Big Band Theme Tunes CD

Big Band Theme Tunes

Originally released in 1998 on Castle Communications, Big Band Theme Tunes is a 20-track collection celebrating the defining sounds of the Big Band and Swing Era. Issued in the UK as Castle MAC CD 358, the compilation brings together major American orchestras and bandleaders including Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Cab Calloway, Harry James, Glenn Miller, Jimmie Lunceford, Duke Ellington and Woody Herman.

The recordings themselves reach back much further than the CD's 1998 release date, covering the classic period of big-band jazz from the 1930s into the 1940s. Rather than focusing on one particular orchestra, the album provides a broad snapshot of the different styles that made the Swing Era such an important period in jazz history, from the polished dance-band arrangements of Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller to the driving rhythm of Count Basie, the sophisticated arrangements of Duke Ellington, and the exuberant vocal and jazz-inflected showmanship of Cab Calloway.

The collection opens with Benny Goodman And His Orchestra's "Let's Dance", followed by Count Basie's enduring "One O'Clock Jump" and Tommy Dorsey's celebrated "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You". Artie Shaw's dramatic "Nightmare", Cab Calloway's exuberant "Minnie The Moocher" and Harry James's energetic "Ciribiribin" demonstrate the variety of orchestral colour, rhythm and performance style found within the era.

There is also plenty here for listeners interested in the development of jazz beyond the most familiar Swing names. Fletcher Henderson's "Christopher Columbus" represents the crucial pre-Swing big-band tradition, while Bunny Berigan's "I Can't Get Started", Earl Hines's "Deep Forest", Gene Krupa's "Apurksody" and Woody Herman's "Blue Flame" broaden the collection into some of the more individualistic orchestral sounds of the period. Andy Kirk's "Until The Real Thing Comes Along" adds another important name from the Kansas City jazz tradition.

The final section contains several of the most recognisable sounds associated with classic big-band music. Glenn Miller's "Moonlight Serenade", Jimmie Lunceford's "Uptown Blues", Jimmy Dorsey's "Contrasts", Claude Thornhill's "Snowfall" and Benny Carter's "Melancholy Lullaby" lead into the album's closing track, Duke Ellington's immortal "Take The 'A' Train". The latter became one of the signature pieces of the Ellington orchestra and remains one of the defining compositions of the Swing Era.

For collectors and listeners looking for classic big band jazz, Swing, vintage dance music and the great American orchestras of the 1930s and 1940s, this is a useful 20-track introduction to the genre. With Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Cab Calloway, Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington all represented alongside less frequently anthologised orchestras, Big Band Theme Tunes offers an appealing cross-section of the golden age of big-band music. The original recordings pre-date the 1998 compilation by several decades, making this CD a convenient collection of historically important Swing-era performances.

Tracklist

1. Benny Goodman And His Orchestra – Let's Dance
2. Count Basie Orchestra – One O'Clock Jump
3. Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra – I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
4. Artie Shaw And His Orchestra – Nightmare
5. Cab Calloway And His Orchestra – Minnie The Moocher
6. Harry James And His Orchestra – Ciribiribin
7. Glenn Gray – Smoke Rings
8. Charlie Barnet And His Orchestra – Cherokee
9. Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra – Christopher Columbus
10. Bunny Berigan & His Orchestra – I Can't Get Started
11. Earl Hines And His Orchestra – Deep Forest
12. Gene Krupa And His Orchestra – Apurksody
13. Woody Herman And His Orchestra – Blue Flame
14. Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy – Until The Real Thing Comes Along
15. Glenn Miller And His Orchestra – Moonlight Serenade
16. Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra – Uptown Blues
17. Jimmy Dorsey And His Orchestra – Contrasts
18. Claude Thornhill And His Orchestra – Snowfall
19. Benny Carter And His Orchestra – Melancholy Lullaby
20. Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – Take The 'A' Train