Hollywood Swing and Jazz: Hot Numbers from Classic MGM, Warner Brothers & RKO Films

Read About This Recording

During the 1940s, big bands with their fiery live performances, swinging jazz rhythms and dazzling solo improvisations dominated the country. These incredible orchestras were in such demand that the film industry made specific jazz-oriented movies to accommodate the constant growing number of enthusiastic jazz fans. Some of the acting in these films were great, some of it mediocre but the roaring celluloid performances of these spectacular big bands became a part of jazz and film history.

Hollywood Swing & Jazz is the anointment of the swinging marriage of tinsel town and jazz. It features riveting soundtracks from such renowned orchestras as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Gerry Mulligan and Count Basie, as well as those great jazz vocalists Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, the Mills Brothers, Doris Day, Bing Crosby and Pearl Bailey.

This two-CD compilation features the legendary jazz orchestras and vocalists that defined jazz and set its standards. Their stylistic innovational musicianship remains the blueprint for today's jazz artists. Some of the many rare gems here include the great Lester Young and Company with vocalist Marie Bryant, Carmen McRae with the Andre Previn Trio and Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong singing Now You Has Jazz and I Love You, Samantha. This is a definite collector's item for swinging movie buffs and jazz connoisseurs.

-Ron Scott

Contents

Hot Numbers from Classic MGM, Warner Bros. and RKO Films

Living In A Great Big Way; Congo Fever (Jungle Fever); Let That Be A Lesson To You; I've Got A Heartful Of Music; You're An Education; All God's Chillun Got Rhythm; Jeepers Creepers; Nightmare; Traffic Jam; Blues In The Night; You've Got To Know How To Dance; Buds Won't Bud; Medley: Things Ain't What They Used To Be/Going Up; Shine; Mrs. Whiffen; One O'Clock Jump; Body and Soul; Toot Suite; Hong Kong Blues; Baltimore Oriole; Please Don't Say No; Jammin' The Blues; On The Sunny Side Of The Street; It's You Or No One; You Do Something To Me; I'll Get By; Medley: Do, Do, Do/Bidin' My Time/I've Got A Crush On You/Love Is Here To Stay; Ain't Misbehavin'; Hold Me Close To You; Taken A Chance On Love; My Flaming Heart; Now You Has Jazz; I Love You, Samantha; I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good; Improvisation (Source #1); Red Drum Blues; Improvisation (Source #2); Coffee Time; Spaghetti Fantasy; Alarm Clock; Should I?; Things Are Looking Down; Bread and Wine; God Bless The Child; Don't Blame Me; Sunday In New York; The Girl From Ipanema; Skol Sister; Goof Proof; Lottie; I Got Rhythm.

Bill Bojangles Robinson, Jeni Le Gon, Johnny Scat Davis, Frances Langford, Freddie Rich, Ivy Anderson, Allan Jones, Ethel Waters, Ford Buck, John W. Bubbles, Tenors; Mel Torme, Marcy McGuire, Ivy Scott, Marlowe Morris, Marie Bryant, Doris Day, Lena Horne, Billy Eckstine, Dorothy Dandridge, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Carmen McRae, Pearl Bailey, Leslie Uggams, Astrud Gilberto, Vocals; Thomas Fats Waller, Keyboards, Vocals; Louis Armstrong, Vocals, Trumpet; Jack Teagarden, Trombone, Vocals; Hoagy Carmichael, Vocals, Piano; Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Buster Bailey, Clarinets; Gene Krupa, Sid Catlett, Jo Jones, Shelly Manne, Dave Bailey, Joe Hunt, Danny Barcelona, Drums; Teddy Wilson, Duke Ellington, Garland Finney, Russ Freeman, Count Basie, Billy Kyle, Pianos; Jimmy Dorsey, Lester Young, Saxes; Jimmie Lunceford, Alto Sax, Conductor; Benny Carter, Art Pepper, Alto Saxes; Gerry Mulligan, Baritone Sax; Bill Perkins, Stan Getz, Illinois Jacquet, Tenor Saxes; Harry James, Harry Sweets Edison, Ray Anthony, Trumpets; John Simmons, Red Calendar, Red Mitchell, Buddy Clark, Gene Cherrico, Buddy Catlett, Basses; Art Farmer, Flugelhorn; Bob Enevoldson, Valve Trombone; Tyree Glenn, Trombone; Gary Burton,Vibes; The Mills Brothers; Benny Goodman Orchestra; Benny Goodman Quartet; The Three Symphonettes; Freddie Rich & His Orchestra; Duke Ellington Orchestra; Benny & The Chrinoline Choir; Artie Shaw Orchestra; Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra; Six Hits & A Miss; Warner Bros. Studio Orchestra; The Hall Johnson Choir; Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra; The Hazel Scott Trio; Harry James Orchestra; The King Sisters; The Page Cavanaugh Trio; Benny Carter & His Orchestra; Louis Armstrong Allstars; Ray Anthony & His Orchestra; Andre Previn Trio; Count Basie Octet.