Sing, Sing, Sing – Benny Goodman

by | Aug 25, 2017 | Big Band, Video

This is a compilation of dance scenes from the 1935 movie “Roberta” and other films featuring the incredible Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.  Their timeless steps are set to the classic “Sing, Sing, Sing (With A Swing)” performed by the Benny Goodman Orchestra, with the legendary Gene Krupa keeping a driving beat on the drums. The song and its lyrics were written by Louis Prima in 1936 who originally recorded it with The New Orleans Gang.  The more popular 1937 Goodman recording lasted 8 minutes 43 seconds and took up both sides of a 78RPM record!

Li’l Darlin’ – Count Basie / Lambert, Hendricks and Ross

by | Aug 18, 2017 | Audio, Big Band, Vocal Group

Listen carefully to “Li’l Darlin'” both by the Count Basie Orchestra, and by Lambert, Hendricks and Ross with Joe Williams.  The first thing that struck me when I heard these two versions of the song, is that you almost have to listen twice to tell which is the instrumental and which is the vocal.  That’s how precise LH&R’s style and phrasing was!  Here they are side-by-side.  What do you think?

Li'l Darlin'

by Count Basie Orchestra | Basie

Li'l Darlin'

by Lambert, Hendricks and Ross | Sing Along With Basie

“New Orleans” – Billie Holiday & Louis Armstrong

by | Aug 11, 2017 | Video, Vocal

Here are three classic musical performances by Lady Day and Satchmo Armstrong from the 1947 motion picture “New Orleans”.  The film is a tribute to the birth of jazz, and also features Woody Herman along with some of music’s greatest legends.  The video at the top is The Blues Are Brewin’ with Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans at the lower left and Dixie Music Man on the lower right.

Tour De Force – Dizzy Gillespie, Et Al

by | Aug 4, 2017 | Quartet/Quintet, Video

Recorded 1971 in Tivoli by The Jazz Giants:  Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet; Thelonius Monk, piano; Kai Winding, trombone; Sonny Stitt, alto and tenor saxes; Al McKibbon, bass and Art Blakey, drums.  It just doesn’t get better than that!