[78-L] The Hill Darn Thing's For You

Mon Apr 13 20:10:14 PDT 2009

Well,  I think we are down to splitting hairs at this point.  I have tried 
to point out that the performance of Got Me Doin' Things by Hill is closer 
to a sweet band sound than any of his other records,  or most records by 
other black bands of the era.  But I'm not sure there are many of us besides 
Al and I who know the record.

As to the merits of Anson Weeks's ensemble sound,  I will argue with Al 
about that at a later time!  Until then,  I would suggest a listen to the 
Weeks Brunswick of "You've Got Everything" for a great tenor-sax led 
ensemble and a fine Bob Crosby vocal.  It may not be for all tastes but I 
love it.

Taylor

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "simmonssomer" <simmonssomer at comcast.net>
To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 7:06 PM
Subject: Re: [78-L] The Hill Darn Thing's For You

> What sets this Teddy Hill performance apart from that of a "sweet" band is
> that every note is consistently played just a fraction ...behind the beat.
> Sweet bands don't/can't play that way. It's one of those subtle trademarks
> of the realy good swing era, jazz inflected bands.
> There's more solid brass in the melody statement than in the usual "sweet'
> band which  likes to deliver muted triple tongue effects, soppy tenor lead
> exposition,
> novelty sounds like "tick-tock" or slurping champagne through a bubbly
> straw. Admittedly bands like Anson Weeks didn't stoop to these effects but
> his ensemble sound left a whole lot to be desired. Check Dick Jurgens to 
> see
> how it should be done by a "sweet" band..
> Although the Hill performance is subdued  it has the same rhythmic
> philosophy as did the Lunceford band which was not a "hot" band as such,
> but had a relaxed tempo that swung like mad.
>
> Al S,
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Taylor Bowie" <bowiebks at isomedia.com>
> To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
> Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 12:56 PM
> Subject: [78-L] The Hill Darn Thing's For You
>
>
>> Al is right...it's all in the sound...but (to return to the original
>> record
>> which started this discussion) I think the sound of the Teddy Hill record
>> of
>> Got Me Doin' Things IS a  "sweet band" sound.
>>
>> In my dictionary,  a sweet band or a sweet band arrangement is not a
>> pejorative description,  and the band does not have to be playing in the
>> style of the more "over the top" sorts of groups like Blue Barron or Ray
>> Pearl.
>>
>> Something bouncy and peppy,  and even with an occasional lightly jazzy
>> solo,
>> can still qualify as a "sweet band" style performance.  Many of the Anson
>> Weeks records could be described that way,  as well as those of Freddy
>> Martin esp. in the 30s.  And I think that's the "category" of this
>> particular record,  not that we need to put it or anything else into a
>> category in order to enjoy.
>>
>> Taylor
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "simmonssomer" <simmonssomer at comcast.net>
>> To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
>> Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 8:27 AM
>> Subject: Re: [78-L] Good post from fnarf
>>
>>
>>> Jeff  et al...I am aware that the black( and white) bands played waltzes
>>> and
>>> novelty numbers...but that did not make them "sweet" bands.
>>>
>>> You see folks...it's all in the sound...not the type of songs.
>>>
>>> Al S.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Julian Vein" <julianvein at blueyonder.co.uk>
>>> To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
>>> Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 10:16 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [78-L] Good post from fnarf
>>>
>>>
>>>> Jeff Sultanof wrote:
>>>>> Al,
>>>>  For years he would point out at Institute of Jazz Studies
>>>>> Roundtable presentations that we could not get a full picture of the
>>>>> black
>>>>> bands because much of what they played on the job, even during the
>>>>> times
>>>>> of
>>>>> their greatest popularity, was music that the labels wouldn't allow
>>>>> them
>>>>> to
>>>>> record. The fact that even Benny Goodman had waltzes in his book 
>>>>> proves
>>>>> the
>>>>> point. There was always someone who would request a waltz somewhere,
>>>>> and
>>>>> bandleaders were expected to comply.
>>>>
>>>>> Jeff Sultanof
>>>> ===============
>>>> Having said that, are there any broadcasts where Goodman played a 
>>>> waltz?
>>>> Perhaps he only played them in country dance halls (the most likely
>>>> places they would have been performed) which weren't connected to the
>>>> airwaves.
>>>>
>>>> I for one am glad that we don't have a full picture of what black bands
>>>> played!
>>>>
>>>>      Julian Vein
>>>>
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