Heading into some earlier territory on the Downbeat this weekend. Live from The Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, as broadcast by NBC Radio on July 28, 1948. Swingtime At The Savoy featuring Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra with Ella Fizgerald, Moms Mabley and The Hall Sisters and others. The program is hosted by early Jazz legend Noble Sissle and is billed as "a recreation of a night at The Savoy in Harlem". The half-hour program covers a lot of bases, from Swing to Gospel to Comedy to Vocal Jazz and covers them pretty well.
The Big Band era in transition and Millinder was one of the key players in the Jump-Blues genre. It moves quick, so check it out.
