Harry James: MGM Years on WBGO this Sunday night

[ghost of miles]

I think we've discussed Harry James' MGM chapter around here before... anyway, a heads-up on Bill Kirchner's monthly turn at "Jazz From the Archives" on WBGO:

Recently, I taped my next one-hour show for the "Jazz From the Archives"

series. Presented by the Institute of Jazz Studies, the series runs every

Sunday on WBGO-FM (88.3).

Harry James (1916-1983) was one of the Swing Era's most phenomenal

successes, both as a virtuoso trumpeter and a bandleader. But it's perhaps

his commercial success that has led to James being shortchanged in the jazz-history

books.

Ironically, James's peak jazz years were arguably the 1950s and '60s, when he

led a big band modeled to some degree after Count Basie's, though with its own

distinctive personality. His jazz playing by that time was a unique amalgam of

influences ranging from Louis Armstrong to Clifford Brown, and he was one of the

few Swing Era giants to be comfortable with bebop harmony. (He was, after all,

only a year older than Dizzy Gillespie.)

We'll hear recordings made by James and his band for the MGM label between 1959

and 1964. Arrangements are by Ralph Burns, Neal Hefti, Thad Jones, Matty Matlock,

and Ernie Wilkins.

The show will air this Sunday, October 28, from 11 p.m. to midnight, Eastern

Daylight Time.

NOTE: If you live outside the New York City metropolitan area, WBGO also

broadcasts on the Internet at www.wbgo.org.

Best,

Bill Kirchner

http://www.jazzsuite.com/

Edited October 25, 2007 by ghost of miles