[78-L] Limited edition Miller

[simmonssomer]

Purtill was an excellent drummer. Just listen to him in the great Red Norvo 
band. When he got to Miller he was relieved of that loose swinging 
characteristic at Miller's behest.  George Simon never got tired of 
reminding us that.."Glenn knew exactly what he wanted and knew how to get 
it."
Trigger Alpert, the bassist, was also excellent and was much favored 
post-war in the studios as a bassist of choice by jazz groups.
No argument on your Chummy opinion. Miller was loyal to his oldest pal. And 
don't forget he kept Marion Hutton all those years. Go figure.
As far as the "In The Mood" worship...there are always plenty of morons to 
go around.

Al Simmons

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Sultanof" <jeffsultanof at gmail.com>
To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 7:13 AM
Subject: Re: [78-L] Limited edition Miller


> Anything Glenn Miller sold and continues to sell in nice numbers.
>
> The Miller band had a weak rhythm section (guitar was often barely 
> audible,
> and if you really listen to Chummy McGregor, he is awful), but the band
> could really catch fire sometimes and when it was on, it was just
> sensational. Add to that the arrangements of Bill Finegan, Jerry Gray and
> Billy May (George "The Fox" Williams came too late to really make an
> impression), and the band deserved the accolades it got from fans.
> Personally it is not my favorite of the bands of that era (when I once
> discussed bands with George Avakian, he told me he had utter contempt for
> Miller's band), but I wouldn't want to give up my Miller sets. The band is
> still the perfect example of a dance band that could play beautiful music
> and could swing like crazy at will, deliberately designed to appeal to the
> biggest audience possible. I think it is a pity though that the era is now
> defined by "In the Mood" which was not one of Miller's best recordings, 
> IMO,
> and I wish this piece could be retired, as I for one am sick of hearing 
> it.
>
> The AAF band IS one of my favorite organizations, and the fairly recent
> issues of OWI discs were beautifully done. That is the Glenn Miller I 
> listen
> to most often.
>
> Jeff Sultanof