Swing!
Episode 7 – Swing Into Spring
Spring has already sprung, so this theme may be a little late – but before we slip into summer I thought it might be nice if we ‘Swing Into Spring’ with a long awaited episode of my monthly show covering the first half of the Jazz Continuum called ‘Swing!’
We start off with a fly over by the US Air Force Airmen of Note performing this episode’s title tune. We then travel back to the roaring 20’s to celebrate spring with Rube Bloom & The Piccadilly Players before jumping into the 30’s with Art Tatum, Chick Webb & His Orchestra (featuring Ella Fitzgerald when she was just 19 years old), Fats Waller & His Rhythm, Benny Goodman, the Sam Samson Orchestra from Sweden, Louis Armstrong, Hubert Rostraing (featuring Django Reinhardt), Les Brown, the Count Basie Orchestra, and Coleman Hawkins. We end with some brand new swing from the Tempest Little Big Band out of Atlanta, Ga featuring Joe Gransden.
The swing era was born during the great depression and flourished during World War II – and the music was often created in an attempt to lift people’s spirits and make them dance. The songs pertaining to spring are particularly positive, providing a great deal of hope and encouragement 60+ years ago and I’m pretty sure they can still have the same effect today. So, turn up the Victrola or gather the family around the wireless…and let’s Swing!
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please feel free to get in touch with me via scott@soulandJazz.com
Agape ya’ll,
J. Scott Fugate, ‘The Jazz Evangelist’
Swing!
Episode 7 – Swing Into Spring
Artist – Track – Album – Year
US Air Force Airmen of Note Swing Into Spring On The Air 2009
Rube Bloom Spring Fever Duo-Art Piano Roll 1928
The Piccadilly Players Sunny Skies Spring Into Easter – 1920’s Hits 1928
Art Tatum Get Happy Art Tatum’s Finest Hour 1935
Chick Webb & His Orchestra (feat. Ella Fitzgerald) I Got The Spring Fever Blues
78 rpm single recording 1936
Fats Waller & His Rhythm Spring Cleaning Old Plantation, Vol. 1 1937
Benny Goodman Sunny Disposish The Essential Benny Goodman 1937
Sam Samson Orchestra Swing In The Spring
Rytm Och Swing: Swedish Jazz History, Vol 3 1938
Louis Armstrong On The Sunny Side of the Street
The Best of Louis Armstrong, Vol. 1 1943
Hubert Rostraing (feat. Django Reinhardt) Swingtime In Springtime
Souvenirs de Django Reinhardt 1947
Les Brown April Showers Les Brown & His Orchestra, Vol 2, 1949 1949
Ella Fitzgerald Blue Skies Ella Fitzgerald Sing the Irving Berlin Song Book 1958
Count Basie Orchestra April In Paris April In Paris 1956
Coleman Hawkins Spring’s Swing Jam Session In Swingville 1961
Tempest Little Big Band (feat. Joe Gransden) I’ll Remember April
Round Midnight 2011
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