[Dixielandjazz] Fwd: Fw: Keep (it) Swinging

Wed Nov 18 00:34:33 PST 2015

Ar first I could not see the videos, but clicking on the blue "Savoy
Ballroom Swing" opened the web page, and there they were.
In any event, an interesting, even if quite well known, story.
Enjoy

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שולח: *Keep (it) Swinging, *
נושא: *Keep (it) Swinging*
Keep (it) Swinging <http://keepitswinging.blogspot.com/>
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Savoy Ballroom Swing - Chick Webb And His Orchestra
<http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KeepitSwinging/~3/Zk3Oooy6miQ/savoy-ballroom-swing-chick-webb-and-his.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email>

Posted: 17 Nov 2015 07:30 AM PST
<http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T96zDfvFws4/Vks66YkqTbI/AAAAAAAADv4/AD_Wy5zPlWs/s1600/tumblr_m7wcg4shj11rtxv1wo1_400.jpg>
The Swing Era of the 1930s emerged with the rise of big bands in the USA.
Harlem in NYC had opened the *Savoy Ballroom* late 1920s, it was the hot
spot of the city for dancers to meet and have a great time, both coloured
and white people were allowed to attend and dance to music by popular swing
orchestras.
<http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JR0BR0FzbUI/Vks7Y_Fye0I/AAAAAAAADwA/2Diyzo28xS8/s1600/dancers%2Bat%2Bthe%2BSavoy.jpg>Dancing
couple at the Savoy Ballroom
Harlem and the Savoy attracted dancers and an audience eager to find
amusement, the house orchestra of the Savoy accordingly encouraged the
public to *Go Harlem*

This great swing music was of course played by *Chick Webb and his
orchestra,* *Go Harlem* was recorded June 2nd 1936
<http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cIulX9Nsqwk/Vks8riBhUkI/AAAAAAAADwI/x_1RGqI0MHA/s1600/jazz30f-2-web.jpg>Chick
Webb at the drums
*Chick Webb* had come to NYC in 1925, he led bands in various clubs before
settling in for long regular runs at the Savoy beginning in 1931.
<http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ugaChYElYJ0/Vks-KimM8uI/AAAAAAAADwQ/7jRohLVh-IA/s1600/Stompin%2527%2Bat%2Bthe%2BSavoy_label.JPG>
*Chick Webb and his Savoy orchestra *recorded the original version of *Stompin'
at the Savoy* on May 18 1934, a swing tune composed and arranged by *Edgar
Sampson* and since then a standard recorded by numerous other jazz artists

Chick Webb's big band was characterized by a crisp ensemble sound and the
leader's disciplined, ferociously driving drum pyrotechnics and further a
series of strong compositions and charts by Edgar Sampson. Although the
orchestra did not become as influential and revered in the long run as some
of its contemporaries, it nevertheless was feared in its time for its
battles of the bands at the Savoy Ballroom. A famous encounter with the *Benny
Goodman* orchestra at its peak (with *Gene Krupa* in the drummer's chair)
left the latter band drained and defeated.
<http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-335qZVNpVD0/Vks_WSJfYPI/AAAAAAAADwY/g326yHLavis/s1600/goodman_v_webb.jpg>
Benny Goodman's signature tune at the time was *Don't Be That Way* (- you
can listen to a recorded version by the BG orchestra with arrangement by
Edgar Sampson at YouTube, here <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-tpZLQq-z4>),
however, here's the version by Chick Webb and his orchestra -  Webb's
orchestra introduced the Edgar Sampson arrangement with this version from
November 1934

The Savoy often featured *Battle of the Bands* where Webb's orchestra would
compete with other top bands from opposing bandstands. By the end of the
night's battles the dancers seemed always to have voted Chick's band as the
best. As a result, Webb was deemed the most worthy recipient to be crowned
the first King of Swing.
<http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4xlwh-_7fiA/VktAwTE26mI/AAAAAAAADwk/xGoZ-YTES4A/s1600/flyer_Webb%2Bvs%2BBasie.jpg>
Although a judge declared Webb's band the official winner in 1938 over *Count
Basie*'s, and Basie himself said he was just relieved to come away from the
contest without embarrassing himself, surviving musicians continued to
dispute the ruling for decades to follow.
<http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CdeWpKDDCJU/VktBKpPOvqI/AAAAAAAADws/NzpkZW5Tiow/s1600/CW%2Band%2Borchestra.JPG>Chick
Webb and his orchestra
*Chick Webb* became one of the most competitive drummers and bandleaders of
the big band era, his playing technique at the drumset later inspired *Buddy
Rich* and  *Louie Bellson*. Below I'll insert a couple of examples
featuring great work at the drumset by Chick Webb. - Here is the Chick Webb
orchestra's recording of *Clap Hands, Here Comes Charley* from March 23 1937

Next follows Chick Webb and his orchestra with their version of *Liza*,
recorded May 1938; the drum solo introducing the well known standard is
said to be the leader's "answer" to *Gene Krupa*'s contributions to the *Benny
Goodman* orchestra's famous version of *Sing, Sing, Sing *

In 1935, Chick Webb hired the teenaged *Ella Fitzgerald* after she won a
talent contest, he became her legal guardian and rebuilt his show around
the singer.
<http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UIPFbdCKDQw/VktCuE7Jw_I/AAAAAAAADw4/yPT52EjzK9o/s1600/26x19%2Bblk%2B-%2Bchick%2Bwebb%2B%2526%2Bella%2Bfitzgerald_savoy%2Bballroom%2B-2376.jpg>
In 1938, Chick Webb's orchestra featuring Ella Fitzgerald as solo vocalist
had a big hit with the tune *A Tisket-A-Tasket*, and this was followed by
another hit in 1939 with a recording of *Undecided *

Sadly, Chick Webb died from spinal tuberculosis on June 16, 1939. After his
death, *Ella Fitzgerald* led the Chick Webb band until she left to focus on
her solo career in 1942 and caused the band to disband.
<http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nl_STyf5O7s/VktDWReWjcI/AAAAAAAADxA/7uwqouqHHBg/s1600/220px-Chick_Webb.jpg>
*Chick Webb* and his orchestra's contributions to great big band jazz of
the Swing Era will remain, although his band did not become as influential
and revered in the long run as some of its contemporaries. Nevertheless,
the inserted audio examples above are proof that Chick Webb's band provided
us with excellent swing of lasting quality, I think.
---
*Jo*
*keepitswinging.domain at gmail.com <keepitswinging.domain at gmail.com>*

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