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During the Swing Era, every big band had its small “band-within-a-band”, bringing the delights of combo jazz to the jitterbugs. Geoffrey Smith surveys some of the best, including Artie Shaw, Bob Crosby, Woody Herman and Count Basie.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 4 Nov 201800:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Chick Webb

    I Got Rhythm

    Performer: Chauncey Haughton, cl; Wayman Carver, fl; Tommy Fulford, p; Beverley Peer, b; Chick Webb, d. 21 September 1937.

    Composer: Gershwin

    • Spinnin’ The Web.
    • GRP.
    • GRP16352 (1); Tr. 13 (2.30).

  • Duke Ellington

    Finesse

    Performer: Duke Ellington, p; Johnny Hodges, as; Billy Taylor, b. March 1939.

    Composer: Taylor

    • Blue Light.
    • Columbia.
    • CL 663. S1/5 (2.40).

  • Tommy Dorsey

    Twilight in Turkey

    Performer: Tommy Dorsey, tb; Pee Wee Erwin, t; Johnny Mince, cl; Bud Freeman, ts; Howard Smith, p; Carmen Mastren, g; Gene Traxler, b; Dave Tough, d. 15 April 1937.

    Composer: Scott

    • Stop, Look and LIsten.
    • ASV.
    • CDAJA5105 (1); Tr. 20 (3.21).

  • Tommy Dorsey

    When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam’

    Performer: Tommy Dorsey, tb; Pee Wee Erwin, t; Johnny Mince, cl; Bud Freeman, ts; ; Howard Smith, p; Carmen Mastren, g; Gene Traxler, b; Moe Purtill, d. 1938.

    Composer: Berlin

    • Tommy Dorsey 1938.
    • Classics.
    • 1117.Tr.13 (3.12).

  • Yank Lawson

    Five Point Blues

    Performer: Yank Lawson, t; Warren Smith, tb; Irving Fazola, cl; Bob Zurke, piano; Eddie Miller, ts; Nappy Lamare, g; Bob Haggart, b; Ray Bauduc, d. 14 March 1938.

    Composer: Lawson

    • Hot Trumpets.
    • ASV.
    • CDAJA5208. TR. 12 (3.02).

  • Bob Crosby

    I Hear You Talking

    Performer: Bob Zurke, p; Bob Haggart, b; Eddie Miller, ts; Ray Bauduc, d. 14th October 1938.

    Composer: Miller, Bauduc

    • Eye Opener.
    • Topaz.
    • TPZ 1054.TR. 14 (2.27).

  • Bob Crosby

    Jazz Me Blues

    Performer: Irving Fazola, cl; Billy Butterfield, t; Warren Smith, tb; Eddie Miller, ts; Jess Stacy, p; Nappy Lamare, g; Bob Haggart, b; Ray Bauduc, d. 6th February 1940.

    Composer: Delaney

    • Eye Opener.
    • Topaz.
    • TPZ 1054. Tr. 22 (2.56).

  • Count Basie

    How Long Blues

    Performer: Count Basie, p; Freddy Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d. 24 July 1942.

    Composer: Carr

    • Coming Out Party.
    • Naxos.
    • 8.120819. T.11 (2.58).

  • Woody Herman

    Fan It

    Performer: Woody Herman, cl v; Sonny Berman, Shorty Rogers, t; Bill Harris, tb; Flip Phillips, ts; Red Norvo, vib; Jimmy Rowles, p; Billy Bauer, g; Chubby Jackson, b; Don Lamond, d 20 May 1946.

    Composer: Jaxon

    • The Woody Herman Story.
    • Proper.
    • P1159. Tr. 9 (3.13).

  • Woody Herman

    Igor

    Performer: Woody Herman, cl v; Sonny Berman, Shorty Rogers, t; Bill Harris, tb; Flip Phillips, ts; Red Norvo, vib; Jimmy Rowles, p; Billy Bauer, g; Chubby Jackson, b; Don Lamond, d 20 May 1946.

    Composer: Rogers, Norvo

    • The Woody Herman Story.
    • Proper.
    • P1159. Tr. 8 (2.42).

  • Artie Shaw

    Summit Ridge Drive

    Performer: Artie Shaw, cl; Billy Butterfield, t; Johnny Guarneri, harpsichord; Al Hendrickson, g; Jud de Naut, b; Nick Fatool, d. 3 September 1940.

    Composer: Shaw

    • The Artie Shaw Story.
    • Proper.
    • P 1439. Tr. 5 (3.18).

  • Artie Shaw

    Dr. Livingstone, I Presume

    Performer: Artie Shaw, cl; Billy Butterfield, t; Johnny Guarneri, harpsichord; Al Hendrickson, g; Jud de Naut, b; Nick Fatool, d. 5 December 1940.

    Composer: Shaw

    • The Artie Shaw Story.
    • Proper.
    • P 1439. Tr. 9 (3.20).

  • Artie Shaw

    Scuttlebutt

    Performer: Artie Shaw, cl; Roy Eldridge, t; Dodo Marmarosa, p; Barney Kessell, g; Morris Rayman, b; Louis Fromm, d. 2 August 1945.

    Composer: Shaw, Carleton

    • The Artie Shaw Story.
    • Proper.
    • P 1440. Tr. 11 (3.10).

  • Artie Shaw

    Yesterdays

    Performer: Artie Shaw, cl; Hank Jones, p; Joe Puma, g; Tommy Potter, b; Irv Kluger, d. June 1954.

    Composer: Kern, Harbach

    • Self Portrait.
    • Bluebird.
    • 09026 63808 2. D5, Tr. 7 (6.01).

  • Count Basie

    Midgets

    Performer: Joe Newman, t; Frank Wess, fl; Count Basie, p; Freddie Green, g; Eddie Jones, b; Sonny Payne, d. 4 January 1956.

    Composer: Newman

    • Count Basie and His Orchestra: Four Classic Albums.
    • Avid.
    • AMSC 946. D1, Tr. 8 (3.11).

Small Groups

I Got Rhythm

Chick Webb

GRP GRP16352 (1)

Chauncey Haughton, cl; Wayman Carver, fl; Tommy Fulford, p; Beverley Peer, b; Chick Webb, d.

Finesse

Duke Ellington

Columbia CL 663. S1/5

Duke Ellington, p; Johnny Hodges, as; Billy Taylor, b.

Twilight in Turkey

Tommy Dorsey

ASV CDAJA5105 (1)

Tommy Dorsey, tb; Pee Wee Erwin, t; Johnny Mince, cl; Bud Freeman, ts; Howard Smith, p; Carmen Mastren, g; Gene Traxler, b; Dave Tough, d.

When the MidnightChoo-Choo Leaves for Alabam’

Tommy Dorsey

Classics 1117

Tommy Dorsey, tb; Pee Wee Erwin, t; Johnny Mince, cl; Bud Freeman, ts; ; Howard Smith, p; Carmen Mastren, g; Gene Traxler, b; Moe Purtill, d.

Five Point Blues

Yank Lawson

ASV CDAJA5208

Yank Lawson, t; Warren Smith, tb; Irving Fazola, cl; Bob Zurke, piano; Eddie Miller, ts; Nappy Lamare, g; Bob Haggart, b; Ray Bauduc, d.

I Hear You Talking

Bob Crosby

Topaz TPZ 1054

Bob Zurke, p; Bob Haggart, b; Eddie Miller, ts; Ray Bauduc, d.

Jazz Me Blues

Bob Crosby

Topaz TPZ 1054

Irving Fazola, cl; Billy Butterfield, t; Warren Smith, tb; Eddie Miller, ts; Jess Stacy, p; Nappy Lamare, g; Bob Haggart, b; Ray Bauduc, d.

How Long Blues

Count Basie

Naxos 8.120819

Count Basie, p; Freddy Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d.

Fan It

Woody Herman

Proper P1159

Woody Herman, cl v; Sonny Berman, Shorty Rogers, t; Bill Harris, tb; Flip Phillips, ts; Red Norvo, vib; Jimmy Rowles, p; Billy Bauer, g; Chubby Jackson, b; Don Lamond, d.

Woody Herman

Igor

Proper P1159

Woody Herman, cl v; Sonny Berman, Shorty Rogers, t; Bill Harris, tb; Flip Phillips, ts; Red Norvo, vib; Jimmy Rowles, p; Billy Bauer, g; Chubby Jackson, b; Don Lamond, d.

Summit Ridge Drive

Artie Shaw

Proper P 1439

Artie Shaw, cl; Billy Butterfield, t; Johnny Guarneri, harpsichord; Al Hendrickson, g; Jud de Naut, b; Nick Fatool, d.

Dr. Livingstone, I Presume

Artie Shaw

Proper P 1439

 Artie Shaw, cl; Billy Butterfield, t; Johnny Guarneri, harpsichord; Al Hendrickson, g; Jud de Naut, b; Nick Fatool, d.

Scuttlebutt

Artie Shaw

Proper P 1440

Artie Shaw, cl; Roy Eldridge, t; Dodo Marmarosa, p; Barney Kessell, g; Morris Rayman, b; Louis Fromm, d.

Yesterdays

Artie Shaw

Bluebird 09026 63808 2

Artie Shaw, cl; Hank Jones, p; Joe Puma, g; Tommy Potter, b; Irv Kluger, d.

Midgets

Count Basie

Avid AMSC 946

Joe Newman, t; Frank Wess, fl; Count Basie, p; Freddie Green, g; Eddie Jones, b; Sonny Payne, d.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 27 Oct 201300:00
    BBC Radio 3
  • Sun 4 Nov 201800:00
    BBC Radio 3

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