The big bands are back
in a new and exciting way!
STOP THE PRESSES!
After asking for more than 50 years, big band fans have finally got one of their wishes! Sounds of Yesteryear, a collectors’ label in England, will be releasing the complete RCA Victor studio recordings of Tex Beneke and The Glenn Miller Orchestra (the music was never released in full on LP records, or, up until now, on compact disc).
The project is planned as a six-volume CD series, in “discographical history” order from 1946-1950, with “Part One” (catalog number DSOY 2016) being released this month. That initial portion includes 21 RCA Victor studio recordings such as (Give Me) Five Minutes More, Everybody Loves My Baby, two versions of Star Dust, and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.
My compliments to Michael Highton, who has overseen the release of many Beneke CDs, for getting this project in the pipeline!
A HEFTI BAG OF MUSIC
Neal Hefti. “Neal Hefti & His Orchestra: Forever In Tune,” Jasmine (E) JASCD 814.
Two CDs with four original Hefti albums: “Hefti: Hot ‘N Hearty” (Epic), “The Band
With Young Ideas” (Coral), “Jazz Pops” (Reprise), and “Hollywood Song Book: Vol 1”
(Coral).
AND MORE NEW COMPACT DISCS
Tommy Dorsey. “Frank Sinatra: Complete Studio Recordings with Tommy Dorsey,”
One Records (E) 59804. A 4-CD set of all the Victor master takes plus some
alternates.
Buddy Johnson. “Rock On!: The 100th Anniversary Collection: Featuring Ella Johnson &
Arthur Prysock,” Jasmine (E) JASCD822. 52 tracks on 2 CDs, with music by
Johnson’s orchestra dating from 1941 to 1961.
Vincent Lopez. "Merry Christmas," My Music Boutique CD-R. Sounds of the holiday
season that had earlier been out on the Vocalion label.
Wingy Manone. “Wingy Manone: Trumpet On The Wing: His 55 Finest,” Retrospective
(E) 4267. A 2-CD set with music going from 1924 to 1962. Sidemen include Artie
Shaw and Jack Teagarden, and one track of Manone with Russ Morgan’s band.
Griff Williams. “Let’s dance awhile to the Griff Williams Style,” My Music Boutique CD-R,
2015. One of the old Mercury albums.
---. “The Sound of Griff Williams,” My Music Boutique CD-R, 2015. Another Mercury
album.
Various artists. “Frank Sinatra: A Voice On The Air,” Sony / Legacy. 4-CD set of
Sinatra on the radio from 1935 to 1955, including one selection with Harry James,
six with Tommy Dorsey, three with Raymond Scott, one with Benny Goodman, and
three with Ziggy Elman. Also contains a 60-page book. NOTE to Sinatra fans: a
separate CD, “Frank Sinatra: Lost and Found” will be offered by the Smithsonian
Institution beginning in November and will present 26 additional tracks, including many
formerly rare items.
---. “Here We Come A-Caroling: The Groups Celebrate the Holidays!,” Jasmine (E)
JASCD832. 2-CDs of different vocal groups, including The Lennon Sisters with
Lawrence Welk and His orchestra, singing Christmas music.
HAPPY BIRTHDAYS
Terry Gibbs, b.Oct 13, 1924. Vibraphonist with T Dorsey ’47 / 50; Rich ’48;
Herman ’49-’50?; Goodman ’50-‘52.
Betty Bennett, b.Oct 23, 1921. Vocalist with Thornhill ’46; Rey ’47-’48; Ventura ’49;
Herman ’50; Barnet ’52.
Tony Eaton, b.Oct 30, 1939. Correspondent and longtime member of the
[ international ] Glenn Miller Society; guest speaker ("The Curious Disappearance of
Glenn Miller"); liner notes writer for Sounds of YesterYear.
NECROLOGY
Nat Peck, 90, d. Oct 24, 2015. Trombonist with Miller AAF '44-'45.
REMEMBERING YOU
Ann Richards, b.Oct 1, 1935. Vocalist with Kenton ’55. Married him ’55.
Chino Pozo, b.Oct 4, 1915. Bongo and conga drums / timbales with Kenton ’55;
Cugat ’59. Cousin of Chano Pozo.
Fred Norman, b.Oct 5, 1910. Trombonist / composer with Hopkins ’32-’38.
Arranger for Krupa ’40-’43. Also wrote or arranged for Berigan, J Dorsey, T Dorsey,
Goodman, I Jones, James, Miller, Shaw, Teagarden.
Carmen Mastren, b.Oct 6, 1913. Guitarist with T Dorsey ’36-’40; Miller AAF ’43-’45.
Jo Jones, b.Oct 7, 1911. Drummer with Basie ’35-‘36 / ’36-’48.
Alvin Stoller, b.Oct 7, 1925. Drummer with Monroe ’42; Goodman ’42; T Dorsey
’45-’47; J Gray '50 / '51 / '52; May '51 / '53 / '54 / '55 / '56 / '57 / '60 / '62.
J.C. Heard, b.Oct 8, 1917. Drummer with T Wilson ’39-’40; Carter ’42; Calloway
’42-’45.
Sonny Igoe, b.Oct 8, 1923. Drummer with Les Elgart ’47; Hutton ’48; Goodman ’49;
Herman ’50-’52; Ventura ’53-’55.
Bill Stegmeyer, b.Oct 8, 1916. Saxophonist / clarinetist with Miller ’38; Crosby ’39 / ’58.
Arranger for Butterfield ’46-’47.
Harry Edison, b.Oct 10, 1915. Trumpeter with Basie ’37-’50; Rich ’50.
Al Killian, b.Oct 15, 1916. Trumpeter with Basie ’40-’44; Barnet ’43 / ’45-’46; Hampton
’45; Ellington ’47-’50.
Paul Tanner, b.Oct 15, 1917. Trombonist with Miller ’38-’42; Beneke-Miller
Orch ’46-’50; Beneke ’50-’51.
Lenny Hambro, b.Oct 16, 1923. Alto saxophonist / clarinetist with McKinley ’51-’52;
McKinley-Miller Orch ’56-’64.
Cozy Cole, b.Oct 17, 1909. Drummer with Willie Bryant ’35-’36; Calloway ’39-’42;
Scott ’43-’45; Armstrong ’49-’53.
Norman Leyden, b.Oct 17, 1917. Arranger with Miller AAF ’44-’45; Beneke-Miller Orch
’46-’49; Columbia “Once Upon a Time” LP with Johnny Desmond ’59.
Barney Kessel, b.Oct 17, 1923. Guitarist with Marx ’43; Barnet ’44; Shaw ’44-’45.
Howard Smith, b.Oct 19, 1910. Pianist with Norvo ’36; Miller ’37; T Dorsey ’37-’40.
John Best, b.Oct 20, 1913. Trumpeter with Brown ’35-’36; Barnet ’37; Shaw ’37-‘39;
Miller ’39-’42; Shaw Navy Band ’42-’44; Donahue Navy Band ’44-’45; Goodman
’45-’47; J Gray ’47-’53; May ’50-’55.
Ray Linn, b.Oct 20, 1920. Trumpeter with T Dorsey ’40-’41; Herman ’42 / ’45;
Shaw ’44-’45; Raeburn ’46.
Dizzy Gillespie, b.Oct 21, 1917. Trumpeter with Calloway ’39-’41; Eckstine ’44.
Leader of own band.
Wendell Marshall, b.Oct 24, 1920. Bassist with Ellington ’48-’55; Bellson '51.
Chubby Jackson, b.Oct 25, 1918. Bassist with Barnet ’41-’43; Herman ’43-’46 /
’48 / ’50 / ‘58; Ventura ’47 / ’51.
Charlie Barnet, b.Oct 26, 1913. Saxophonist with Norvo ’34. Leader of own band.
Boyd Raeburn, b.Oct 27, 1913. Leader of own band.
Bill Harris, b.Oct 28, 1916. Trombonist with Chester ’43; Goodman ’43-’44 / ‘59;
Herman ’44-’46.
Neal Hefti, b.Oct 29, 1922. Trumpeter / arranger / composer for Herman ’44-45;
Ventura ’46; James ’48-’49. Wrote for Basie ’50-’60. Leader of own band.
Zoot Sims, b.Oct 29, 1925. Tenor saxophonist with Sherwood ’42-’43; Goodman
’44 / ’46 / ’50 / ‘58; Herman ’47-’49.
Illinois Jacquet, b.Oct 31, 1922. Tenor saxophonist with Hampton ’41-'42; Calloway
’43-’44; Basie ’45-’46. Leader of own band.
Ted Nash, b.Oct 31, 1922. Tenor saxophonist with Light ’40; Heidt ’42; Harris ’43;
Fields ’44; Brown ’44-’46; J Gray ’47-’52.
SEE A BIG BAND THIS FALL
Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty Barnhart. Oct 1-2, Hettenhausen Center
For the Arts, Lebanon, IL; Oct 30, Norton Center for the Arts, Danville, KY.
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra directed by Terry Myers. Continuation of Australian
Tour: Oct 1, Albany; Oct 2, Bunbury; Oct 3, Mandurah; Oct 4, Perth; Oct 5,
Oct 6, Bendigo; Oct 7, Frankston; Oct 8, Adelaide; Oct 9, Canberra; Oct 10,
Melbourne; Oct 11, Geelong.
Harry James Orchestra directed by Fred Radke. Oct 11, St. Charles, IL; Oct 13,
Cincinnati, OH.
Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Nick Hilscher. Oct 1, Scott Concert Hall,
Buies Creek, NC; Oct 3, Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo,
MD; Oct 4, Sellersville Theatre, Sellersville, PA; Oct 7-8, Penn’s Peak, Jim
Thorpe, PA; Oct 10, Clyde High School, Clyde, OH; Oct 13, Grand Theatre,
Frankfort, KY; Oct 15, Crockett Theatre, Lawrenceburg, TN; Oct 17, Sondheim
Center, Fairfield, IA; Oct 10, Frauenthal Center, Muskegon, MI; Oct 23, Dover
Downs Casino & Hotel, Dover Downs, DE; Oct 24, Punxsutawney Area High
School, Punxsutawney, PA; Oct 25, The Academy Theatre, Meadville, PA; Oct
31, start of Japan tour.
SNEAK PEEK
Looking down the road for other collectors’ releases on CD coming… expect some Sammy Kaye and Lawrence Welk.
return to Big Band Library homepage
OCTOBER 2015
"BIG BAND NEWS"
compiled by Music Librarian CHRISTOPHER POPA
Jan Slottenas on-stage leading The Glenn Miller Orchestra - Scandinavia. Photo courtesy of Glenn Miller Productions.
BREAKING NEWS!
Trombonist Jan Slottenas had signed an agreement to operate an authorized, "official" Glenn Miller Orchestra in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and France beginning July 1, 2010. But, five years later, that long-term license has expired.
The first inkling came from the Glenn Miller Orchestra’s U.S. website, which lists “Licensed Territories”; only Wil Salden (Europe) and Ray McVay (United Kingdom) are now shown.
I contacted Charles DeStefano of Glenn Miller Productions, and he confirmed, “Yes, the license agreement has ended with Jan as of June 30, 2015. He does have 3 single engagements that will be played later this year.”
Those are on the 25th of this month, at Tumbascenen in Tumba; on November 15th at Berwaldhallen in Stockholm; and on December 19th at Kristinehallen in Falun.
I told Mr. DeStefano that I thought Jan Slottenas had been doing a very good job, including programming some little-heard original Miller tunes.
He responded, “Jan, much like Nick Hilscher does, enjoyed exploring the Miller library and performing some those great lesser-known arrangements.”
But Mr. DeStefano did not answer by whose choice the licensing agreement ended.
Sven Olof Slottenas, Jan’s brother and Manager of the GMO-Scandanavia, told me,
“I think I will hand over your question to Jan himself to answer.”
Then he echoed what Mr. DeStefano had said.
“However, we will see what will happen after this year. So far, before the ending of this year, we have three concerts to play with special agreement,” Sven reported. “Our general contract was finished already June 30th.”
