Big Band Bash

Latest Episodes:

Larry Elgart - A Tribute Sep 09, 2017

Show notes

We lost another Big Band leader a few weeks ago. Larry Elgart was 95 when he passed away at his home in Florida. Larry, who led a big band with his brother, was a fine alto saxophonist and composer. He had a big hit in 1982 with a medley of big band hits set to a disco beat. It was called Hooked On Swing, a companion piece to Hooked on Classics. I'll be playing one of these selections at the close of the show. I hope you enjoy the music from a great big band led by Larry Elgart. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Bob Eberly - A Birthday Salute Sep 02, 2017

Show notes

This week I'm going to step into the vault of past shows to pull out an encore presentation of Big Band Bash. This show was one I produced back in 2015 and was a birthday salute to the late Bob Eberly one of the greatest of the big band vocalists. Although he recorded some songs under his own name, all the songs on our show today feature Bob when he was a member of Jimmy Dorsey's Orchestra. There are some great songs on the program include Amapola, Green Eyes, and Tangerine. I hope you enjoy this look at the man who voice was a driving factor in Frank Sinatra's decision to go solo. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Bea Wain - A Tribute Aug 26, 2017

Show notes

This week on the program, we will be paying a tribute to the late vocalist Bea Wain who passed away August 19th at 100 years of age. She spent most of her big band years with Larry Clinton and his orchestra so I have several of those recordings on the show. I was planning to do a 100th birthday salute when I discovered she was still living but by the time I got the how produced she had passed away. I hope you join me as we say goodbye to a very popular singer from the big band years, Bea Wain. I hope you enjoy the music. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Glenn Miller Ghost Bands Aug 19, 2017

Show notes

Today's show is kind of a nostalgic program for me. The first time I heard a live big band was when the Glenn Miller Orchestra played at a local high school. I was just a high school senior but I was interested in the big bands so I bought a ticket. I don't think I was supposed to be taping the performance but no one said anything so I stood off to the side of the bandstand and took in the sights and sounds. Peanuts Hucko was the director of the band and I marveled at his great playing. Well, a couple of months ago I came across my cassette tape from that night. I digitized it and with the help of my friend here at the station we cleaned it up. So today's show features the Glenn Miller Orchestra down through the years directed by different leaders. There is some great music in this set as well as four numbers from my tape. There are no recordings of Peanuts leading the band so this is kind of a rarity. I hope you enjoy the music. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Swing That Music Part 5 Jul 08, 2017

Show notes

Well, we have come to the end of our look at the music in the Smithsonian Institution's 4-CD set "Swing That Music". On the show today we will be listening to some of the music from the latter half of the 1940's. We will be hearing such artists as Boyd Raeburn, Sarah Vaughn, Dizzy Gillespie, and Woody Herman. I have really enjoyed picking out the music for these programs the last 5 weeks and hope that you heard a song or too that you liked. I've got some new shows coming up so keep listening. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Swing That Music Part 4 Jul 01, 2017

Show notes

This week on Big Band Bash, I am continuing with music from the CD box set "Swing That Music." This is a great set which, unfortunately, is no longer available. I have to acknowledge a mistake that I have made on the previous three parts. A listener pointed out that I have been calling the producers of the set the Smithsonian Institute when, in fact, their correct name is the Smithsonian Institution. I hope you enjoy the music from Duke Ellington, Bob Crosby, Glenn Miller, and many others from "Swing That Music." Thank you for listening and for downloading. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Swing That Music Part 3 Jun 24, 2017

Show notes

Part three of Swing That Music has a lot of hits from the golden age of the big bands plus three songs that were unknown to me until I listened to this set. Billie Holliday was a member of the Count Basie Orchestra from March 1937 until February 1938. During this time she was not on any of the studio recordings made by the Basie band. It was a simple explanation - she was under contract to Brunswick and Basie to Decca records. But someone recorded some of their performances off the radio and we have three songs in this set. Also, we have Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Rushing and Count Basie and Anita O'Day with Gene Krupa. I hope you enjoy this set and thank you for listening. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Swing That Music Part 2 Jun 17, 2017

Show notes

This week I am going to continue with part two of Swing That Music. This four disc set was produced by music crtitc and writer Martin Williams for the Smithsonian Institute. Released in 1994, this set focused on the Big bands between the years of 1928 and 1950. Today we will be hearing from Benny Goodman, Harry James, Jack Teagarden, and Jimmy Dorsey to name a few of the bands. I hope when I am finished presenting the music in this set that you will have heard something from your favorite bandleaders. Sadly, this set is no longer being sold. I hope that if you enjoy this set that you are downloading the podcasts. So let's start week two with some foot tapping music from Swing That Music Part 2. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Swing That Music Part 1 Jun 10, 2017

Show notes

Throughout the years, The Smithsonian Institute has produce some great collections of Jazz and Big Band music. My first three sets were collections of Duke Ellington's music from the years of 1938, 1939, and 1940. The liner notes were very extension along with the nice packaging. While looking through the music library at the radio station, I came across a set that I haven't seen in a while. It was produced in 1994 and was called Swing That Music. I say was because it is no longer available. The set consisted of 4 cds from the years of 1928 to 1950. It is full of hits from the big band years as well as some that weren't as well known. For the next 5 weeks we are going to be listening to these great sides so get ready to go into the past as we Swing That Music. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

A D-Day Anniversary Rememberance Jun 02, 2017

Show notes

This June 6th, 2017 is the anniversary of the invasion of Normandy better known as D-Day. It was a day that many American service men lost their lives. To pay tribute to those who served during that fateful time I would like to present some music from Glenn Miller and his Army Air-Force Orchestra. In order to get the timing right I've picked four numbers and two live radio remotes. Glenn's show was called "I Sustain The Wings". We'll be hearing a 13 minute show and a 29 minute show. There is some great music in these shows and I hope you enjoy it as we remember the many events that happened on June 6th, 1944. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

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