Harry James Eight Bar Riff '43-'50 CD - Import

Harry James & His Musicmakers: Bob Bein, Leo Zorn, Al Neiman, L.N. Kurkdje, George Grossman, Ernie Karpati, Gerson Oberstein (violin); Bill Spear, Victor Stern, Herchel Gilbert, Al Neimann (viola); Al Freide, Al Friede (cello); Willie "The Lion" Smith (alto saxophone); Jimmy Cook (tenor saxophone); Sam Sachelle, Claude Lakey, George Davis (baritone saxophone); Red Berken, Phil Cook, Everett McDonald, Vincent Badale, Jim Troutman, Nick Buono, Harry Jones (trumpet); Fred Waldron, Philip Palmer (French horn); Ziggy Elmer, Ray Heath, Vic Hamann, Murray MacEachern, Chuck Preble, Lee O'Connor, Dave Robbins (trombone); Al Lerner (piano); Bob Stone (bass guitar); Mickey Scrima, Jackie Mills, Lou Fromm, Nick Fatool (drum); Edward Mihelich, Thurman Teague (bongos); Bob Poland, Sam Freed, Bruce McDonald, Cy Bernard, James Grimes, Leonard Corris, Hayden Causey, Stewart Bruner, Jack Gootkin, Eddie Rosa, John DeVoogdt, Jerome Reisler, Gerald Joyce, David Sterkin, Nick Pisani, Musky Ruffo, Benny Heller, Harry Jaworski, King Guion, Al Cuozzo, Corky Corcoran, Dalton Rizzotto, Ginnie Powell, Sam Caplan, Jimmy Campbell , Johnny MacAfee, Juan Tizol, Arnold Ross, Mike Russell, Harry Rodgers, Stan Fishelson, Sam Herman.

Benny Goodman's fabulously successful big band was a launching pad for future bandleaders, with Harry James being one of the best. James's dazzling style made him a star in his own band, which in turn launched the careers of singers Frank Sinatra and Dick Haymes. EIGHT BAR RIFF covers the period in which James had the greatest success, both artistically and commercially; his big band combined earnest swing with tuneful schmaltziness, and later on even absorbed some influence from jazz's avant-garde sound of the time, bebop. With 23 selections and excellent sound and packaging, RIFF is one of the better overviews of Harry James available.

Personnel: Willie Smith (vocals, clarinet, alto saxophone); Ginnie Powell, Buddy Moreno (vocals); Hayden Causey, Benny Heller, Sam Herman (guitar); Alexander Neiman, Bill Spear (violin, viola); Jack Gootkin, John DeVoogdt, Jerome Reisler, Nick Pisani, Harry Jaworski, Robert Bein, George Grossman, Larry Kurkdjie, Leo Zorn, Sam Caplan (violin); Sam Freed, Gerald Joyce, David Sterkin, Victor Stern, Herschel Burke Gilbert, Mike Russell (viola); Cy Bernard, Al Friede (cello); Eddie Rosa, Musky Ruffo (clarinet, alto saxophone); Claude Lakey, Johnny MacAfee (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Stewart Bruner, George David (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); King Guion, Corky Corcoran, Jimmy Cook (tenor saxophone); Bob Poland, Sam Sachelle (baritone saxophone); James Grimes, Leonard Corris, Al Cuozzo, Jimmy Troutman, Everett McDonald, Red Berkens, Phil Cook, Jimmy Campbell , Stan Fishelson, Nick Buono (trumpet); Fred Waldron, Phil Palmer (French horn); Dalton Rizzotto, Vic Hamann, David Robbins , Chuck Preble, Ziggy Elmer, Ray Heath, Murray McEachern, Harry Rodgers (trombone); Juan Tizol (valve trombone); Bruce McDonald, Al Lerner, Arnold Ross (piano); Micky Scrima, Jackie Mills, Lou Fromm, Nick Fatool (drums); Harry James (trumpet).

Liner Note Author: David J. Weiner.

Recording information: Chesterfield Show, CBS, Los Angeles, CA (11/02/1943-06/07/1950); Coca-Cola Spotlight Bands, Los Angeles, CA (11/02/1943-06/07/1950); Marine Ballroom, Steel Pier, Atlantic City, NJ (11/02/1943-06/07/1950); Meadowbrook Gardens, Culver City, Los Angeles, CA (11/02/1943-06/07/1950).

Photographer: David J. Weiner.

Arrangers: Juan Tizol; Johnny Thompson Singers; Leroy Holmes & His Orchestra; Neal Hefti; Ray Conniff; Billy May.