Will Hudson, Eddie De Lange and Irving Mills worked on the words and music in 1934 for one of the best remembered songs in the Goodman quartet's repertoire, "Moonglow" which was part of a stage music called "Blackbirds of 1934." But it gained it's greatest fame in the 1956 film "Picnic" in which Kim Novak and William Holden seductively danced with each other. Teddy Wilson accompanies subtly whi...
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The little known film musical "Sing Baby Sing" had a song written by Sidney D. Mitchell and music composed by Louis Alter that would later become one of the staples of the American song book. "You Turned the Tables On Me" also serves as an introduction to the marvelous vocalist Helen Ward who had joined the Goodman band in 1935 and stayed with the orchestra until she got married and broke every...
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Actually, "gallop" should be the word for this particular performance. You heard the band playing this song, now it's the quartet's turn at this tune. There is plenty of back and forth between Benny, Lionel and Teddy Wilson. Indeed, around the ninety-fourth chorus, Gene Krupa yells out, "One more time" then switches to his bass drum which will make even the bravest listener limp from the frenzi...
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Anyone who listens to music will immediately recognize the title character in this work as continuing the saga of Cab Calloway's song about Minnie the Moocher. Fletcher Henderson continues the saga of Minnie with a description of her wedding day. There are three things to watch out for in this performance: the way Benny picks up the last phrase of Harry James' solo, the tightly woven interplay ...
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"Roll 'Em' is the work of band leader Andy Kirk's pianist, Mary Lou Williams, one of the most important of jazz pianists. Occasionally called "The Pest" by some of the Kirk band members, she was better known by the title of a work she wrote, "The Lady Who Swings the Band." The Goodman band plays this work as a fast blues rather than as a strict boogie woogie number. Watch for brilliant solos by...
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from Benny Goodman: "Sing, Sing, Sing"by David Rickert The Record ”Sing, Sing, Sing” bristles with energy and reckless abandon, all powered by Krupa. There isn't much organization or development of themes at all, but it was capable of whipping crowds into a frenzy every time it was played. The record begins with the tom-tom drumming of Krupa that forms the bedrock of the piece. The band enter
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Mort Dixon, the lyricist, joined with composer Harry Warren in 1928 creating the song "Nagasaki" which enchanted listeners and performers alike. The Benny Goodman Quartet starts off at a frantic pace, with all of the ornaments delightfully spun out in an effortless flow. Hamp contributes some of the most dazzling performances on this one, matches with Goodman and Teddy Wilson. It's a free wheel...
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One of the sure fire works played by the Benny Goodman band was the "King Porter Stomp" by Jelly Roll Morton as a tribute to fellow ragtime composer Porter King. As with other numbers created by Fletcher Henderson, this one was originally arranged for his own band and, over the years, was altered by Goodman to exclude the final "button" note tossed around by brass and saxes in the final chorus ...
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Lionel Hampton was added to the Trio in 1936 after he auditioned for Goodman in Hollywood. It proved to be a match made in heaven, adding another pallette to the Trio's performances. Hampton sings on this performance which is an improvised take of the basic 12-bar blues form.
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"Time On My Hands" was written by the combined talents of lyricists Harold Adamson and Mack Gordon with composer Vincent Youmans for the stage musical "Smiles" starring Marilyn Miller and Adele Astaire (Fred Astaire's sister). This particular performance is another fine example by Benny Goodman that swing wasn't and isn't all loud music, that it can be delicate yet swing like anything. Teddy Wi...
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As an added treat, we have Benny Goodman as a singer. This happened time and time again with usually funny results and a rare opportunity to see Goodman actually having fun. Watch for vibist Red Norvo, one of the great vibes players. And watch for his mock anger! It just brings the house down!
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For many, the most identifiable icon of the swing era was Benny Goodman. This supreme musician was, during his lifetime, called "The King Of Swing." He was certainly that but much more. Benny Goodman was the first person to catch the eye of the press and music lovers alike with the ideal big band: hard driving yet delicate, characteristics that leaked into his small combo performances. Above al...
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"Always" was written in 1925 by master tune smith Irving Berlin and used effectively in the 1941 film musical "Christmas Holiday" starring Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly. Fletcher Henderson, Goodman's ace arranger for much of the 1930's, wrote this chart which begins with Art Rollini, a Goodman stalwart, taking the first solo with honors. Other solos to watch for are those Goodman and trombonist ...
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The combined efforts of Harry B. Smith and Francis Wheeler on lyrics and music by Ted Snyder resulted in "The Sheik of Araby," a 1921 classic song written for a stage musical aptly titled "Make It Snappy." This performance follows the "snappy" aspect with crisp playing from everyone involved including Teddy Wilson sparkling performance, and finely articulated performances from Goodman and Hampt...
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W.C. Handy held many titles: song writer/lyricist/publisher/bandleader. Although his forte was writing songs, none became more famous than his 1914 opus "St. Louis Blues." This performance by Benny Goodman and his Orchestra took place at the Hartford (CT) Armory and is a rousing workout of this often performed song. Fletcher Henderson wrote the arrangement which has the rolling saxes and clippe...
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