MARKMANIATT's channel

One of the greatest rhythm sections in jazz.Mac's break at the end is worth the price of admission alone.Wonderful!!

This rhythm section is,for me at any rate,the greatest Basie ever had.The coordination and beat generated by the bass and rhythm guitar, is the 8th wonder of the World.All music colleges should be forced to use this band to demonstrate to students what a Swing rhythm section playing at its best c...

One for all those who enjoy knocking Glenn Miller's Jazz credentials.You did'nt get to appear with this kind of company unless you had something a bit good to bring to the party.Glenn new his jazz and the best in their day new all about Glenn.Show the man the respect he so richly deserves!

When you finally get to Heaven this is what they will be playing!!!!

Today is the 74th Anniversary of this milestone in Jazz.Gene never played better than he did on this famous occasion.The whole band is faultless through out.Oh for a time machine!!!

It's interesting to note, that at the time of writing this, 45,717 people have viewed this piece of genius.Now go and seek out the musicians and bands that still play this sublime music and give your support.Its the only way anything can gain any ground and become popular again.It must surely be ...

I must also mention that for me at least,the best version ever of 'Down South Camp Meeting' is amongst these recordings.Well worth taking the trouble to hear.Also,2 versions of 'Swing Time In The Rockies' with beautifully clear Allan Reuss again.Never forget the brilliance of the sound engineers ...

A rare chance to hear the great Ray McKinley playing with BG.One of benny's best rhythm sections ever including Jess Stacy,Sid Weiss and the brilliant Allan Reuss.By September Gene Krupa was back in the band and what a band.As good as any Goodman ever led.Look for posts on this sight.Wonderful st...

I visited Co Partners Hall with 'Peanuts' Hucko in 1991.Although part of Charles Wells Brewery,the room where the band did so many recordings was still intact but if I remember correctly,it was partly sectioned into office space.It was part of the local gas works in 1944.We also visited Twin Wood...

What Military announcement is this and why have tha American government taken nearly 70 years to tell the truth???

This does not sound like Ray Mckinley playing.Its almost certainly Frank Ippolito.Great all the same but nothing like Mac's playing.

Check out trombonist Nat Peck chewing gum at one point.Wonderful film of Ray Mckinley at his drums.How I wish there were a little more to study.As far as I understand,this is the only film of the AAF band in existance other than the sequence from a 'March of Time' film made before the band left t...

Thanks for this Bob.A chance to study the great George Wettling.Superb

The man Buddy Rich called the greatest big band drummer of all.The great Don Lamond.Absolutely wonderful!!

Chubby Jackson,Billy Bauer and the great Davey Tough,does it get much better than this?These three seem to have put on this earth to play together.Wonderful sound.Thanks Mark

The drummer here is Buzzy Drootin not Davey Tough.Great clip either way!

Interesting to see the great Cliff Leeman playing drums here just prior to Dave Tough coming in in what became known as the First Herd.Cliff is playing a wartime Slingerland Rolling Bomber kit which incorporated the Rosewood lugs due to the 10% only metal content restriction for wartime instrumen...

I think an accurate guess would be 1948 to 50.I would'nt say before that date but could be wrong.More to the point; just how much would you pay to see this band were it possible?My thoughts exactly!!!I was once told that Condons brother had film of the Condon Floor Show,early TV programmes but as...

Staggering piano playing by any measure.However,I wonder how many of those who have marvelled at this posting have ever heard of the great Mel Powell.While Mel's facility is obviously not quite on the Tatum level,he isnt that far removed having started out as a straight player who switched to jaz...

Watching this I was struck by how similiar Tony Spargo's playing is to that of Cliff Leeman's with Eddie Condon, for instance..Its so similiar that he must have influenced Cliff to quite a degree judging by this clip.George Wettlings playing by comparison shows more of an influence from the Zut...

The left hand at 0.37 onwards is what kills me!By a huge margin the greatest genius that ever sat behind a drum set.For all those too young to have seen this great man live,well,you cant begin to imagine what he was like !!!

So what happened to Joe Morello?????

Surely one of the prettiest songs of the whole Swing Era?Beautifully played by Artie and his band.One of my all time favourites.Why the hell do we have to suffer the crap played on almost all radio stations nowadays ,when there is the greatest music ever made just sat collecting dust???Another t...

Frank says all that needs to be said.In a thousand years people who love the very best will still be shakeing their heads in amazement at this staggering performance.

Dont forget the musicians in the fantastic orchestra that plays on this.Too often overlooked.

Ray Mckinley just kills me.Who elso would play a 4 bar break at the end of this number like this example from 'The Great One' .Pure magic.Mac had a way of playing that defies explanation.All manner or wonderful stuff is going on here but trying to catch hold of it is near impossible.One of the mo...

That has got to be the great Dave Tough on drums BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!

Damn!!!You've gone and done it again.All your posts should include a health warning,'Beware, severely swinging FATOOL! LISTEN WITH CAUTION!!!

What would you give for 5 minutes on the great one's china cymbal?Positively delicious.Your taste in all things swing is beyond improvement.I still have'nt...

Surely one of the crown jewels of jazz?Try listening to this masterpiece without a smile on your face.Bechet is truly majestic and fully in command of his horn at all times.The great Carman Mastren plays some of the most beautiful rhythm guitar you will ever hear.Try Bob Wilbers Bechet Legacy ver...