Count Basie

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #143: Splanky

26.11.2012 by Chris

With “Let's Do The Hop” – a compilation of songs closely linked to Frankie Manning – the Cologne/Germany based group “Hop Spot” just released a non-profit CD.

100% of the profit from selling this CD goes directly to the Frankie Manning Foundation.

I've chosen Dawn Hampton's selection for the CD “Splanky” as our Song of the Week.

George Gee Swing Orchestra

On “Let's Do The Hop”, the version of this Count Basie classical is performed by the George Gee Swing Orchestra.

Without Count Basie, there wouldn't be a George Gee Swing Orchestra, though:

His college radio show was a huge hit! The station asked George to interview his idol – William “Count” Basie – before a campus concert. That extensive, exclusive conversation would change George’s life forever.

The next day, he assembled his own 17-piece big band – the Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra! Staffed by student players, the band quickly became the darling of the campus community.

That was back April 26, 1980, when George Gee, a Chinese-American born in New York, started his big band when actually no one was interested in big band jazz.

In 1998, Gee formed his 10-piece band “Jump, Jive & Wailers” and put a new twist on big band favorites and delivered all-out “rollickin’ roadhouse boogie”! (Quote from his website).

With this group, which George lovingly calls his “Economy Big Band,” they have been able to travel around the United States and the world headlining swing and Lindy Hop dance events.

Splanky

Splanky was written by Neal Hefti, who worked with Count Basie from 1950-1962. The song first appeared on the album “Count Basie Big Band” from 1954.

This tune is a classical among Lindy Hoppers. It contains a lot of breaks and energy changes, simply great for improvising!

Title: Splanky
Artist: George Gee Swing Orchestra
Recorded: 2005
Album: Let's Do The Hop
Tempo: 132 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop

Click the link to order CD (15€ + 5€ shipping)
and support the Frankie Manning Foundation:
www.frankiemanning.de (Link is not active anymore)

Do you like to dance to “Splanky”? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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 #140: Port Of Rico

05.11.2012 by Chris

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 late 1980s.

Port Of Rico

A beautiful, mellow and groovy swing tune, recorded with an all-star line-up: Illinois Jacquet (ts), Hank Jones (p), Count Basie (org!), Freddie Green (g), Ray Brown (b) and Jimmy Crawford (d).

Title: Port Of Rico
Artist: Illinois Jacquet
Recorded: July 22, 1952, NYC
Album: After You've Gone
Tempo: 130 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes EU ･ iTunes US ･ Amazon DE ･ Amazon US ･ Amazon UK ･ emusic

How do you like Illinois Jacquet's song? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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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 #135: Moten Swing

01.10.2012 by Chris

Bennie Moten (Nov. 13, 1894 – April 2, 1935) was a fine ragtime-oriented pianist who led the top territory band of the 1920s, an orchestra that really set the standard for Kansas City jazz.

Moten formed his group (originally a sextet) in 1922 and in 1923, they made their first recordings.

During 1926-1932, Moten's Orchestra recorded for Victor and, although none of his original musicians became famous, the later additions included his brother Buster Moten on occasional jazz accordion, Harlan Leonard, Jack Washington, Eddie Durham, Jimmy Rushing, Hot Lips Page, and (starting in 1929) Count Basie.

The most famous Bennie Moten recording session was also his last one, ten songs cut on December 13, 1932 that found the ensemble strongly resembling Basie's five years later. The band at that point also starred Ben Webster, Eddie Barefield, and Walter Page and one of the high points was the debut of “Moten Swing” (or “Moten's Swing”).

Bennie Moten tragically died in 1935 after a unsuccessful tonsillectomy operation. Many of its top members (including Lester Young) eventually became members of Count Basie's newly formed orchestra.

Source: allmusic

Moten Swing

There are many versions of “Moten Swing” out there, most of them just have the main melody line and not the more complex structure of this recording. Not an easy track to dance to.

By the way, check out “Harlem” (Song of the Week #120), there's a remarkable resemblance…

Title: Moten Swing
Artist: Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra
Recorded: 1932
Album: Stomp and Swing
Tempo: 202 bpm
Dance: Balboa

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes CH/EU ･ iTunes US ･ Amazon.de ･ A'zon.com ･ A'zon.co.uk ･ emusic

What do you think about this version? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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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 #126: I Want A Little Girl

30.07.2012 by Chris

There are two male blues & jazz singers I really adore. One is Joe Williams and the other one is Jimmy Rushing.

Jimmy, born as James Andrew, Rushing (Aug. 26, 1901 – June 8, 1972) was known as “Mr. Five by Five” due his corpulent shape. He was famous for his blues interpretations but actually, he could sing almost anything.

Rushing played violin and piano in his youth and studied music in high school. By the time he was 18, he began working professionally as a singer.

From 1923-1924, he was singing in California (with Jelly Roll Morton amongst others). In 1927, he moved to Kansas City and joined Walter Page's Blue Devils. He recorded with them in 1929 and then joined Bennie Moten in the same year, staying until Moten's death in 1935.

Count Basie picked up the pieces of the Moten band and Rushing joined the new Count Basie Orchestra. This was a perfect match and Rushing stayed for 15 years. While with the Basie Orchestra, he also appeared in several film shorts and features.

Rushing was with Basie until October 1948 and occasionally during 1949. When the Count Basie Orchestra broke up in 1950, he shortly retired and then formed his own combo (1950-1952). He freelanced as a soloist during the 1950s.

In 1957, Rushing appeared with Count Basie at the Newport Jazz Festival. With Benny Goodman he had an appearance at the Brussels World Fair and in 1959, he toured Europe with Buck Clayton.

In the 1960s, he sang with Harry James, Benny Goodman and Eddie Condon and stayed active until his death in 1972.

I Want A Little Girl

A clip from “The Subject is Jazz”, presented by Dr. Billy Taylor, summer 1958

“I Want A Little Girl” is a beautiful blues. Jimmy Rushing's distinctive voice could be powerful with a wide range from baritone to tenor. But it could also be warm, soft and soulful like in this number.

Title: I Want A Little Girl
Artist: Jimmy Rushing
Recorded: 1954
Album: The Very Best Of
Tempo: 75 bpm
Dance: Blues

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes CH/EU ･ iTunes US ･ Amazon.de ･ A'zon.com ･ A'zon.co.uk ･ emusic

What do you think about this version? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #92: Little Sir Echo

05.12.2011 by Chris

With “Rexatious” [SOTW #89] we have learned, that Rex Stewart was famous for his talkative style (among other styles). This week I would like to feature a song where this technique is more hearable.

But before, I need to introduce another jazz musician who had perfected a similar sound but with a different instrument.

Dickie Wells

William “Dickie” Wells (10.06.1907/09 – 12.11.1985) was a leading black American trombonist noted, especially in the swing era, for his melodic creativity and expressive techniques. [source: biography.com]

Scott Yanow on allmusic.com describes Wells as follows: “One of the more adventurous trombonists of the swing era, the distinctive Dicky Wells was somewhat innovative, playing his horn in a speech-like style filled with a great deal of color, humor, and swing.”

Wells worked over the years with many well known musicians as Fletcher Henderson, Benny Carter, Teddy Hill, Count Basie (his longest engagement, from 1938-1945 and 1947-1950) and Jimmie Rushing, just to name a few. For most of the rest of his career he was a freelance trombonist.

Little Sir Echo

Little Sir Echo is a nicely swinging tune with call-and-response and solo parts by Stewart and Wells. The song is especially suitable for less experienced dancers, as it is comfortably slow and relaxed.

Title: Little Sir Echo
Artist: Rex Stewart & Dickie Wells
Recorded: 1959
Album: Chatter Jazz – The Talkative Horns
Tempo: 132 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop

I couldn't find this song as download so far!* Buy the CD here
Amazon.de ･ Amazon.com

*Let me know if you have any informations!

Do you like this series? Let us know in the comment section below!

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

Song of the Week #91: “‘Tain’t What You Do” by Jimmie Lunceford
Song of the Week #90: “Stompin’ At The Riverside” by Spade Cooley
Song of the Week #89: “Rexatious” by Rex Stewart

Count Basie

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #143: Splanky

George Gee Swing Orchestra

Splanky

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

Port Of Rico

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #135: Moten Swing

Moten Swing

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #126: I Want A Little Girl

I Want A Little Girl

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #92: Little Sir Echo

Dickie Wells

Little Sir Echo

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