Brass, Reeds, and Percussion: December 30, 2023

In terms of popular music, the swing era is generally considered to be from 1936 to 1946. During this time, big bands were popular. Today’s edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion takes its annual visit to the cha cha palace, but with a focus on swing dance music. The show opens with a 1932 song which is said to have started swing: “The Moten Swing.” Bennie Moten wrote the tune, which is now considered a jazz standard. He and his Kansas City Orchestra recorded it in 1932, with Count Basie playing piano. But Benny Goodman’s 1938 recording made it popular. This edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion opens with the “Moten Swing” recorded by Les Brown and His Band of Renown.

1. Moten Swing (1932)
   Composer:  Bennie Moten (1893-1935)
   Performer:  Les Brown & His Band of Renown
   Album:  Les Brown: Four Classic Albums (CD 2)
     
2. King Phillip Stomp
   Composer:  Buddy DeFranco (1923-2014)
   Performer:  Les Brown & His Band of Renown
   Album:  Les Brown: Four Classic Albums
     
3. King Porter Stomp (1923)
   Composer:  Jelly Roll Morton (1890-1941)
   Performer:  Les Brown & His Band of Renown
   Album:  Les Brown: Four Classic Albums
     
4. New Mexican Hat Dance
   Composer:  Jesús González Rubio (?-1874)
   Performer:  Les Brown & His Band of Renown
   Album:  Les Brown: Four Classic Albums (CD 2)
     
5. Bijou (jazz rhumba, 1945 recording)
   Composer:  Ralph Burns (1922-2001)
   Performer:  Woody Herman & the Thundering Herd
   Album:  Woody Herman: Original Recordings 1945-1947
     
6. All the Cats Join In (1946)
   Composer:  Eddie Sauter (1914-1981), Alec Wilder (1907-1980) & Ray Gilbert (1912-1976)
   Performer:  Frankie Carle & His Orchestra
   Album:  Frankie Carle & His Orchestra: 1944-1946
     
7. Twelth Street Rag (1919)
   Composer:  Euday Bowman (1886-1949)
   Performer:  Frankie Carle & His Orchestra
   Album:  Frankie Carle & His Orchestra: 1944-1946
     
8. It’s Raining Men
   Composer:  Paul Shaffer (1949- ) & Paul Jabara (1948-1992)
   Performer:  Philharmonic Wind Orchestra
   Album:  Movie and Light Music
     
9. I Can't Dance, I Got Ants in My Pants (1934 recording)
   Composer:  Clarence Williams (1898-1965) & Lee Gaines (1914-1987)
   Performer:  Clarence Williams & His Orchestra
   Album:  Clarence Williams Collection
     
10. A Pane in the Glass (1929 recording)
    Composer:  Clarence Williams (1898-1965)
    Performer:  Clarence Williams & His Orchestra
    Album:  Clarence Williams Collection
      
11. Emperor Waltz (1889)
    Composer:  Johan Strausss, Jr. (1825-1899)
    Performer:  U.S. Army Band
    Album:  Dances Around the World
      
12. Begin the Beguine (1935)
    Composer:  Cole Porter (1891-1964)
    Performer:  BBC Big Band Orchestra
    Album:  Best of the Big Bands, Vol. 1
      
13. Hamp's Boogie Woogie
    Composer:  Lionel Hampton (1908-2002) & Milton Buckner (1915-1977)
    Performer:  BBC Big Band Orchestra
    Album:  Best of the Big Bands, Vol. 1