Black History Month Sampler Part One

Black History Month Sampler Part One

Author: Frank Miller February 1, 2025 Duration: 57:02
We start our celebration of Black History Month this week. Rather than focus on any one band or bandleader I have put together a sampler of bands. We start with the band of Fletcher Henderson. Other bands heard today will be Andy Kirk, Benny Carter, Cab Calloway, Chick Webb, Count Basie, and Erskine Hawkins. I hope you enjoy this sampler of the many great African-American Bands from the swing era.

Frank Miller's Big Band Bash is a deep, melodic dive into the world of swing and the larger-than-life sound that defined a generation. This isn't just a playlist of classic tunes; it's an exploration of the stories behind them. Each episode focuses on a specific thread from the big band tapestry, taking you from the ballrooms of the 1930s through the post-war innovations of the 1950s. You might spend an hour with the intricate arrangements of a particular orchestra, or explore a broader theme like the role of vocalists or the evolution of the jazz solo within these iconic groups. The podcast is built on a foundation of respect for the musicians-the bandleaders, sidemen, and arrangers whose skill and personality brought this music to life. Frank guides you through it all with a curator's ear, offering context and insight that makes the listening experience richer. Put simply, this is for anyone who wants to understand the energy and artistry of the era, to hear more than just the familiar hits and discover the depth within the genre. So, whether you're a lifelong devotee or just curious about where that irresistible rhythm comes from, Big Band Bash provides your regular dose of brass, reeds, and rhythm. The goal is to share the legacy and, yes, absolutely get your feet tapping with this timeless, powerful music.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Big Band Bash
Podcast Episodes
Gene Krupa Revisted [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:57
Well I apologize but I ran into some family problems and was not able to finish part two of the Reader's Digest set I promised for this week. So to substitute I have chose a show I previously produced on the Late Gene Kr…
Reader's Digest: The Late 1940's Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:57
This is another set I managed to get a copy of. It was produced by Reader's Digest records and called These Were Our Songs, The Late 1940's. This was a seven vinyl album set and rereleased as a four cd set. Featuring mus…
Victory Parade of Spotlight Bands [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:24
From the patriotic show, The Victory Parade of Spotlight Bands, I am playing three radio remotes. The bands we will be listening to are Les Brown, Gene Krupa, and Charlie Spivak. The Les Brown show is from April 25, 1945…
Reader's Digest: The Late 1930's Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:14
We continue this week with Part Two of a Reader's Digest collection called These Were Our Songs, The Late 1930's. This featues music from the years of 1936 -1939. This set was originally released as a seven vinyl lp set…
Reader's Digest: The Late 1930's Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:47
I managed to get a copy of this set from Reader's Digest Records. It is called These Were Our Songs, The Late 1930's. This was a seven vinyl album set and rereleased as a four cd set. Featuring music from the years of 19…
September Songs and Others [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:20
September 21st is right around the beginning of Autumn. I thought I would do something different this week and celebrate the Autun time of the year with songs about September and Autumn. There were several songs with Sep…
Time Life - The Swing Era 1944-1945 Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:35
This week I am following up with Part 2 of the Time-Life series, The Swing Era, with the second half from the years of 1944-1945. I had so much fun tracking down the originals in this series. As I have done in previous s…
Time Life - The Swing Era 1944-1945 Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:53
This week we return to the Time-Life series, "The Swing Era", with the volume from the years of 1944-1945. These were still the war years but there were still some great recordings made. As I have done in previous shows…
The Vocal Groups [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:26
This week on Big Band Bash I'll be taking a look at many of the vocal groups that sang with the big bands and on their own. There were several popular groups back then and we'll be hearing from The Andrews Sisters, The I…
My Big Band Revival Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:17
We continue this week with Part two of my Big Band Revival. I got the ides from the many churches I see having revivals. I needed to get excited again about the great bands I fell in love with when I was a teenager disco…