CotW - Big Band Jazz

[Guest]

Unless I've missed it, there doesn't seem to have been any comment here on this week's subject, scheduled to coincide with the London Jazz Festival (mentioned elsewhere on these boards, in the Jazz thread).

Donald Macleod introduced the series by saying it was unfamiliar territory for him, and the same goes for me. But I do have a soft spot for this type of music and its vintage recordings. I've certainly enjoyed dipping into the two episodes broadcast so far, without feeling obliged to sit down and listen to the full hour. This does not imply the slightest criticism of Mr Macleod or his guest Guy Barker -- and certainly not of the tracks played so far: what fantastic musicians!

The Radio 3 website tells us that the programmes "explore the development of the art of arranging for big band from the 1920s onwards, and the contributions of the key figures involved over the decades". There is surely a place on R3 for an exploration of this genre, but I'm not convinced that this is the best slot. There's no specific composer of the week -- so it becomes a bit diffuse.

[Old Grumpy]

Unless I've missed it, there doesn't seem to have been any comment here on this week's subject, scheduled to coincide with the London Jazz Festival (mentioned elsewhere on these boards, in the Jazz thread).

Donald Macleod introduced the series by saying it was unfamiliar territory for him, and the same goes for me. But I do have a soft spot for this type of music and its vintage recordings. I've certainly enjoyed dipping into the two episodes broadcast so far, without feeling obliged to sit down and listen to the full hour. This does not imply the slightest criticism of Mr Macleod or his guest Guy Barker -- and certainly not of the tracks played so far: what fantastic musicians!

The Radio 3 website tells us that the programmes "explore the development of the art of arranging for big band from the 1920s onwards, and the contributions of the key figures involved over the decades". There is surely a place on R3 for an exploration of this genre, but I'm not convinced that this is the best slot. There's no specific composer of the week -- so it becomes a bit diffuse.

Yes, but it is LJF week, so I guess it fits in with the general theme of things. I too am enjoying the snippets of it that I hear.

OG

[Nick Armstrong]

I heard this evening's on the way home and enjoyed it. Love big band / swing.

The younger Caliban played trombone in one such band. "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" was my party-piece...

Bit of a downer to hear what a beep-beep-beep Tommy Dorsey seems to have been

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

i found the Dorsey Orchestra rather plodding in the swing stakes ... having missed the first episode i am unsure how much attention was given to the Basie rhythm section Messrs Basie Green Page & Jones

and much enjoyed the Artie Shaw Concerto ...

But that version of Sing SIng Sing was truly awesome ..delightful end to a long morning lazing about

[Serial_Apologist]

Great contextualisation - wonder who wrote the introductions: Alyn?

That said, this ain't exactly comprehensive now, is it - not even in the US context. No Sun Ra, no JCOA, no George Russell, no Braxton Creative Music Orchestra, no Barry Guy, no Globe Unity, no Vienna Art Ensemble... Token Gil Evans, Kenny Wheeler and Maria Schneider is like saying Prokofiev is avant-garde... by downplaying it they're almost writing Modernism out of the story.

Cosmetic.......

[Hornspieler]

Great contextualisation - wonder who wrote the introductions: Alyn?

That said, this ain't exactly comprehensive now, is it - not even in the US context. No Sun Ra, no JCOA, no George Russell, no Braxton Creative Music Orchestra, no Barry Guy, no Globe Unity, no Vienna Art Ensemble... Token Gil Evans, Kenny Wheeler and Maria Schneider is like saying Prokofiev is avant-garde... by downplaying it they're almost writing Modernism out of the story.

Cosmetic.......

Praise be ....!

HS

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

all that bebeop ...luvverly

btw i thought it was Cab Calloway and NOT Louis Armstrong who made the Chinese crack ...

[Serial_Apologist]

Praise be ....!

HS

[Serial_Apologist]

all that bebeop ...luvverly

btw i thought it was Cab Calloway and NOT Louis Armstrong who made the Chinese crack ...

So did I

Incidentally, anyone spot that "Impressions" "reference" right in the middle of Glenn Miller's "Pavane"? 'Trane must have had it in the back of his mind. Had me nearly falling out of my chair.

All of you get those old nonexistent Glenn Miller LPs out & check... see if I'm making this up.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

... nah i'll take your word for it S_A!

[teamsaint]

Caught a bit of this each day this week.....just makes me wish there was more time to listen to and learn about this. We do at least have things like youtube and spotify to help these days.

The ....(forgotten) meets Stravinsky tune today was fab.

[Nick Armstrong]

Caught a bit of this each day this week.....just makes me wish there was more time to listen to and learn about this. We do at least have things like youtube and spotify to help these days.

The ....(forgotten) meets Stravinsky tune today was fab.

Same here - haven't caught them all... but I loved that number: Boyd Raeburn

Just downloaded it on the strength of the show http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boyd-Meets-S...2927222&sr=1-1

[teamsaint]

yeah, old Boyd...thats him...he was cooking up a good one there!!
I shall follow your lead there. good work finding that.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

this album and this track particularly shows the orchestral character of Gil Evans that was going to emerge spectacularly with Miles Davis in Birth of The Cool and Miles Ahead

i believe they played Snowfall on the prog

[Nick Armstrong]

this album and this track particularly shows the orchestral character of Gil Evans that was going to emerge spectacularly with Miles Davis in Birth of The Cool and Miles Ahead

The latter being one of the jazz albums I know best, it was great to hear its progenitors...

Today: Maria Schneider's "Sky Blue"...