Edgar Hayes Archives - Shuffle Projects

If you are a Balboa dancer, then this tune is familiar to you. Maybe you don't be aware of the title or the artist but I'm sure you have heard it countless times on the dance floor.

It's «Swingin› In The Promised Land» by Edgar Hayes & His Orchestra.

Edgar Hayes

Edgar Junius Hayes (May 23, 1904 – June 28, 1979) was an African-American pianist, arranger and bandleader. He never became a major name but he worked steadily throughout his long career.

Hayes graduated with a music degree from Wilberforce University.

From 1931, he played and arranged for six years for the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, which was taken over by Lucky Millinder in the meantime.

During 1937-1941, Hayes led his own orchestra including sidemen such as Kenny Clarke among others. In the spring of1938, they toured through several countries of Europe and Asia.

An interesting fact is, that Hayes› band was the first to record Joe Garland's composition «In The Mood» on February 17, 1938 for Decca. This tune became a swing classic, when Glenn Miller recorded it more than a year later.

In the same session, Hayes recorded their most popular title «Stardust» which became a surprise hit.

He disbanded the orchestra and moved to California in 1942, where he formed a quartet called his «Stardusters» and played throughout the 1940s, then he performed mostly solo into the 1970s.

Swingin› In The Promised Land

Because of the tempo, it's also often used for Balboa competitions.

[easyazon-image align=»left» asin=»B001VJYIES» locale=»de» height=»160″ src=»https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512AjY3VsUL._SL160_.jpg» width=»160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=»B001VJYIES» locale=»de»]Swingin› In The Promised Land[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Edgar Hayes & His Orchestra
Recorded: November 14, 1938
Album: [easyazon-link asin=»B001VK5MMO» locale=»de»]Complete Jazz Series 1937 – 1938[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 233 bpm
Dance: Balboa

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes EU ･ ~~iTunes US~~ ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B001VJYIES» locale=»de»]Amazon DE[/easyazon-link] ･ ~~Amazon US~~ ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B001VDS0C0″ locale=»uk»]Amazon UK[/easyazon-link] ･ emusic

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

[catalyst_hook_box name=»adboxsotwbottom»]

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

Kenny Clarke 1964 — Mallory1180 [CC BY-SA 4.0], from Wikimedia Commons

I Found A New Baby (also: I've Found A New Baby) is one of my favourite Jazz standards and I can't stop hunting for new versions of that great song.

For this week I have chosen a version you can find on an Edgar Hayes compilation. Kenny Clarke (1914-1985), who played drums and vibes (plus piano and trombone during school) joined Edgar Hayes› Big Band 1937.

In 1938, they made an European tour and Kenny Clarke got the opportunity to lead his own recording session in Sweden. The group was named Kenny Clarke's Kvintett and they recorded four songs, one of them is our song of the week.

In my ears it sounds like Kenny Clarke is playing a xylophone with that muffled, warm sound, though some sources state he's playing vibes. Pretty weird are the vocals by James Anderson in the second part of the song. But because of that strange combination of different sounds, this version is so appealing to me.

Title: I Found A New Baby
Artist: Kenny Clarke's Kvintett
Recorded: March 8, 1938, Stockholm SE
Tempo: 234 bpm
Dance: Balboa

You can find the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist.
Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw

Do you like the «Song of the Week» series? Share your thoughts below.

Edgar Hayes

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #144: Swingin› In The Promised Land

Edgar Hayes

Swingin› In The Promised Land

Related Songs:

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #4: I Found A New Baby

Now Check Out: