DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #140: Port Of Rico

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Illinois Jacquet Port Of Rico

Jean Baptiste “Illinois” Jacquet (Oct. 31, 1922 – July 22, 2004) was one of the all-time great tenor saxophonists and inventor of the Rhythm & Blues tenor style. His solo on “Flying Home” with Lionel Hampton in 1942 is considered the first R&B saxophone solo. Beside Lionel Hampton, Jacquet also worked with Cab Calloway (1943-1944) and Count Basie (1945-1946) before he started his own medium-size band in 1946. He recorded and toured regularly during the 1950s and was still a big name during the next few decades. Usually playing with smaller groups, he led a part-time big band from the [...]

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #122: A Slick Chick (On The Mellow Side)

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DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #122: A Slick Chick (On The Mellow Side)

Dinah Washington, born Ruth Lee Jones (Aug. 29, 1924 – Dec. 14, 1963), was a pianist and a singer that was a master of different styles: Gospel, R&B, Blues, Jazz and Pop. Her career started at age 15. After winning an amateur contest at Regal Theatre in Chicago, she began performing in nightclubs as a pianist and singer. Joe Glaser, a talent manger, heard her at the Garrick Bar in 1942 and recommended her to Lionel Hampton, who asked her to join his band. It was around this time, when she changed her name to Dinah Washington, although it doesn’t seem to be clear, [...]

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #114: Smiles

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DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #93: "Moonglow" (Take 2) by Benny Goodman Quartet

Back in November 2010, I posted “Smiles” by Swiss alto saxophonist Flavio Ambrosetti as the Song of the Week #35. Five years earlier, Benny Goodman recorded “Smiles” with his quartet, featuring Lionel Hampton on vibraphone, Teddy Wilson on piano and Gene Krupa on drums. Smiles Let’s listen to two versions. First, the studio version (it’s a bit scratchy…) And now, a live version, obviously from the same year (although, I don’t have any evidence for that) Smiles is wonderful song, both for Lindy Hop and Balboa. Because of the clear rhythm, it’s especially useful for Balboa (beginner) classes. Probably, I have [...]

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #103: When I Grow Too Old To Dream

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DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #103: "When I Grow Too Old To Dream" by Arnett Cobb (1959)

After last week’s song from the 1970s, here is another fantastic tune which was recorded many years after the swing era: When I Grow Too Old To Dream” by Arnett Cobb. Arnett Cobb (Aug. 10, 1918 – Mar. 24, 1989), born Arnette Cleophus Cobbs,  played briefly piano and violin before switching to tenor saxophone. His style was based between swing and early rhythm & blues. Cobb worked with Frank Davis (1933), Chester Boone (1934-1936) and the Milt Larkin Orchestra (1936-1942). The latter was never recorded, though. When Cobb was succeeding Illinois Jacquet with Lionel Hampton‘s Big Band (1942-1947), he gained his initial fame. [...]

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #93: Moonglow

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DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #93: "Moonglow" (Take 2) by Benny Goodman Quartet

I’m a big admirer of Benny Goodman’s small group recordings from 1935 to 1939. He recorded with different group sizes and what I like is the relaxness in the songs, there is so much joy of play hearable. The sound is full and often, you get the feeling, there were many more musicians involved than actually were. Most of the recordings were done as a quartet, with Gene Krupa on drums, Teddy Wilson on piano and Lionel Hampton on vibes. Please note, that two of the musicians (Wilson and Hampton) were black. It was quite uncommon at that time to [...]

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #40: Piano Stomp (Shine)

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Lionel Hampton Piano Stomp (Shine)

Frenchie Balboa Festival (FBF) is over! Another great Balboa weekend with great dances and great music. If you would like to improve your speed in Balboa dancing and especially shuffling, here is my song of the week which will be a challenge for sure. This is one of the fastest song I’ve ever danced to: A breathtaking version of Shine with 300 bpm!! Lionel Leo Hampton (20.04.1908-31.08.2002) was one of the swing giants, he was the first jazz vibraphonist, but also pianist, percussionist, band leader and actor. 1936 he was discovered by Benny Goodman, shortly afterwards he played and recorded [...]

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