BIG BAND NEWS

APRIL 2017

by Music Librarian CHRISTOPHER POPA

Memories of the sounds of renown will once again echo

this month in Tower City, Pennsylvania, when the “11th

Annual Les Brown Big Band Weekend” is held from the 21st

through the 23rd.

Les Brown, born in 1912 in nearby Reinerton, PA, formed

what became one of the legendary big bands, the “Band of

Renown,” which is best-remembered for such swing classics

as Sentimental Journey, I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,

and Leap Frog, their theme song.

Brown led his band until he died at age 88 in 2001.

In 2012, Reinerton re-named a street near Brown’s

birthplace as “Les Brown Lane,” and the following year they

adopted as their slogan “Reinerton: The “Town of Renown.”

This year, the Weekend’s activities include lots of music, a

three-hour dance, trivia contests, and a non-denominational

celebration of music worship service.

For more information, view their website, lesbrownfest.org,

or contact Committee Chairman Joel Guldin via

lbrownfest@gmail.com.

COMPACT DISCS OF THE MONTH

Larry Elgart and His Orchestra

“Sophisticated Sixties /

The Shape Of The Sounds To Come”

Blue Moon (Sp) BMCD 881

A very nice job, produced for CD by Jordi Pujol, of two

well-recorded 1960-61 MGM LPs from the bearded Elgart

brother. The 24 selections include songs by Cole Porter

(Just One of Those Things, I’ve Got You Under My Skin,

Get Out of Town), Fats Waller (Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now,

Ain’t Misbehavin’), and originals from such arrangers as

Bobby Scott (Arkansas Holler), John Murtaugh (Full Swing

Ahead), and Roger Middleton (Sophisticated Sixties).

With original cover art and liner notes.

REVIEWS AND PREVIEWS

Larry Elgart and His Orchestra

“New Sounds of The Roosevelt /

Music from the Broadway Hit Production Saratoga”

Fresh Sounds (Sp) FSRCD 921

Another fine job, also produced for CD by Jordi Pujol, of two

1959 RCA Victor albums by Larry Elgart. In fact, the

“Roosevelt” LP was nominated for a Grammy! It includes four

originals by Al Cohn (Let My People Swing, Cool-Aid, April,

Blue Thursday). It’s been on CD a couple times but never this

nice, with original artwork and liner notes. The “Saratoga”

score was composed by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer.

various artists

“Mary Ann McCall: Complete Recordings 1950-1959”

Fresh Sound Records (Sp) FSCRCD 918-2

Vocalist McCall worked with some of the best big bands

of the ‘30s and ‘40s, namely Woody Herman and Charlie

Barnet. But this 2-CD compilation covers her recordings

from 1950 to 1959, including two sides that she did for

Decca with Artie Shaw and His Gramercy Five (There Must

Be Something Better Than Love and Nothin’ for Nothin’) and

some songs made with saxophonist Charlie Ventura for the

Norgran (i.e., Norman Granz) label. Throughout, there are

many talented instrumentalists backing her on select

recordings, such as Kai Winding and Billy Byers (trombone),

Al Cohn and Zoot Sims (tenor sax), Lenny Hambro (alto

sax), Dave McKenna (piano), George Duvivier (bass), and

Sonny Igoe and Ed Shaughnessy (drums).

Woody Herman and His Orchestra

“The Moon Is Blue”

Sounds of YesterYear (UK) DSOY 2060

The Status label in England released on CD in 1996

some selections from the same performance dates

at Jantzen Beach (catalog number DSTS1020).

But these are different songs by Herman’s

1954 band that had Dolly Houston on vocals.

However, unless you’re a Herman completist,

it might come off as a rag-tag collection.

One track is labeled as “Introduction—Sound check,”

two selections are “unknown title,” there are two

versions of Mulligan Tawny (aka Prez Conference),

and the title tune The Moon Is Blue is “incomplete.”

Stan Kenton and His Orchestra

“Concerts In Miniature: Part 18”

Sounds of YesterYear (UK) DSOY 2059

The Kenton band, as heard on the radio, in May 1953.

Ray Noble and His Orchestra

Music Boutique CD-R

Once available as an RCA Vintage Series LP,

this presents the same 16 selections, including

The Touch of Your Lips and Big Chief De Sota.

various artists

“Dance Party”

Music Boutique CD-R

A selection of some of those newer recordings

made for Reader’s Digest by such famed bands

as Goodman, May, Crosby, Martin, James,

Brown, Fields, and Weston, spread out on 4 CD-Rs.

Many dance styles are represented.

various artists

“Bobby Darin & Johnny Mercer: Two Of A Kind:

With Billy May And His Orchestra”

Omnivore OV 216

The original 13 selections as issued by Atco, plus 7

previously-unissued performances (5 of them alternate takes

and the other 2 are Cecilia and Lily of Laguna, songs

recorded for the LP but left off). By the sounds of things,

everyone involved had fun. Nicely done by Omnivore.

various artists

“The Tony Martin Hit Collection: 1936-57”

Acrobat Music (UK) ADDCD3191

If you’re a fan of singer Martin, you’ll recognize the material,

but I’m only listing it here because there are five Brunswick

selections included in this 2-CD set on which he sings with

Ray Noble and His Orchestra: The Moon of Manakoora,

I Hadn’t Anyone Til You, You Couldn’t Be Cuter,

My Walking Stick, and Now It Can Be Told.

Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

“In The Swinging Mood”

Sounds of YesterYear (UK) DSOY 2056

Produced by Miller devotee Michael Highton and with

very well-written liner notes by Miller expert Tony Eaton,

“for them as likes their music on the jumpin’ side—Get ready.”