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Ce, 1.4./ «CC Li- =2 .cC C.0) C.., La-I IS•• C=. C40) C.= ttiI oil ,, III cz:e to" IN THE GROOVE THE ,‘ Published monthly by RCA VICTOR DIVISION Camden, N. J. Copyright 1947. All rights reserved. RCA VICTOR Printed in U. S. A. Form IK 2075 Vol. I, No. II BERYL Editor—FRANK J. O'DONNELL sTO RICHARD WEDDELI.—Director of RCA Victor Record Publications BOOKER E a series of articles ON THE COVER on new stars in jazz by LEONARD FEATHER This month's cover of IN THE GROOVE shows Tex Beneke and stars in jazz are so numerous thing about her except that she that tenor sax from which he gets nowadays that it's hard to single had just breezed in from Philadel- all those wonderful sounds. out any one person for the spot- phia. Later it turned out that she It has been a little over a year light. Once in a while, though, was no newcomer to music. Al- since Tex took over the Miller or- you run across an artist who pro- though she looks about 19, Beryl chestra. By now the facts are his- duces an instinctive reaction, a is 26 years old and had been play- tory. He has led this group to feeling that here is something ing local jobs in Philly for several almost phenomenal success. Even destined to become recognized as years. Slam Stewart had heard during the slump of a short while a major talent. her there one night and suggested ago when more experienced lead- A perfect example is the case of that she come to New York. Not ers were having trouble landing Beryl Booker. One night about long afterwards, she became a good dates, Tex was walking away six months ago I walked into the regular member of his group. from his engagements with record Three Deuces on West 52nd Street Girl musicians have to endure takes. and noticed that the regular pianist the stigma of being rated as "not For someone who has been in with Slam Stewares Quartet was had for a girl" and "very good for front of agroup for as short atime not on the stand. In his place was a girl." There is no need for any as Beneke, he has really done a young girl, with a soft, serene such reservation in the case of amazingly well. Even when he smile and a style to match. The Beryl Booker. The only justifiable first took over the leadership of the lights were very low and the tune comparison you can make is with Miller organization, when the pres- was something slow and pensive. Erroll Garner, for she has some of sure must have been terrific, he did Beryl took just one chorus, and my his harmonically and rhythmically an admirable job of taking the curiosity was insatiably aroused. subtle approach to jazz piano, and, reins and, in his typically relaxed Nobody seemed to know any- (Continued on page 8) and self-assured manner, giving the customers all that they had ex- pected from a group bearing the Miller name. And that is saying a lot. As for his musical ability, his individual, tasteful and powerful style of blowing his horn, little can be said that hasn't been uttered by just about everybody in the music business. And his singing is as nat- ural and as typical of his friendly personality as his sax playing. MISS AMERICA '45 TO FORM BAND Bess Myeison. Aineiica of nineteen forty-five, is planning to debut an all-girl ork sometime in the near future. The ork will sport astring section. At press time the twenty-two girls had already been assembled and had gone through LEONARD FEATHER AND BERYL BOOKER five rehearsals. No reservations were necessary 2 IN THE GROOVE WALLER'S LAST DIZZY-HAWK IN NEW 52nd STREET JAll WAXING RELEASED Dizzy Gillespie, King of re-bop, and Coleman Hawkins, "Fats" Waller's last waxing be- who has proved on more than one occasion that he is fore his death has just the top tenor sax man in the business, have been joined been released in a single album that significantly represents the latest Issued on RCA VICTOR'S Swing Classic label, the twelve-inch disc movements in Fifty-Second Street jazz. And since Man- was specially processed and dubbed hattan's Fifty-Second Street has lately been the Mecca of from the sound track of the pic- modern, small combo jazz, this album brings with it a ture "Stormy Weather." It will be clear picture of jazz, circa 1947. remembered that this picture was In Dizzy's orchestra, on the four one of Waller's last ventures. Gillespie sides, there are such out- The "A" side of this record is standing sidemen as Don Byas, Ain't Misbehavin'; it is backed by tenor sax; J. C. Heard, drums; Moppin' and Boppin'. Both these and Milt Jackson, vibraharp. With numbers were originally cut for Hawkins, there are men like Charlie use in "Stormy Weather," but the Shavers, trumpet; Allen Eager, latter never reached the nation's tenor sax; Pete Brown, alto sax, screens. and Mary Osborne, guitar. These As an example of the wonderful great jazz names, some well known artistry that Waller possessed this and others comparatively new, record is excellent. Listening to have come together to produce a it immediately brings to the mind's jazz package that is at times ex- eye a picture of the inimitable hilarating, at others moody and ability and energy that was Waller. plaintive and always exciting. The easy-going, light touch of his playing, the meaningful and infec- Dizzy's Sides fious quality of his singing are The four Gillespie sides in this here reflected. Often this truly album are alI excellent examples great artist has been imitated, but DIZZY GILLESPIE of Dizzy's wonderful and revolu- never equaled. Re-bops a-plenty tionary technique. Night in Tunisia The Record is aperformance of changing mood With "Fats" in "Stormy Weather" BENEKE-MILLER ORK and excellently executed solos. This were Benny Carter, trumpet; Slim IN ANOTHER side is one of the best indications Moore, trombone; Gene Porter, of why J. C. Heard is rapidly ris- sax and clarinet; Irving Ashby, WAX SHOW ing as an up-and-coming drummer. guitar; Slam Stewart, bass, and The Tex Beneke-Miller ork was Anthropology is the side that Zutty Singleton, drums. All these recently signed to transcribe a gives vibes man Milt Jackson his names likewise recorded with series of fifty-two half-hour pro- chance to shine, and he really takes Waller. grams under the sponsorship of the break. Jackson is perhaps the The "A" side, Ain't Misbehavin', Deb magazine. At press time there only outstanding vibes man around was no indication of the time this who has been able to catch the (Continued on page 9) program would debut but all in- re-bop technique and translate it dications point to apremiere about into terms of his own instrument. the time this reaches you. This is amply demonstrated on With the signing of this con- these two records, particularly on tract the Tex Beneke-Miller ork Anthropology and 52nd Street established itself as the band with Theme. the most air time in the country. 01' Man Re-bop has atricky uni- Besides this new show the group son theme vaguely based, harmon- has the Mutual wax program for ically, on the "Old Man River" Army Recruiting and the Johnny chord pattern. There are solos by Desmond "Judy 'n Jill 'n Johnny" Dizzy, Byas, Jackson, Al Haig on airers. piano and Bill de Arango on guitar. DOUGLAS EXITS KYSER Michael Douglas, vocalist with the The Hawk's Sides Kay Kyser ork. will leave the The inspired tenor of Coleman group to do asingle the first of Jan- Hawkins can always be depended "FATS" WALLER uary. Reports have it that Douglas upon for exceptional passages, but That wonderful artistry has a network show lined up. (Continued on page 8) JANUARY, 1947 3 PHIL HARRIS ON RCA VICTOR DISCS Phil Harris, popular singing band- leader and radio comedian, has been signed to an exclusive RCA VICTOR recording contract, it was recently announced by J. W. Mur- ray, Vice-President in charge of RCA VICTOR record activities. Harris, whose unique song styl- ing has always been his trademark, has already recorded two numbers that will probably be on the mar- ket by the time this reaches you. Typical of Phil's fast-talking, high- ly personalized style, these two numbers are At the Darktown Poker Club and Woodman Spare that Tree. It seems likely that the near future will see a release of probably his most famous number, That's What I Like about the VAUGHN MONROE AND TRAM SECTION South. Phil's manner of presenting his Vaughn 's popularity has never been greater. His two great albums, "Dream- songs has gained large scale recog- land Special" and "On the Moonbeam." are two excellent reasons for this. nition chiefly because of his years on the Jack Benny show. His MONROE WU MAKE PIC "FIN IAN'S ability to project his personality on the radio has won for him Following his indefinite run at RAINBOW" MUSIC legions of faithful fans who will the Strand theater in New York, RELEASED soon discover that he is equally Vaughn Monroe will take his ork RCA VICTOR has just released the able to put across his charm on to Hollywood, there to work on music from the musical production records as he is on the radio.