuscany-Canterbury area of North Baltimore, MD. A son, Gary, passed away May 30, 2002. According to a niece, Karrie Kerrigan-Croft, Barron was born Hershel Freidland on November 19, 1913 in Cleveland, OH. For many years, he commuted between there and Baltimore, but remained a fan of the Cleveland Browns and other local sports teams. At his request, there were no funeral services.
MYRON FLOREN (1919-2005)
One of the featured stars of Lawrence Welk's big band, accordionist Myron Floren, died July 23, 2005 at the age of 85. I offer my condolences to his family, including his wife, Berdyne; five daughters, Heidi, Holly, Kristie, Randee, and Robin; and seven grandchildren. Welk called him "my
right-hand man for over 30 years," and though the Welk TV show left the air in 1982, reruns have been shown on PBS since 1987 and remain highly popular today. Floren, who lived in Rolling Hills, CA, continued appearing in-person under his own name across the country, but recently had suffered a stroke and had been diagnosed with colon cancer.
LUCKY MILLINDER
On the heels of last month's Al Donahue compact disc, comes word of a new release for Lucky Millinder, another neglected band. The CD covers the period from 1950-55 that Millinder was signed to King, a label based in Cincinnati, OH. The music starts on February 23, 1950 with Who Said Shorty Wasn't Coming Back?, and also includes Let It Roll Again, featuring Lucky himself on vocal, in May 1950, and I'm Waiting Just for You, vocal by Anisteen Allen, from February 18, 1951. Here is the complete track listing for "The Very Best of Lucky Millinder," Collectables 2898:
see also
Hecker, Don R. "Obituaries: Blue Barron, 91, Big-Band Leader, Dies," The New York Times,
nytimes.com, July 23, 2005, p.A15.
Kelly, Jacques. "Obituaries: Blue Barron: 1913-2005: Leader of renowned big band known
for 'sweet' musical style," The Baltimore Sun, baltimoresun.com, July 18, 2005.
