HARRY JAMES - FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE - FILMSTRIP

Harry James, premier trumpet virtuoso, Jazz superstar and Big Band leader performs his arrangement of the Rimsky-Korsokov classic, FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE, in this clip from the hit MGM musical, BEST FOOT FORWARD. The popular bandleader and trumpet star was prominently featured with his band in this film along with Lucille Ball, June Allyson, Nancy Walker and Tommy Dix. Harry James was probably the most famous trumpeter of the twentieth century due to his many hit records, feature films and big band tours across the United States, Europe and Latin America throughout the 1940's, '50's, '60's and '70's. He performed up to the very end playing a Los Angeles concert date one week before he died, July 5, 1983 at age 67. Most of the major trumpeters of the last 50 years consider James to have been one of their major influences both for style and technique.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Harry
• James
• Flight
• Of
• The
• Bumblebee
• Trumpet
• virtuoso
• Classical
• Music

[SPMylesable]

My chops are tired just from watching him play!

[theartfactor]

@SPMylesable And get this, Harry said that BUMBLEBEE was not the most difficult piece of music he ever played. The most difficult, according to Harry, was TRUMPET RHAPSODY I and II, because it was so long and had few if any rests.

[BigBlockTA79]

Jazz, sweet, classical, swing - Harry James could play all of those to perfection. There may be those that rival him in one style, but no one I know of can match him at all of them. Check out his version of Carnival of Venice - SUPERB!!!

[theartfactor]

@BigBlockTA79 To see this virtuoso's extraordinary talents watch the Esther Williams

1944 film, BATHING BEAUTY, and see him perform the violin standard, Hora Staccato, on the TRUMPET!

[92cervus82]

For his time, Harry was THE trumpet player, and remains one of the greatest of ALL time, possessing a truly unique style and sound ... and has anyone ever LOOKED better with a trumpet in their hand? It was Betty Grable who got lucky, not the other way around!

[theartfactor]

@92cervus82 For his time? Harry, his style and abilities hold up against any of the so called "trumpet stars" of today. He was an extraordinary musician, tremendously disciplined as a trumpeter but undisciplined in his personal life. Were he around today he would still be tops.

[theartfactor]

You are half correct. The other half is the breadth control to play those long difficult passages in one breadth. Another interesting fact is that Harry often purposely arranged his parts in extremely tough keys, especially for Bb trumpet players, for instance 6 sharps. That alone would kill most trumpet players

[Microblitz]

Harry James was probably one ofthe most underated trumpet players ever. The Jazz guys get all the glory, but he was technically one of the most brilliant players I've ever seen. If you watch Mendez playing the flight of the bumble bee, even he is tired after playing it. Harry even has time during the performance to make sure that his section is keeping up with him, and after, it looks like he just got done playing tune a day book one! if you want cool that's it.

[Konpop]

He play that trumpet and command that band... like a boss.

[calebonfire42]

4 people are allergic to bees

[Elegantjet]

Fantastic!!!

[LoveHedgies]

o my ba-jesus!

[123TNTpie]

im 13 and ive bin playin for 2 years another 10 to go to play this song

[sabinoson]

Now all we need is Gordon Jones and Keye Luke to ride in on their souped up and armored "Black Beauty" as "The Green Hornet and Kato" to this rendition!

[MrDotMontage]

can anyone tell me where i can find sheet music for this???

[katiemay1856]

awsome!!!!!

[windstorm1000]

I LOVE Harry's schamltzy tone--has some fat on it for your ear to hook on to--and I mean that in a good way. Its not on this solo understandibly--no time for it!!!

[hendrix0is0lord]

I still like Harry James Angus more.