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John Kirby Orchestra

Rather forgotten now, in the Swing Era the John Kirby Orchestra was known as "the biggest little band in the land", famed for witty, swinging arrangements of pop, folk and classical music. Geoffrey Smith surveys its brilliant career and star sidemen.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 1 Jul 2012 00:00
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Buster Bailey

    Dizzy Debutante

    Composer: Buster Bailey Performers: John Kirby (b), Frankie Newton (tr), Pete Brown (as), Don Frye (p), James McLin (g) O鈥橬eil Spencer (d) Recorded: 1937

    • Buster Bailey 1925 - 1940.
    • Classics 904 (1).

  • John Kirby

    Rehearsin' for a Nervous Breakdown

    Composer: Shavers / Robin Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1938

    • The Biggest Little Band.
    • ASV CD AJA 5304.

  • John Kirby

    From Ab to C

    Composer: Billy Kyle Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1937

    • John Kirby 鈥� The Biggest Little Band 1937 - 1941.
    • Smithsonian R013/A.

  • John Kirby

    Effervescent Blues

    Composer: Charlie Shavers Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1939

    • The Biggest Little Band.
    • ASV CD AJA 5304.

  • Billy Kyle

    Finishing Up a Date

    Composer: Billy Kyle Performers: Billy Kyle (p), Dave Barbour (g), Marty Kaplan (b), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1939

    • The Great Jazz Pianists.
    • Past Perfect PPCD 78107.

  • John Kirby

    Front and Center

    Composer: Shavers / Kirby Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1939

    • The Biggest Little Band.
    • ASV CD AJA 5304.

  • John Kirby

    Opus 5

    Composer: Chopin arr. Shavers Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1939

    • And The Angels Sing Over the Rainbow - 1939.
    • Phontastic PHONTCD7667 (1).

  • Maxine Sullivan

    If I Had a Ribbon Bow

    Composer: Trad Performers: Maxine Sullivan (voc), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), John Kirby (b), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1940

    • Maxine Sullivan 1938 - 1941.
    • Classics 991.

  • John Kirby

    Coquette

    Composer: Carmen Lombardo / Johnny Green Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1940

    • John Kirby 鈥� The Biggest Little Band 1937 - 1941.
    • Smithsonian R 013/B.

  • John Kirby

    Original Dixieland One-Step

    Composer: Joe Jordan / Nick LaRocca / Russell Robinson Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1940

    • John Kirby and His Band.
    • Jazz Anthology 550252 (1).

  • John Kirby

    Tweed Me

    Composer: Kyle Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), Specs Powell (d) Recorded: 1941

    • John Kirby and His Orchestra 1941 - 1943.
    • Classics 792 (1).

  • John Kirby

    St. Louis Blues

    Composer: Handy Performers: John Kirby (sb), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), Specs Powell (d) Recorded: 1942

    • John Kirby and His Orchestra 1941 - 1943.
    • Classics 792 (1).

  • Bud Powell

    Fine and Dandy

    Composer: Swift / James Performers: Bud Powell (p), Sonny Stitt (ts) Recorded: 1950

    • So Sorry Please.
    • Proper P1188.

  • Tadd Dameron

    Tadd Walk

    Composer: Dameron Performers: Fats Navarro (tr), Rudy Williams (as), Allen Eager (ts), Tadd Dameron (p), Curly Russell (b), Kenny Clarke (d) Recorded: 1948

    • The Fats Navarro Story.
    • Properbox 11.

  • Don Byron

    Bounce of the Sugar Plum Fairy/ Charley's Prelude

    Composer: Peter Llyich Tchaikovsky / Louis C. Singer Performers: Don Byron (cl), Charles Lewis (tr), Steve Wilson (as), Uri Caine (p), Ken Davis (b), Billy Hart (d) Recorded: 1992

    • Bug Music.
    • Nonesuch 7559794382 (1).

  • Charlie Shavers

    Flow Gently Sweet Rhythm

    Composer: Charlie Shavers Performers: Charlie Shavers ((tp), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Biily Kyle (p), Aaron Bell (b), Specs Powell (d) Recorded: 1955

    • Horn O鈥橮lenty.
    • Lonehill Jazz LHJ10140 (1).

  • Buster Bailey

    Dizzy Debutante

    Composer: Buster Bailey Performers: John Kirby (b), Frankie Newton (tr), Pete Brown (as), Don Frye (p), James McLin (g) O鈥橬eil Spencer (d) Recorded: 1937

    • Buster Bailey 1925 - 1940.
    • Classics 904 (1).

  • John Kirby

    Rehearsin' for a Nervous Breakdown

    Composer: Shavers / Robin Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1938

    • The Biggest Little Band.
    • ASV CD AJA 5304.

  • John Kirby

    From Ab to C

    Composer: Billy Kyle Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1937

    • John Kirby 鈥� The Biggest Little Band 1937 - 1941.
    • Smithsonian R013/A.

  • John Kirby

    Effervescent Blues

    Composer: Charlie Shavers Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1939

    • The Biggest Little Band.
    • ASV CD AJA 5304.

  • Billy Kyle

    Finishing Up a Date

    Composer: Billy Kyle Performers: Billy Kyle (p), Dave Barbour (g), Marty Kaplan (b), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1939

    • The Great Jazz Pianists.
    • Past Perfect PPCD 78107.

  • John Kirby

    Front and Center

    Composer: Shavers / Kirby Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1939

    • The Biggest Little Band.
    • ASV CD AJA 5304.

  • John Kirby

    Opus 5

    Composer: Chopin arr. Shavers Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1939

    • And The Angels Sing Over the Rainbow - 1939.
    • Phontastic PHONTCD7667 (1).

  • Maxine Sullivan

    If I Had a Ribbon Bow

    Composer: Trad Performers: Maxine Sullivan (voc), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), John Kirby (b), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1940

    • Maxine Sullivan 1938 - 1941.
    • Classics 991.

  • John Kirby

    Coquette

    Composer: Carmen Lombardo / Johnny Green Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1940

    • John Kirby 鈥� The Biggest Little Band 1937 - 1941.
    • Smithsonian R 013/B.

  • John Kirby

    Original Dixieland One-Step

    Composer: Joe Jordan / Nick LaRocca / Russell Robinson Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), O鈥橬eill Spencer (d) Recorded: 1940

    • John Kirby and His Band.
    • Jazz Anthology 550252 (1).

  • John Kirby

    Tweed Me

    Composer: Kyle Performers: John Kirby (b), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), Specs Powell (d) Recorded: 1941

    • John Kirby and His Orchestra 1941 - 1943.
    • Classics 792 (1).

  • John Kirby

    St. Louis Blues

    Composer: Handy Performers: John Kirby (sb), Charlie Shavers (tr), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Billy Kyle (p), Specs Powell (d) Recorded: 1942

    • John Kirby and His Orchestra 1941 - 1943.
    • Classics 792 (1).

  • Bud Powell

    Fine and Dandy

    Composer: Swift / James Performers: Bud Powell (p), Sonny Stitt (ts) Recorded: 1950

    • So Sorry Please.
    • Proper P1188.

  • Tadd Dameron

    Tadd Walk

    Composer: Dameron Performers: Fats Navarro (tr), Rudy Williams (as), Allen Eager (ts), Tadd Dameron (p), Curly Russell (b), Kenny Clarke (d) Recorded: 1948

    • The Fats Navarro Story.
    • Properbox 11.

  • Don Byron

    Bounce of the Sugar Plum Fairy/ Charley's Prelude

    Composer: Peter Llyich Tchaikovsky / Louis C. Singer Performers: Don Byron (cl), Charles Lewis (tr), Steve Wilson (as), Uri Caine (p), Ken Davis (b), Billy Hart (d) Recorded: 1992

    • Bug Music.
    • Nonesuch 7559794382 (1).

  • Charlie Shavers

    Flow Gently Sweet Rhythm

    Composer: Charlie Shavers Performers: Charlie Shavers ((tp), Buster Bailey (cl), Russell Procope (as), Biily Kyle (p), Aaron Bell (b), Specs Powell (d) Recorded: 1955

    • Horn O鈥橮lenty.
    • Lonehill Jazz LHJ10140 (1).

Broadcast

  • Sun 1 Jul 2012 00:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3

Podcast

  • Geoffrey Smith's Jazz

    Geoffrey Smith's Jazz - a weekly sequence exploring what makes great jazz great music