Big Band Bash

Latest Episodes:

Big Bands Live - Part 2 Mar 24, 2018

Show notes

This week we are continuing with Big Bands Live Part 2. The music comes from a CD set called Big bands live. Each CD had 5 or 6 selections from different bands recorded live while they were appearing on location. I produced these two shows about nine years ago so if the introductions sound a little strange that's why. But introductions aside, there is some really nice recordings in this set and luckily there was enough music for two programs. On Part Two of Big Bands Live we'll be hearing the bands of Harry James, Woody Herman and Artie Shaw. I hope you enjoy these live recordings by some of the great big bands. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Big Bands Live - Part 1 Mar 17, 2018

Show notes

This week I am going back to the first of a couple of programs I produced several years ago. The music comes from a CD set called Big bands live. Each CD had five or six selections from different bands recorded live while they were appearing on location. I produced these two shows about nine years ago so if the introductions sound a little strange that's why. But introductions aside, there is some really nice recordings in this set and luckily there was enough music for two programs. On the show today we'll be hearing the bands of Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey and Les Brown. I hope you enjoy these live recordings by some of the great big bands. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The Arrangers: Eddie Sauter Mar 10, 2018

Show notes

This week I'm continuing with a listener's request from a few months ago. He wanted me to do a few shows on some of the Big Band arrangers. A few months ago I did a show on Sy Oliver and today we are focusing on Eddie Sauter. Eddie wrote some fantastic arrangements for Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Ray McKinley and a few others. Sometimes Eddie's arrangements were too sophisticated and Benny would alter them. One of his best arrangements was done for saxophonist Stan Getz for the album Focus. I hope you enjoy this look at one of the greatest arrangers of the big band era, Mr. Eddie Sauter. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Remembering Vic Damone Mar 03, 2018

Show notes

On February 11, 2018 Vic Damone passed away. Vic was one of the great vocalists from the late 1940's on who sang songs from the great American Songbook. To remember Vic on the show today, I thought I would play some of his early hit records and then a few songs from a live performance at Basin Street East which was in New York City. The great vocalists are quickly passing away but at least we can listen to their recordings as we remember them. Vic was 89 when he passed away and luckily for us he left a large recorded legacy. I hope you enjoy this look at the career and music of the late Vic Damone. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Mary Lou Williams - A Tribute Feb 17, 2018

Show notes

In all the time I have been producing Big Band Bash, I have never done a program on the late Mary Lou Williams. It is always a challenge coming up with ideas for new programs. I try not to repeat myself so it was surprising to me that I had never done a program on Mary Lou. She was an exceptional pianist, arranger and composer. I learned a lot about her career and hope you will enjoy this look at her life and music. So for this week's celebration of Black History Month we will be featuring a look at the First Lady of Jazz Piano, Miss Mary Lou Williams. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

1944-1945 Time Life - The Swing Era Part 2 Feb 03, 2018

Show notes

This week I am following up with Part 2 of the Time-Life series, "The Swing Era", with the second half from the years of 1944-1945. I had so much fun tracking down the originals in this series. As I have done in previous shows from the Time-Life series I am playing the original recordings and following along with the playlist from this set. We'll be hearing from Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Les Brown and more. There are a few more sets in this series and hopefully we will get to listen to them all. I hope you enjoy this volume in the series, "The Swing Era". Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

1944-1945 Time Life - The Swing Era Part 1 Jan 27, 2018

Show notes

This week we return to the Time-Life series, "The Swing Era", with the volume from the years of 1944-1945. These were still the war years but there were still some great recordings made. As I have done in previous shows from the Time-Life series I am playing the original recordings. We'll be hearing from Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Les Brown and more. There are a few more sets in this series and hopefully we will get to listen to them all. I hope you enjoy this volume in the series, "The Swing Era". Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The Big Bands Play George Gershwin Jan 13, 2018

Show notes

George Gershwin has always been one of my favorite composers. I thought it would be fun to learn about his career as we listen to different bands playing his music. Some of the bands we'll be hearing include Artie Shaw, Benny Carter, Larry Clinton, Stan Kenton and Jimmy Dorsey. I hope you enjoy this look at one of America's great composers, George Gershwin. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The Arrangers: Sy Oliver Jan 06, 2018

Show notes

As we begin the new year, I would like to honor a listener's request. He asked me to do a couple of shows on the big band arrangers. So today we are going to be listening to some of those fantastic arrangments by Sy Oliver. During the Big band era, Sy spent his career with two bands, Jimmie Lunceford and Tommy Dorsey. I decided to play a lot of the hits of Sy's from those two bands. So we start today with Sy Oliver and in the weeks to come I'll be looking at some of the other great arrangers like Eddie Sauter, Fletcher Henderson, and Bill Finegan. I hope you enjoy the music and thanks for listening. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

A Hoagy Carmichael Celebration Dec 30, 2017

Show notes

Well, the New Year is upon us. Every year for the past several years I have usually played a special big band show called 1945 - 1946 New Year's Dancing Party. I ran this last year and it is still available. I didn't want to run this again so I am going to repeat a show from 2014. Back in November, Hoagy Carmichael had a birthday. Since there were other things going on, I missed doing a show on him. So today's show is one I recorded in 2014. It is a Hoagy Carmichael Celebration. Hoagy composed quite a few songs that are now part of the Great American Songbook. I think you'll enjoy this look at the music and career of the late, great composer, Hoagy Carmichael as we ring in the New Year. Happy Holidays everyone and thank you for listening. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

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