Small Groups
During the Swing Era, every big band had its small 鈥渂and-within-a-band鈥, 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.
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Music Played
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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鈥 The Web.
- GRP.
- GRP16352 (1); Tr. 13 (2.30).
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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).
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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).
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Tommy Dorsey
When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam鈥
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).
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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).
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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).
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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).
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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).
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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).
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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).
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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).
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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).
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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).
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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.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
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.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam鈥
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.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
Five Point Blues
Yank Lawson
ASV CDAJA5208 聽
Yank Lawson, t; Warren Smith, tb; Irving Fazola, cl; Bob Zurke, piano; Eddie Miller, ts; Nappy Lamare, g; Bob Haggart, b; Ray Bauduc, d.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
I Hear You Talking
Bob Crosby
Topaz TPZ 1054
Bob Zurke, p; Bob Haggart, b; Eddie Miller, ts; Ray Bauduc, d.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
Jazz Me Blues
Bob Crosby
Topaz TPZ 1054 聽
Irving Fazola, cl; Billy Butterfield, t; Warren Smith, tb; Eddie Miller, ts; Jess Stacy, p;聽 Nappy Lamare, g; Bob Haggart, b; Ray Bauduc, d.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
How Long Blues
Count Basie
Naxos 8.120819
Count Basie, p; Freddy Green, g; Walter Page, b; Jo Jones, d.
Fan It
Woody Herman听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
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听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
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.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
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.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
Dr. Livingstone, I Presume
Artie Shaw
Proper P 1439
聽Artie Shaw, cl; Billy Butterfield, t; Johnny Guarneri, harpsichord; Al Hendrickson, g; Jud de Naut, b; Nick Fatool, d.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
Scuttlebutt
Artie Shaw
Proper P 1440
Artie Shaw, cl; Roy Eldridge, t; Dodo Marmarosa, p; Barney Kessell, g; Morris Rayman, b; Louis Fromm, d.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
Yesterdays
Artie Shaw
Bluebird 09026 63808 2
Artie Shaw, cl; Hank Jones, p; Joe Puma, g; Tommy Potter, b; Irv Kluger, d.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
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 2013 00:00麻豆社 Radio 3
- Sun 4 Nov 2018 00:00麻豆社 Radio 3
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Geoffrey Smith's Jazz - a weekly sequence exploring what makes great jazz great music