Fans Against Fake Bands » Jazz

Count Basie

videeoo — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:17:26 +0000

Not Touring Count Basie introduced several generations of listeners to the Big Band sound and left an influential catalogue. Basie is remembered by many who worked for him as being considerate of musicians and their opinions, modest, relaxed, fun-loving, drily witty, and always enthusiastic about his music. As he summed up the key to his understated style, in his autobiography, “I think the band can really swing when it swings easy, when it can just play along like you are cutting butter”. Other cultural connections include Jerry Lewis using “Blues in Hoss’ Flat” from Basie’s Chairman of the Board album, as the basis for his own “Chairman of the Board” routine in the movie The Errand Boy, in which Lewis pantomimed the movements of a corporate executive holding a board meeting. (In the early 1980s, Lewis revived the routine during the live broadcast of one of his Muscular Dystrophy Association telethons). Blues in Hoss’ Flat, composed by Basie band member Frank Foster, was also the longtime theme song of San Francisco and New York radio DJ Al “Jazzbeaux” Collins. In addition, Basie is one of the producers of the “world’s greatest music” that Brenda Fricker’s “Pigeon Lady” character claims to have heard in Carnegie Hall in 1992′s Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Drummer Neil Peart of the Canadian rock band Rush recorded a version of “One O’Clock Jump” with the Buddy Rich Big Band, and has used it at the end of his drum solos on the 2002 Vapor Trails Tour and Rush’s 30th Anniversary Tour. The Count Basie Theatre and Count Basie Field in his hometown of Red Bank, New Jersey were named in his honor. The street on which he lived, Mechanic Street has the honorary title of Count Basie Way. Source and more information: Wikipedia

Glenn Miller

videeoo — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:19:13 +0000

No rating, not touring Glenn Miller played and recorded with the likes of Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey (who on several of their records, featured an up-and-coming singer by the name of Bing Crosby). Formed in March 1938, the second Glenn Miller Orchestra soon began breaking attendance records all up and down the East Coast. There were record-breaking recordings, as well, such as “Tuxedo Junction”, which sold 115,000 copies in the first week. “In the Mood”, and “Pennsylvania 6-5000″, all appearing on the RCA Victor Bluebird label. In early 1940, Down Beat Magazine announced that Miller had topped all other bands in its Sweet Band Poll, and capping off this seemingly sudden rise to the top, there was, of course, Glenn Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade” radio series for Chesterfield cigarettes which aired three times a week over CBS. In 1941, it was off to Hollywood where the band worked on its first movie, “Sun Valley Serenade”, which introduced the song — and soon-to-be million selling record –”Chattanooga Choo Choo”, and featured the Modernaires and the Nicholas Brothers. Then came “Orchestra Wives”. But the war was starting to take its toll on many of the big bands as musicians, and the rest of country’s young men, began receiving draft notices. Glenn Miller ultimately organized the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band, which, in less than one year, engaged in over 800 performances. Of these, 500 were broadcasts heard by millions. There were more than 300 personal appearances including concerts and dances, with a gross attendance of over 600,000. But Glenn Miller was not to participate in the final six months of these activities. In the Fall of 1944, the band was scheduled to be sent on a six-week tour of Europe and would be stationed in Paris during that time. Miller decided to go ahead, in order to make the proper arrangements for the group’s arrival. And so, on December 15th, Glenn Miller boarded a transport plane to Paris, never to be seen again. Glenn Miller favorite quotation, one he stated, was not from the Bible, nor from Runyon, but from Duke Ellington: ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing If it Ain’t Got that Swing!’ For more information about Glenn Miller: http://www.glennmillerorchestra.com

Louis Armstrong

videeoo — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:31:13 +0000

Solo Act – No rating The influence of Louis Armstrong on the development of jazz is virtually immeasurable. Yet, Louis Armstrong irrepressible personality both as a performer, and as a public figure later in his career, was so strong that to some it sometimes overshadowed his contributions as a musician and singer. As a virtuoso trumpet player, Louis Armstrong had a unique tone and an extraordinary talent for melodic improvisation. Through Louis Armstrong playing, the trumpet emerged as a solo instrument in jazz and is used widely today. Louis Armstrong was a masterful accompanist and ensemble player in addition to his extraordinary skills as a soloist. With his innovations, Louis Armstrong raised the bar musically for all who came after him. Though Louis Armstrong is widely recognized as a pioneer of scat singing, Ethel Waters precedes his scatting on record in the 1930s according to Gary Giddins and others. Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra are just two singers who were greatly indebted to Louis Armstrong. Holiday said that she always wanted Bessie Smith’s ‘big’ sound and Louis Armstrong’s feeling in her singing. The house where Louis Armstrong lived for close to 28 years was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977 and is now a museum. The Louis Armstrong House Museum, at 34-56 107th Street (between 34th and 37th Avenues) in Corona, Queens, presents concerts and educational programs, operates as a historic house museum and makes materials in its archives of writings, books, recordings and memorabilia available to the public for research. The museum is operated by the City University of New York’s Queens College, following the dictates of Lucille Armstrong’s will. On August 4, 2001, the centennial of Louis Armstrong’s birth, New Orleans’s airport was renamed Louis Armstrong International Airport in his honor. In 2002, the Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings (1925-1928) are preserved in the United States National Recording Registry, a registry of recordings selected yearly by the National Recording Preservation Board for preservation in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. The US Open tennis tournament’s former main stadium was named Louis Armstrong Stadium in honor of Armstrong who had lived a few blocks from the site. Today, there are many bands worldwide dedicated to preserving and honoring the music and style of Satchmo, including the Louis Armstrong Society located in New Orleans, LA. Source and more information: Wikipedia

Benny Goodman

videeoo — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:58:10 +0000

Solo Act – No rating Hailed as the ”King of Swing,” Benny Goodman was one of the early innovators of that genre and the first of its bandleaders to emerge as a national icon. Benny Goodman’s orchestra was nothing short of a sensation, an obsession to some. Teens and jazz fans alike flocked to see their idol in person. Often a Benny Goodman concert approached near riot status. Benny Goodman became a successful studio musician in New York City. He formed his first regular orchestra in 1934 and recorded a few sides for Columbia. Arrangements provided by Fletcher Henderson helped Benny Goodman establish a swing beat. Swing was almost unheard of in those days. Benny Goodman’s orchestra opened in New York in October of 1936 to tremendous response and continued strong for the next three years. Ward left in 1937, to be replaced by a succession of female singers Ella Fitzgerald (on loan from Chick Webb), Margaret McCrae, Frances Hunt, Peg LaCentra and Betty Van. Benny Goodman finally found a perfect fit in Martha Tilton. In January 1938 the orchestra had its defining moment in a concert at Carnegie Hall which left tuxedoed guests dancing in their boxes. Benny Goodman also became involved in classical music, performing and guest conducting orchestras while still leading his swing outfit. Benny Goodman formed a new orchestra in 1945 which featured vocalists Jane Harvey, Bob Hayden, and Kay Penton, as well as trombonist Kai Winding and saxophonist Stan Getz. Though the band was a critical success the public’s taste in music was changing, and Benny Goodman, realizing the inevitable, decided to pull the plug for good in late 1946. Benny Goodman continued performing, but not with a group of his own until the late 1950s when he led orchestras on goodwill tours around the world. He later occasionally reunited with members of his quartet. Benny Goodman died in 1986. Sourse and more information: Wikipedia