Pre-War Big Bands, Part Two - Sat, 03/12/2011

A continuation of last week's sampling of the big bands recording in the years just before U.S. involvement in World War Two, 1938 through 1941.

It's hard to say I have a favorite band from the period, there's so many good ones. If I had to pick one, though, it would have to be the orchestra of Jimmie Lunceford. A show band as tight as it could be, with virtually no top ranked soloists in any of the sections. Instead, Lunceford had arrangers including the great Sy Oliver. Oliver left Lunceford and became one of the first blacks to have a prominent position in what had up to that time been an all-white band. Tommy Dorsey hired him as an arranger, and after Oliver gave the band a makeover he moved on to become music director of Decca Records.

Take a look at this 1936 video of Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra, and you'll see the appeal!

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz6_9bz--00]

Time	Artist	Album	Track	What's This?
11:12 AM	Fred Astaire	Fred Astaire - Song and Dance Man	Let's Face The Music And Dance Composer: I. Berlin	Purchase at Amazon.com
11:16 AM	Chick Webb and His Orchestra with Ella Fitzgerald	Ella Fitzgerald - The Early Years	F.D.R. Jones Composer: Harold Rome	Purchase at Amazon.com
11:20 AM	Mildred Bailey	The Rockin' Chair Lady	When That Man Is Dead And Gone Composer: I. Berlin	Purchase at Amazon.com
11:24 AM	Jack Jenny and His Orchestra	Jack Jenny - Stardust	Stardust Composer: M. Parish/H. Carmichael	Purchase at Amazon.com
11:27 PM	Harry James and His Orchestra	All Or Nothing At All	All Or Nothing At All Composer: J. Lawrence/A. Altman	Purchase at Amazon.com
11:30 PM	Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra	Teddy Wilson - The Elegant Mister Wilson	Sweet Lorraine Composer: M. Parish/H. Carmichael	Purchase at Amazon.com
11:34 PM	Jack Teagarden and His Orchestra	Swingtime! The Fabulous Big Band Era	Beale Street Blues Composer: W.C. Handy	Purchase at Amazon.com
11:37 PM	Will Bradley and His Orchestra	Beat Me Daddy To A Boogie Woogie Beat	Celery Stalks At Midnight Composer: G. Harris/W. Bradley	Purchase at Amazon.com
11:00 PM	Roy Eldridge with the Gene Krupa and His Orchestra featuring Anita O'Day	Uptown	Let Me Off Uptown Composer: R. Evans/E. Bostick	Purchase at Amazon.com
11:44 PM	Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra	Rhythm Is Our Business	'Tain't What You Do Composer: J. Young/S. Oliver	Purchase at Amazon.com
11:47 PM	Count Basie and His Orchestra	Swingtime! The Fabulous Big Band Era	Moten Swing Composer: B. Moten	Purchase at Amazon.com
11:49 PM	Benny Carter and His Orchestra	Swingtime! The Fabulous Big Band Era	Slow Freight Composer: B. Ram	Purchase at Amazon.com
11:53 PM	Ray Noble and His Orchestra	Swingtime! The Fabulous Big Band Era	Cherokee Composer: Ray Noble	Purchase at Amazon.com
11:55 PM	Charlie Barnett and His Orchestra	Charlie Barnett - Cherokee	Cherokee Composer: Ray Noble	Purchase at Amazon.com