Sonny Greer

[Lazaro Vega]

Chick Webb, Jo Jones, Big Sid Catlett, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich are recognized jazz drummers from the hey day of swing. Yesterday Blue Lake Public Radio celebrated the music of another percussionist, a colorist with an elaborate set up allowing him to create sounds perfect for The Duke Ellington Orchestra from 1921 to 1951. Greer and Jimmy Blanton made a fearsome rhythm section, too. In addition to music by Sonny Greer, last night’s radio program brought you the newly issued 1956 Ella Fitzgerald recording taped at Zardi’s Jazzland in Hollywood, and we went “Out On Blue Lake” in the third hour, remembering Sunny Murray and featuring Mars Williams new Albert Ayler Xmas recording. www.bluelake.org/ondemand