Jimmie Lunceford and His Dance Orchestra 1936

[flammasherman]

One person has no rhythm, how sad !

[ASeasonedWitch]

"Rhythm is our business and business sure is swell . . . " Very cool. Thanks for posting this. I added it to my swing playlist. Cheers.

[pausedpaintings]

Love the Satanic swing! paul motian (RIP) sent me

[TopsyDurham]

The brass is arranged by guitarist/trombonist/inventor Texas born Eddie Durham (1906-1987), top center. See also HITTIN THE BOTTLE by Lunceford's Orch. where Durham performs the first recording of Amplified Guitar. See also BENNIE MOTEN & COUNT BASIE for Durham's contributions. DurhamJazz. com

[TheUrbplan]

howard zinn sent me ;)

[TeddyCool23]

Ken Burns sent me ; )

[Loumademe]

Was tap dancin a requirement for Lunceford band? LOL That into was the best part. Anyone know the tune? Swingin. Thanks.

[kfor777]

I think Myra Johnson is Lip Syncing the song. She has no microphone, there's no boom mic visible on the wide shot. She's moving around a lot which would make her voice cut in and out but yet it sounds perfect. Did they do that back then?

[flammasherman]

@kfor777 I suspect she is not.If you look at other members of the band giving vocals ,Jimmie Lunceford himself announcing the acts, the tap dancers etc have no apparent close mike.Whatever, the outcome, Myra certainly was a ' personality ' girl, she couldn't have exuded anymore , a great song and what a treat to see no hand held mikes obscuring the face as is the case today, quite unnecessarily .Stlll 10 minutes of pure talent and entertainment.

[philip]

@kfor777 Same thing with all movies: no mics visible in Astaire and Rodgers, Judy Garland, or any other musicals, even when they did a 'live' performance.

[bluesdance]

the ---- BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brwneyesaz]

Awesome band. You can tell they loved performing with that special style.

Just awesome. I wish I was there in person to see them perform. Wow!

[Begbucks]

7:18 Rumba?

My favorite none-the-less

[woodbell67]

Best band according to me and Artie Shaw.

Who you gonna believe?

[vFrais]

pleeeaase, can anyone help me!? what is the name of the track at 0:00 ?????? or at least, where can i finde the whole one!!!??????

[flammasherman]

@vFrais It's ' Jazznocracy ' recorded in 1934.It's on Youtube in it's entirety, great track !.

[flammasherman]

Just bloody brilliant, a fantastic swing band from neally 80 years ago,thanks for posting this often viewed masterpiece !.

[mwuzaji]

Amazing video

[jozefsterkens2]

A 1.000 thanks!!!

[JZ63]

Thanks a million for posting! The no. 1 band in the swing era for showmanship and incredible arrangements. The Willie Smith and Eddie Tompkins vocals are swingin', and band choreography and dancing are great!

[MichalBydzicki]

Could someone tell me please title of the song in the begining? The fast part on trumpet (I think).

[devoutxcynic]

this gives me the shivers

[fuckingharpsichord]

1:40 is so funny, closing his eyes, allready moving like a mad man : brilliant

loove this swingy big band music from the 30s !!

[MindfUqk]

6:17 lmfao its the origin of Break dancing :P

[baracktimusprime]

@MindfUqk 7:23 the origin of rap!

[thislisa]

Is that Snooky Young singing Wicky Wacky Woo?

[zappacrappa2]

@thislisa That's Eddie Tompkins singing 'Wicky Wacky Woo' :) (Snooky hadn't joined the band yet). The trumpets are (L-R) : Sy Oliver, Paul Webster, Eddie Tompkins.

[thislisa]

@zappacrappa2  Thank you very much!

[zappacrappa2]

@thislisa You're very welcome :)

[johnnycchops]

@thislisa The singer is Eddie Tompkins. Snooky replaced him a couple years later. They both played lead trumpet.

[thislisa]

@johnnycchops Thanks!

[JCsaxophile]

@ mlsglln: Earl Carruthers is the bari player next to Joe Thomas who dances with Joe on Nagasaki!! Great post!!

[mlssglln]

Does anyone know if Earl Caruthers, a saxophonist, is in this video?

[Xavio58]

I like it, i like it very much.I must have some old Lunceford albums stacked away.Brings back old times, my parents used to play his records quite often. Thanks for posting this.

[LonzoBrothers]

Whoahhhh! Terrific!

[xmzoliviax]

This is great! Thanks for posting!

[YerbaCCS]

Who is the drummer?

[shrinkprof]

Jimmy Crawford.  I saw him perform in the mid-60s and he was simply phenomenal. Pure ease and class.

[tcumbie]

Thanks, shrinkprof! I was looking for Jimmy Crawford after having just seen a short vid of Paul Motian mentioning him. Hard to find anything much on Crawford. This video is strong evidence of his prowess, no doubt! Thanks also to canofzebras for posting it.

[zappacrappa2]

@shrinkprof I envy you ......

[sasacouchpotatoes]

i just love the internet.. thanks for this!

[frankbinggene]

I love these songs. The fightin' forties was a great time in music. I lived it and I loved it.

[zedzil]

This is the great Jimmy Crawford on drums and the saxplayer/singer is Willie Smith. Trummy Young is among the trombone players. The arranger was Sy Oliver who also played trumpet . Yes, Jimmie Lunceford is one of the forgotten greats of the swing era.

[shrinkprof]

No, Trummy Young is NOT among the trombonists.

[drzarkov39]

What a great clip of the Lunceford Orchestra! One of the forgotten super bands of the big band era. They could outplay most other bands of their time, but nobody could outdo their showmanship. And what pristine video quality. Thank you!