SwingTime
Time: Tuesday, 7 PM Host: Laura Kennedy
Take a trip back to a more elegant era with GLT's SwingTime. It's classic swing from the masters who created an exciting new style of music that still thrills us today. Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Mary Lou Williams, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and many more swing into the spotlight each Tuesday night from 7 to 9 PM.
And there's music from the hot bands working today to carry on the swing tradition in the 21st century.
Be you jitterbug or be you hep cat, you'll find a home on GLT's SwingTime. Cut a rug or just listen with a smile as the classics of yesterday swing forever. If there's something you'd like to hear during SwingTime, don't be shy and
Take a listen to excerpts of tunes keeping Laura's ears busy
"This Love of Mine" Frank Sinatra with Tommy Dorsey (see review below)
"Minnie the Moocher" Cab Calloway (see review below)
Laura thinks these CDs might make good additions to your collection:
Duke Ellington and His Great Vocalists (Columbia Records)
The original jazz class act, Ellington knew how to surround himself with extraordinary talent. Early on, the Duke knew that vocal jazz was a matter of making the human voice sound like an instrument. This collection features the right vocalist paired with just the right song. Al Hibbler and Herb "The Bronze Buckaroo" Jeffries are standouts while "On a Turquoise Cloud" sung by Kay Davis will surely raise a few goosebumps.
Glenn Miller and the Andrews Sisters "The Chesterfield Broadcasts" (BMG)
Long before television mesmerized the world, radio was the original home entertainment center. And it was make believe ballroom time when Glenn Miller's band teamed with The Andrews Sisters for a series of broadcasts in 1939 & 40. As for songs, we have the usual suspects, like "In the Mood" and "Oh Johnny, Oh, Johnny, Oh!" But there's also little unexpected gems like "I've Got No Strings" and "Yodelin' Jive." Oh, and those cigarette ads for Chesterfield --- deliciously politically incorrect.
Cab Callaway - "An Introduction" (Best of Jazz Records)
Yes, it's Mr. Irrepressible himself and in fine form, I must say. Here's a great way to get to know the extroverted Mr. Callaway, with "The Jumpin' Jive," " Nagasaki " and, of course, "Minnie the Moocher." Hi-de-ho! You can hail this Cab and take him all the way uptown.
Frank Sinatra w/ Tommy Dorsey Orch. - "Young Blue Eyes: Birth of the Crooner" (Bluebird)
Could there be a more perfect singer? No way! And Sinatra earned his chops working with Tommy Dorsey. You'll hear the making of a sensational artist in these recordings from 1940 - 42. There's a great range here.from ballads to novelty tunes to hot swing numbers. Bonus! Jo Stafford, Connie Haines and the Piped Pipers chime in, as well. Yummy!