Its Swing History time with our Australian clarinettist Duncan Hemstock... Buddy DeFranco died on Christmas eve 2014 at the age of 91 and although he was not a swing clarinetist, he was strongly influenced by Shaw and Goodman (both for whom he recorded tribute albums). DeFranco shone early in life, having won a Tommy Dorsey talent contest and receiving classical training at Mastbaum school, he was playing and touring in trumpet player and film star Johnny “Scat” Davis’ big band by the age of 16. 1944 saw DeFranco join the Tommy Dorsey band for four years before joining Basie’s septet where he spent two years. Upon leaving, he formed his own small group and in 1966, was invited to lead the posthumus Glenn Miller Orchestra. Following the Miller band, he spent many years working with close friend and vibraphonist, Terry GIbbs. “Basie’s Boogie” is this week’s featured track and is a fascinating blend of musicians. DeFranco, Wardell Gray (t sax) and Clark Terry (trumpet) are all bebop horn stars who have strong roots in the swing era while the accompanying Basie rhythm section, a classic swing combo, is playing a Boogie Woogie which can be likened to a precursor to Rock’n’Roll. https://youtube/watch?v=OByckZIxtCE
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 12:01:00 +0000
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