DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #111: Town Hall Blues

After the excursion to Jump Blues from last week, we go back to a more typical swinging tune while sticking to Blues.

Town Hall Blues

The hard pushing rhythm section of this great tune suits equally to Balboa and Lindy Hop dancers.

Lawrence «Bud» Freeman (April 13, 1906 – March 15, 1991) was one of the finest tenor saxophone players in the 1930s. Beside Coleman Hawkins, who had a harder tone than Freeman, he was one of the most influential tenor saxophonists, inspiring musicians such as Lester Young.

Freeman was a member of a group of young white Chicago Jazz musicians known as the Austin High School Gang, influenced by the music of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings. They created their own style which became part of the Chicago Jazz style.

In 1927, he moved to New York and worked with Red Nichols, Ben Pollack, Joe Venuti and Eddie Condon, among others.

From 1936-1938, he was the star in Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra. In 1938, he joined Benny Goodman, where he never got happy and left within a year. From 1939-1940 he led his own octet, the Summa Cum Laude Orchestra.

During World War II, he led an army band. After the war, Freeman led his own bands, but was also working closely with Eddie Condon.

Bud Freeman traveled the world. From 1968-1971, he was with the World's Greatest Jazz Band. Later in the 1970s, he lived in London before moving back to his original hometown Chicago.

He was an active musician into his eighties.

By Bud Freeman, there are two memoirs [easyazon-link asin=»0913642053″ locale=»us»]You Don't Look Like a Musician[/easyazon-link] (1974) and [easyazon-link asin=»0902638025″ locale=»us»]If You Know of a Better Life, Please Tell Me[/easyazon-link] (1976), and the autobiography [easyazon-link asin=»1871478154″ locale=»us»]Crazeology[/easyazon-link] (1989) available.

[easyazon-image align=»left» asin=»B001TYZOZC» locale=»de» height=»160″ src=»https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pVPEvAM%2BL._SL160_.jpg» width=»160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=»B001TYZOZC» locale=»de»]Town Hall Blues[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Bud Freeman
Recorded: November 15, 1945
Tempo: 180 bpm
Dance: Balboa, Lindy Hop

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes CH/EU ･ ~~iTunes US~~ ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B001TYZOZC» locale=»de»]Amazon.de[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B00000G1J7″ locale=»us»]~~A'zon.com~~[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B001U47CL0″ locale=»uk»]A'zon.co.uk[/easyazon-link] ･ ~~eMusic~~

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Every Monday, I post a new «Song of the Week«.
You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #111: Town Hall Blues

Town Hall Blues

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