Big Band Bash

Latest Episodes:

Part 4: The Trumpet Playing Bandleaders Nov 10, 2018

Show notes

On Part Four of my series on band leaders who played the same instrument, I'll be looking at the trumpet playing band leaders. There were a lot of them so I'll be playing some recordings by some of the famous trumpeters in addition to the not so famous. Some of the band leaders will be hearing from include Harry James, Bunny Berigan, Charlie Spivak, Sunny Dunham, and Randy Brooks. If you are a fan of the trumpet then this is a show you won't want to miss it. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Part 3: The Piano Playing Bandleaders Nov 03, 2018

Show notes

This week's show is a continuation of the theme started two weeks ago. We are going to be listening to some of the Big Band Leaders who played the piano. There were many bandleader-musicians that were pianists and after I listened to this show I realized that I forgot to include Stan Kenton. I will try to include some of his music in a later show. Today's show is one that I put together back in 2011 so it is one of the early editions of Big Band Bash. Some of the bands we'll be hearing from today include Count Basie, Frankie Carle, Claude Thornhill, Duke Ellington and others. I hope you enjoy this look at some of the band leaders from the Golden Age of the Big Bands that were pianists. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Part 2: The Saxophone Playing Bandleaders Oct 27, 2018

Show notes

This week on our program I am revisiting a series I did way back in 2011. I got the idea from a fellow big band broadcaster from North Carolina whose show I happened hear. His series was about a group of bandleaders who played the same instrument. Last time we heard some of the bandleaders who played the clarinet and today we will be exploring those leaders who played the saxophone. Some of the bands we'll be hearing today include Benny Carter, Charlie Barnet, Jimmy Dorsey, and Freddie Martin. I hope I play some of your favorites as we explore the saxophone playing bandleaders. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Part 1: The Clarinet Playing Bandleaders Oct 20, 2018

Show notes

On our show this week, I am going back to the Big Band Bash vault to pull out a series of shows I did way back in 2011. Back then I produced a 5 part series grouping each show by the bandleader's instrument. Today we will be listening to the clarinet playing bandleaders. Then in the weeks to come, we'll be focusing on the trumpeters, the saxophonists, the pianists and finally the trombonists. There is a lot of exciting music in the show today as we listen to Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Jimmy Dorsey and others. The show might sound a little different as I produced these back in 2011 and I have refined the show since then. Anyway, I hope you enjoy these shows from the past on the great clarinet playing bandleaders. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Final Glenn Miller AAF Orchestra Shows Oct 13, 2018

Show notes

When Major Glenn Miller disappeared over the English Channel in December of 1944, his Army-Air Force Orchestra continued to perform. On the show today, I will be presenting the last two performances by that great orchestra. The first is the last program of "I Sustain The Wings" from October 1945 and the final performance is from November of 1945 before a live audience. Sgt. Jerry Gray is the conductor for these two performances. There is some fantastic music in the set done in the Miller style. I hope you enjoy this look back at the end of World War Two and some memories of the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Overseas Orchestra. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Andy Kirk and His Twelve Clouds of Joy Oct 06, 2018

Show notes

This week I would like to focus on a bandleader and orchestra that was not as well known as others but still produced some great music. Andy Kirk led a fantastic band and his band was almost a twin of Jimmie Lunceford's band. Although he was the leader of the band, he did not solo but instead utilized the talent in his band for the spotlight instead. Featured on many of the recordings is the fantastic Mary Lou Williams. We'll also hear Floyd Smith featured on the guitar who was one of the first electric guitar soloists. I hope you enjoy this look at Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds of Joy. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The Vocalists Part 2 Sep 29, 2018

Show notes

This week we continue with more of the Big Band vocalists. This will be a potpourri of many different vocalists from many different bands. I tried to limit each singer to one song so we could hear as many of the different styles as time permitted. Some of the vocalists on this show include Jack Leonard, Helen Ward, Dick Haymes, Louis Armstrong, Helen O'Connell and others. I hope I play some of your favorites as we listen to the great vocalists of the Big Band years. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The Vocalists Part 1 Sep 22, 2018

Show notes

Today's show is from the Big Band Bash archives and is one that I did on the popular vocalists who sang with the big bands. Most big bands had at least one singer and some had two. If you were a really popular band then you might have a vocal quartet. I've tried to present quite a few different vocalists and there were so many good ones that I had enough for two shows. So it's a singer potpourri for the next two weeks on Big Band Bash. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The Birth of Swing, Part 2 Sep 15, 2018

Show notes

On Part 2 of the Birth of Swing, I would like to play some recordings by some of the other big bands that were recording and playing between 1934 and 1936. Some of the bands that were together during those years include The Casa Loma Orchestra, Jimmie Lunceford, Benny Carter, Duke Ellington, The Dorsey Brothers, and Andy Kirk. This is just a sample and if I have missed a certain band I will probably cover them in an upcoming show. There is a lot of variety on the show today and I hope that I play something from a favorite band of yours. Also, the big band puzzler is back this week. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The Birth of Swing, Part 1 Sep 08, 2018

Show notes

August 21, 1935 is sometimes referred to as the birthday of Swing. It was on this date that the Benny Goodman orchestra, after traveling across the country, opened their engagement at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles, California. They started the night playing it safe with stock arrangements but when they started playing their special arrangements, the kids went wild. These were the numbers they had been listening to on the Let's Dance radio program. On the show today I have a few of the original recordings from Let's Dance and from the Palomar from the next evening August 22. Also, we will be listening to a whole broadcast from the Goodman orchestra broadcasting from the Congress Hotel in Chicago. Next week I will be playing some recordings by some of the other big bands between the years of 1934 and 1936 when Swing was becoming the popular music of the day. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

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