JSngry

Buddy Rich

Seriously, start with the video up above for Harry James. The music is good and the visuals give a really full context for what that band was about. And keep in mind that Vegas was their home base for decades.

Shit be swingin' Big time

I guess I will never be the BIGGEST Carmen McRae fan. But I like some things here more than I expected.

Where does the Dot label live now? With Universal/whoever?

Surely it's AI. I don't think it's humanly possible to play like that.

Latter day Hamp sweats too: https://www.discogs.com/master/940081-Lionel-Hampton-50th-Anniversary-Concert-Live-At-Carnegie-Hall

Danisha Bootz - When Love Comes To Town

I wish that America had seen those comprehensive Hamp collections. Mosaic should have done one by now.

They didn't need Teddy Edwards to make this record. But since they did, hey.

Yeah, that's a damn good record.

I recall seeing a James Dot LP in the bins that was showcasing his latest band which included Buddy Rich. I recognized some of the charts and was interested, but it was over 10 bucks and I passed. Besides, it looked just a bit chancy...strings... But that record was this band, and this was a good band, with Buddy Rich just before Harry James fronted him the money to start his own band. Here's another one on Dot. Never have seen this one, but yes, it's a Thad Jones chart!

Oh, Hamp, yes, how could I forget this gem? Crank it up.

1988 on Atlantic, iirc Hamp....so many records on so many labels...the one where he plays a couple of Coltrane tunes tends to usually be available in some form or fashion: https://www.discogs.com/release/7565348-Lionel-Hampton-Lionel-Hampton-And-His-Band-Live-At-The-Muzeval Wild Bill Davis on organ, and sure you can dance to Giant Steps. Who said you couldn't?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Given the original parameters, some parts of the first buddy Rich Pacific Jazz albums would qualify, as would some parts of the 1960s Woody Herman records. Both bands might not have played Swing as in Swing Era. but they both never abandoned certain key parts of their ethos from the earlier days either. Just sayin', don't overlook one thing because of another. Oh yeah, Lionel Hampton & Illinois Jaquet both kept EXCELLENT big bands. I never pass on an opportunity to post this INSANE clip:

Try Benny Goodman In Moscow Helluva band.

Harry James settled into Las Vegas with a book mostly by Ernie Wilkins. But as time went by, he used Neal Hefty as well. Others too I think the band made some records for MGM in the 1960s, but they haven't made it to digital?

Oh yeah, get this one. A GREAT record.

I can tell you that Harry James consistently led excellent bands up until the end, but I couldn't point you to any specific records.

Sonny Rollins live in Rome, May 16, 1985. Sonny was in the mood to play.

Bobby Hutcherson - Farewell Keystone

Ruth Pralancio - Bad Breath, Worse Memories

This is a pretty good record. Got some frisk in it and some soulfully deep Budd Johnson for emphasis.

And that "how" is a part of the overall language. You can't really express that just by writing about, you have to hear it. And the better you are acclimated to the vocal culture that is being used (including speech), the more you are to feel the meaning. It's like that with all music's, not just blues.