Big Band Bash

Latest Episodes:

WW2 DDay Revisited - Part 1 Jun 12, 2021

Show notes

June 6, 1944 was an important day in the history of World War 2. It was called D-Day because it marked the invasion of Normandy, France. Since we just passed June 6th, I thought I would revisit some of the music from 1942 - 1945. I did a little research and took note of all the songs that were in the number one spot either on the jukeboxes or the airways (radio). Today we will be listening to number one hits from 1942 and 1943 and next week I'll have the number one hits from the last two years. This is a show with a lot of your favorites as we remember the anniversary of June 6th. Thanks again for listening. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Happy May Clarinetists Birthdays Part 4 Jun 05, 2021

Show notes

May 25, 1917 is the birthday of another big band clarinetist. His name is Jimmy Hamilton. Jimmy achieved his greatest fame as clarinetist with Duke Ellington for 25 years. I have picked out about six songs from a few cds in my collection that Jimmy plays on. They are a little longer in length but you will still get an idea of what a fantastic musician Jimmy was. Our last clarinetist is from a later generation. His name is Ken Peplowski and he was born May 23, 1959. I have two big band and two combo recordings by Ken on today's show. The Puzzler is back this week so I hope you enjoy part four of our May big band clarinetists salute. Thanks again for listening. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Happy May Clarinetists Birthdays Part 3 May 29, 2021

Show notes

May 16, 1913 is the birthday of another big band clarinetist. His name is Woody Herman. I would like to celebrate Woody's birthday by presenting two radio remotes. One is from 1945 at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City New Jersey and the other is from 1940 recorded at the Famous Door on Fifty Second Street in New Your City. The 1945 remote has a few vocals by Frances Wayne and Woody has a few vocals as well. The Puzzler is back this week so I hope you enjoy part three of our May big band clarinetists salute. Thanks again for listening. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Happy May Clarinetists Birthdays Part 2 May 22, 2021

Show notes

On part-two of our May clarinetists birthday celebrations, we pay a birthday salute to Artie Shaw who was born on May 23, 1910. I have done birthday shows for Artie in the past and you can find them in older podcasts, but today's show is a little different. I have a three disc set of all the numbers that Artie did while he was on the Melody and Madness show. I have picked out several of those numbers and we'll learn about the history of Melody and Madness in which Artie was on from late 1938 to the Spring of 1939. I hope you enjoy the show as we celebrate the birthday of the great mesian, band leaser, and clarinetist Artie Shaw. Thanks again for listening. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Happy May Clarinetists Birthdays Part 1 May 15, 2021

Show notes

In the month of May, several jazz and big band clarinetists were born. Here are some that I know of: Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Jimmy Hamilton, Edmond Hall, and Ken Peplowski, who is still with us. So as I usually do, I will be presenting music by these great players and band leaders. Our first birthday celebration is for Benny Goodman. He was born May 30, 1909. I thought it would be fun to listen to a couple of radio remotes that I have to celebrate Benny's birthday. The first is from 1937 recorded at the Madhattan Room of the Hotel Pennsylvania and the second is from 1936 recorded at the Congress Hotel In Chicago. Happy Birthday Benny. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Rhythms by Raeburn - Boyd Raeburn May 08, 2021

Show notes

There were a couple of big bands in the 1940's there weren't satisfied with the typical big band sound. One was Stan Kenton and the other is the subject of our program today. Boyd Raeburn started with a dance orchestra but became dissatisfied and hired arrangers to create some non-typical big band sounds. Now a days they sound fine but back then his band played some wild and exciting music. We'll be learning about Boyd and his band as well as listening to some of his music. Thanks again for listening. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The Essential Duke Ellington - Happy Birthday May 01, 2021

Show notes

Duke Ellington was born on April 29th, 1899. This week we celebrate Duke's birthday by playing some of his hits from a four disc set called The Essential Duke Ellington. Also, instead of telling his biography again I elected to disclose some trivia about Duke and read from an article about Why Duke Ellington is Famous. If you are an Ellington fan as I am then you are sure to enjoy this show. Thank you again for listening. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

A Salute to Doc Severinsen Apr 24, 2021

Show notes

I call this program A Salute to Doc Severinsen. It is my salute after viewing the PBS Special Never Too Late: The Doc Severinsen Story. Doc is a first class trumpet player who has played in many big bands throughout his career in addition to leading The Tonight Show big band for 25 years. I have picked out a couple of songs from the many Severinsen albums in my collection and we'll also hear a few from the three cds he recorded with the Tonight Show Band. I hope you enjoy the music of trumpet great 93 years old Doc Severinsen. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Enoch Light Revistited Apr 17, 2021

Show notes

This is a show that I produced several years ago. It is on bandleader and record label owner Enoch Light. Enoch started a few record labels during his career as well as lead a sweet band in the 1940's. He started the Command record label as well as one called Project 3. He produced a wonderful set of big band recreations with many of the original musicians taking part. We will be listening to many of these recreation as well as learning a little bit about bandleader Enoch Light. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The Savory Collection Apr 10, 2021

Show notes

Bill Savory was a noted sound engineer who enjoyed jazz and swing. He recorded many bands off the air and kept them for his own enjoyment. After he passed, his son contacted The National Jazz Museum of Harlem to see if they were interested in the recordings. They also licensed some of them to Mosaic Records who created a six disc set of these never heard before treasures. I bought the set so today we will be hearing a handful of these great recordings from the 1930's and 1940's by Bill Savory. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

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