DECEMBER 2016

BIG BAND NEWS

BIG BAND BUDDIES MAY TAKE A NEW FORM

Pete Crantock’s magazine Big Band Buddies International may not go completely away as once thought.

In a letter to subscribers dated August 26, 2016, Crantock had written, “I regret to tell you that due to recent medical problems I have had to take the decision that after 17 years of publishing Big Band Buddies International magazine I have had to call it a day.”

He went on to describe his health issues.

“The reason for this decision to cease publication was due to, and unbeknown to me at the time a gradual lack of mobility in my right leg which got to a point where I could not walk without a stick and fell over several times. I had thought that this was due to [ wear ] in my hips and knees due to my age which the doctor had informed me some month previously, so I just assumed that eventually I would have to have a knee and/or hip replacement.”

Crantock saw several doctors and it was determined that he had a “bleed” in his head and underwent emergency surgery.

“I was operated on by way of having two holes drilled into my [ skull ] to relieve the pressure build up which was the cause of the [ paralysis ] of my leg,” he explained.

There was no September 2016 issue of Big Band Buddies, and plans after that were to publish a final edition this month, including some articles already prepared plus the history of the magazine, how it came out, and some letters of support.

It would have been only expected if Crantock, who turned 79 years old last month, chose to relax after the surgery and concentrate on family and other projects.

But in checking his website, bigbandbuddies.co.uk, I now see where it has been announced that the site is “currently under reconstruction” and that a new Big Band Buddies magazine will be available free online starting in January 2017. REVIEWS AND PREVIEWS

Sammy Kaye And His Orchestra “I Want To Wish You A Merry Christmas” Real Gone Records

Columbia CL 1035, a 1957 LP, which gathered material from 1951-52 and 1957, on 13 cuts. But as a CD this is a little short on playing time. Why didn’t Real Gone add in Santa Claus Is On His Way (10/23/41) or Kaye’s other seasonal recordings from Victor? Sony BMG holds them all now.

various artists “The Classic Big Band Christmas Album” Sony Legacy

Owing to the small revival of vinyl, this title is a 2-LP set (evidently NOT on CD) with 18 total cuts. Besides some familiar renditions, they’ve worked in (Don’t Wait Till) The Night Before Christmas by Eddy Duchin, It’s Winter Again by Isham Jones, and A Wonderful Winter by Charlie Spivak. Oh, and Sammy Kaye, Winter Wonderland.

“Dream” Orrin Tucker Music Boutique CD-R

Originally a 1959 Bel Canto album featuring Tucker and his saxophone and a dozen, dreamy songs, arranged with strings. Songs include You Stepped Out of a Dream, I’ll See You in My Dreams, Two Sleepy People, and Dream a Little Dream of Me.

“The New Sounds of Orrin Tucker” Music Boutique CD-R

Another 1959 Bel Canto LP transferred to CD. Alongside standards such as The Nearness of You, To Each His Own, and That Old Black Magic, there are originals such as Penguin in Pakistan and Frivolous Frappet. But wait! There’s more! (See below.)

“The Music Of Orrin Tucker” Music Boutique CD-R

Little-heard recordings made as 78s on the Universal label, I suppose around 1948-49, and reissued only once as an obscure LP (Manhattan SR 004). Tucker sings about half of them himself, such as Side By Side, I Need Lovin’, Sweet Little You, Love Me Or Leave Me, and 88 in the Books.

various artists “Spotlight on Vaughn Monroe, Ted Weems and Orrin Tucker” Music Boutique CD-R

Monroe at the Hollywood Palladium in 1947, Weems at the El Patio Ballroom in Denver in 1945, and Tucker from the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco in 1947. But be warned that the source of this CD was a Joyce record album (LP-4004). Russ Morgan and His Orchestra “Volume Three: ‘Getting Some Fun Out of Life’” Crystal Stream Audio (Aus) IDCD341

Twenty-seven of the dozens of songs that Morgan recorded for Brunswick from 1936 to 1938. Titles include With Thee I Swing, Casing the Mouse, The Greatest Mistake of My Life, and Drop a Nickel in the Slot. Easily recommended for fans of music in the Morgan manner.

“77 Sunset Strip And Other Favorites” Frankie Ortega & Sy Oliver Jubilee / Warner (Japan)

An authorized reproduction of the 1959 album (Jubilee JLP 1106), done with a mini-LP cover. You’ll hear Kookin’ for Kookie, Sunset Stripper, Dining At Dino’s, Free Way Mambo, and other “cool” tunes.

“Jazz Heroes: Louis Armstrong All Stars: Stuttgart 1959” SWR Jazz Haus (G) JAH-462

A nicely-done CD and a DVD, recorded February 15, 1959 at Liederhalle Stuttgart in Germany. The 76:31 CD has a concert including Basin Street Blues, Now You Has Jazz, I Get Ideas, and Love Is Just Around the Corner. The 46:00 DVD presents some of the of the same songs.

Stan Kenton And His Orchestra “Concerts In Miniature: Part 16” Sounds of YesterYear (E) DSOY 2043

The series of CDs is now up to April 1953. Tunes include Frivolous Sal, Everything Happens to Me, All About Ronnie, Round Robin, and Gone with the Wind. Complete in their original form of presentation as broadcast on the radio.

various artists “4 Classic Christmas Albums Plus” Avid (E) AMSC 1220

The Peggy Lee selections were originally on “Christmas Carousel” (Capitol ST 1423), arranged and conducted by Billy May. And the Stan Kentons are from his 1961 album “A Merry Christmas” (Capitol ST-1621). Both have previously been on CD.

Jimmy Dorsey and “The Eberly Brothers: Bob & Ray: Smooth Singers of the Swing Era” Retrospective (E) RTR 4289

A total of 26 songs (13 apiece) by Bob Eberly (1916-1981) and (1919-1979), two of the top band vocalists in the ‘30s and ‘40s. However, nothing new here and the songs are pretty much the ones always mentioned. “Merry Christmas from Lawrence Welk and his Champagne Music Makers” Music Boutique CD-R

Originally a 4-LP set released on Reader’s Digest in 1970, here it becomes a 2-CD set. All the Welk regulars at that time are heard, including Jimmy Roberts, the Curt Ramsey Quartet, Steve Smith, and Norma Zimmer.

Ralph Marterie and the All Star Men “music for a private eye / Big Band Man” Blue Moon (Sp) BMCD 878

When the album of TV themes first came out on Mercury, it was labeled as Marterie “and his Marlboro men.” Now changed to “the All Star Men” and conducted by Pete Rugolo. The rest are standards, again with Marterie’s trumpet, Rugolo’s arrangements, and studio all stars.

Various Artists “Jamboree: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” Jasmine (E) JASMCD2632

Includes Count Basie’s One O’Clock Jump, Jamboree!, and I Don’t Like You No More (the latter with a vocal by Joe Williams), but otherwise it’s rock’n’roll stuff.

“A Tribute To Ella Fitzgerald Performed By Clare Teal” With The Syd Lawrence Orchestra Chasing the Dragon Records (E)

A new recording with I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Begin the Beguine, I Get a Kick Out of You, Night and Day, That Old Black Magic, Too Darn Hot, and others.

“Big Band Spectacular!” The Syd Lawrence Orchestra Chasing the Dragon Records (E)

Two 180-gram LPs (one cut direct-to-vinyl, the other mixed down to 1/2” tape) each with 8 big band hits (Sing, Sing, Sing / Moonlight Serenade / Begin the Beguine / American Patrol / In the Mood / A String of Pearls / Little Brown Jug / Anvil Chorus) and a DVD. Does direct-cut vinyl or analogue tape sound better?

Conversations In Jazz: The Ralph J. Gleason Interviews Yale University Press, 2016

A 296-page book of 14 interviews with music legends including, of the most interest here, Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Ellington.

A review in DownBeat stated, “Time and again Gleason helps an artist explain his essence at a crucial point in his career, capturing a very important moment in time.” Library Journal said “[A ] treasure trove of previously unavailable interviews by a premiere journalist who unfailingly asked perceptive and probing questions.” BIG BANDS LIVE DURING THE HOLIDAYS Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty Barnhart. Dec 1, The Center for the Arts, Grass Valley, CA; Dec 2, Gualala Arts Center, Gualala, CA.

Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Nick Hilscher. Conclusion of Japan tour. Dec 2, Inchinoseki Cultural Center, Ichinoseki, Iwate, Japan; Dec 4, Sendai Shimin Hall, Sakuraki Oka Park, Miyagi, Japan; Dec 5, Rohm Theatre Kyoto, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Japan; Dec 6, Festival Hall, Kita Ward, Osaka, Japan; Dec 7-9, cruise aboard Asuka II, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, Japan; Dec 11, Yokosuka Arts Theatre, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan; Dec 12, Ishikawa, Ongakudo Concert Hall, Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa, Japan; Dec 14, Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan; Dec 15, Mie Center for the Arts, Tsu, Mie Prefecture, Japan; Dec 16, Kobe Culture Hall, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan; Dec 19, two private concerts back in USA; Dec 21, The Riviera Theatre, North Tonawanda, NY.

CATCHING UP Before we say goodbye to 2016, I wanted to be sure to catch up on a few things.

IN-PRINT AND / OR ONLINE: Orchestra directed by Bill Tole. Website no longer active.

Tony Eaton, one of the world’s most knowledgeable authorities on Glenn Miller, gave his talk, “The Curious Disappearance of Glenn Miller,” for the Prestwood Gardening Society in Buckinghamshire, England on October 13, 2016 and for the Ampthill District Historical Society in Bedford, England, on November 7, 2016.

Keith McDowell. “ Derek Smith: Make it anywhere,” Jazz Journal Vol 69 No 9 / Sep 2016, p.16+. Smith recalls who was in Benny Goodman’s 13-piece band when BG played a tour of South America in 1961.

Steve Voce. “ Still Clinging to the Wreckage: Steve Voce reflects on Benny Goodman, a musician of contradictory, even destructive character who nonetheless through application reached the pinnacle of swing,” Jazz Journal Vol 69 No 8 / Aug 2016, pp.7-8.

NECROLOGY: Gloria DeHaven, 91, actress who was also a singer with Crosby ’41 and Savitt ‘42, d.Jul 30, 2016.

Bruce DeMoll, 86, tenor saxophonist with the Miller Orch- McKinley ‘64?-‘65 / Miller Orch-DeFranco ‘66-’67, d.Oct 13, 2016.

Bob Eberly, Jr, 73, son of vocalist Bob Eberly and a singer himself, d.Aug 21, 2016.

Claude Williamson, 89, pianist with Barnet ’47 / ’49, d.Jul 16, 2016. One of his last appearances was in 2012 for the Los Angeles Jazz Institute at a Barnet tribute where he reprised Claude Reigns, his famous feature with Charlie, that had been composed by Manny Albam and titled as a humorous reference to the actor Claude Rains.