John Hammond: The Birth of Swing feat. Ben Webster

[ClearOutSamskaras]

The first tenor has his fingers flying off the keys (hamming for the cameras?) Ben Webster by contrast plays with his fingers close to the keys as one should.

[JazzVideoGuy]

@ClearOutSamskaras Charlie Parker was like that. He played fast, but his fingers barely moved.

[mcsneedy]

what a stellar band. bear in mind that henderson and goodman started collaborating in 1934 - 2 years after ellington recorded 'it don't mean a thing (if it ain't got that swing)', and even that was not the 'birth' of swing. not to take anything away from goodman or henderson - or hammond, who had a tremendous influence on jazz, discovering or managing or hooking up basie, holiday, charlie chrisitan, goodman, and many others. he had great taste and drive.

[mrhipsterdoofus]

JazzVideoGuy is da man. Thanks buddy

[PeterPenunzen]

damn, thanks for posting such classics... hope this shit gonna last forever! :)

[sterghal2]

ΤΙ ΝΑ ΠΕΙ ΚΑΝΕΙΣ ΓΙΑ ΑΥΤΑ ΤΑ ΙΕΡΑ ΤΕΡΑΤΑ ΤΗΣ ΜΟΥΣΙΚΗΣ...

[ricardoguitarraleao]

muito bom, classico

[cidcampeador1952]

BRAVO  ! ! !

[Resenbrink]

What a great life in music Hammond had.

[carlmurphy001]

His mother was a Vanderbilt and he had the privileged childhood one would expect. Hammond almost never took any of the fees he was entitled to as a producer. When he died, he was comfortable but not wealthy.

[carlmurphy001]

From his youth his love was music, especially jazz. When he was a young man he began to follow his passion beyond the clubs of New York. He traveled around the country with his recording equipment, discovering relatively unknown 'colored' talent and then produced or promoted them. He was an early member of the NAACP--National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and was the first to integrate american bands in a major way.

[Fenderfan171]

He also Recreated the Dinosaur. :)

[knulla08]

Interesting comments, and thanks for the footage!

[Micah421]

Man what a History Lesson! Thanks so much for sharing

[rochisner]

IMPRESIONANTE!!!!!

[kevinherbert]

Thanx again JazzVideoGuy..you rock (jazz??)

[kevinherbert]

Hammond is a registered legend..he discovered Dylan & Bruce Springsteen as well..he also opened NYC first multi racila club in the '40's..what A GUY!!!

[waldo2384]

Hammond also sexually harassed Billie Holiday, and wrote an article criticizing Duke Ellington for not swinging. He was an important douchesack.

[kevinherbert]

waldo2384: where's the evidence ???

Of course you'll include the context of your allegations.

[waldo2384]

The evidence is in the jazz history literature, of course. Read Hammond's own writings attacking various musicians, including Ellington. He could be a real asshole, attacking musicians he didn't like.

[kevinherbert]

So what !!! Hammond would be fully entitled to his opinion, as a promoter whose discoveries ranged from Bessie Smith, Count Basie, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen...just as you're entitled to your opinion.

However, based on the 'evidence' you've provided here, I know whose opinion I accept.

[kevinherbert]

@kevinherbert : I would've done it toooooo!!!

[dretety]

Oh but you dont mention Webster beating up Holiday, thats one reason he was given the nickname brute

[ChonQuahog]

@waldo2384 John was a friend of mine. He was one of the kindest, most supportive people I ever knew. He had opinions and he didn't arrive at them casually. I didn't always agree with them, but I always respected his views, which were a reflection of his deep feelings for jazz and I always respected John as a human being.

The Billie Holiday claim is completely at odds with the man I knew. Such an unsubstantiated made by someone who obviously didn't know the people involved is unacceptable.

[6treble6]

You would think with a username like that, colhawk would be able to tell Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster apart! The 2nd tenor solo is, of course, by Ben Webster.

[JazzVideoGuy]

Oops! Here's the correct solo order:

Buck Clayton, trumpet

Paul Quinichette, tenor

Tony Scott, clarinet

Buck Clayton, trumpet

Ben Webster, tenor

Benny Morton, trombone

What an arrangement. Fletcher Henderson!

Each solo is a gem, a very personalized statement.

[colhawk]

2nd tenor solo is Coleman Hawkins, the inventor of jazz sax.. shame he doesn't get listed. I've seen other versions of this program around, they must have done multiple takes.

[kevinherbert]

Hammond sounds like he's a kindly,hard headed, nerd

[kevinherbert]

What an amazing post !!!!...thanx

[ryno68]

I just got done reading "The Producer" by Dunstan Prial. It's amazing just how much influence he has had on music during the 20th century, not just the Jazz scene. He also produced Bob Dylan's first two albums. Was involved in working with a young Aretha Franklin before she became famous. He was also essential in signing Bruce Springsteen to Columbia Records as well as Stevie Ray Vaughn.

[rhondalike]

just fabulous - top swing musicians at their prime - great sound - John Hammond knew how to record quality musicians with quality sound - check Benny Goodman's Carnegie hall debut in 1938 - recorded with one microphone! Hammond organized that.Great posting

[brewereric]

what kind of suit is big john wearing....lord is that silk....lol

[scottduncan44]

partially accurate what is not said is that John Hammond was instrumental in beginning to integrate black musicans into white orhcestra's. He "discovered" Billy Holiday and got Benny goodman to let Charlie Christian play with him. This radio gig was perfect as Fletcher Henderson who had also arranged for Duke Ellengton wrote arrangementin a style black bands had been using for years,

[lilbits]

Swing was a crazy time.

[CTrane88]

haha his voice is too funny, like a cartoon or something lol

[ksenos69]

sorry for the thumb down. my fault. wrong mouse click.