Yes, Indeed!

Read About This Recording

Tommy Dorsey was world-renowned for two things: his beautiful tone on the trombone and his ability to lead a series of versatile and satisfying big bands, particularly in the 1930s and '40s. His orchestra's repertoire included heated swing instrumentals, romantic vocal ballads, occasional dixieland tunes and plenty of first-class dance music. He originally came to fame after years as a studio musician when he was the co-leader of the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in 1934. However, an argument with his older brother, altoist Jimmy Dorsey, over the tempo of a song resulted in Tommy abruptly leaving and forming his own big band.

Yes, Indeed! has most of Tommy Dorsey's best jazz recordings of 1939-45. During this era his band featured Sy Oliver's arrangements and such soloists as trumpeter Ziggy Elman, clarinetist Johnny Mince, Don Lodice on tenor and the great Buddy Rich on drums in addition to Dorsey. Included on this CD is one memorable gem after another including the two-part "Lonesome Road," "Well, All Right," "Quiet Please," "Swing High," Oliver's reworking of "Swanee River," "Hallelujah," "Well Git It" and a remake of Opus #1. In addition, Duke Ellington makes a guest appearance on piano during "The Minor Goes Muggin'."

Although Tommy Dorsey recorded rewarding music both before and after this period, Yes, Indeed! finds him at the peak of his powers.

—Scott Yanow

Extended Article

Nothing changed the format and character of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra more than the hiring of Sy Oliver as the arranger for the band in 1939. Overnight the band with a sentimental sound, epitomized by Dorsey's brilliant trombone, became a hot band with plunging dynamics, a charging drummer (Buddy Rich) and sectional playing of volcanic proportions. Take Quiet Please which is anything but! Rich comes on like a maniac from the opening chords only to be rivaled by a burning trumpet section with Ziggy Elman sounding the attack. Not to be daunted, Rich, in his stop-time breaks drives the group at a fever pitch. Or what about the consummate recording of Swanee River with its elegant, utterly simple statement, illusionary because you can feel the restraint that explodes in just a few sectional phrases. And what a marvelous vehicle it is for mellow extended phrasing of Dorsey's trombone. Of all the bands in this period this is the one that was utterly transformed into one of exciting proportions through the efforts of arranger Oliver. Not to be missed.

—Spencer Bennett

Contents

Lonesome Road, Parts 1 & 2; Well, All Right; Night in Sudan; Stomp It Off; Easy Does It; Quiet Please; So What; Swing High; Swanee River; Deep River; Yes, Indeed!; Loose Lid Special; Swingin' on Nothin'; Hallelujah; Moonlight on the Ganges; Well, Git It!; Mandy, Make Up Your Mind; Opus #1; Chloe (Song of the Swamp); At the Fat Man's; The Minor Goes Muggin'.

Tommy Dorsey, Nelson Riddle, Trombones; Edythe Wright, Jo Stafford, Vocals; Charlie Shavers, Trumpet; Buddy DeFranco, Sax; Buddy Rich, Drums; Duke Ellington, Piano; Sy Oliver, Arranger/Conductor.