UPCOMING: Big Band Jump Programs

12-13 NOVEMBER, 2011

HOST'S CHOICE

We don't know specifically what's to be heard on this program for it will be assembled as it's being done on the spur of the moment. That way the spontaneity will lend itself to the host's honest choices, the artists he'd listen to if he was at home in the den. We do know there'll be some Harry James and chances are good Vic Damone will fill a vocal slot. Curious selections might find their way into the programming, the kind of recordings played once and then forgotten, or new performances that may make a permanent slot for themselves in this and future programs. It may turn out OK, but in any event we hope it's entertaining.

19-20 NOVEMBER, 2011

THE BRITISH CONTINGENT

This program was scheduled in response to a "…you never play…" letter. It's a salute to some of the Big Bands that have made a name for themselves in England. Included will be Ted Heath, Syd Lawrence, Don Lusher and Chris Dean along with a few comments from trombonist Don Lusher, who led the Heath band until it was dissolved and then led his own band.

26-27 NOVEMBER, 2011

THE GERMAN CONTINGENT

What is it about the Big Band sound that encourages those in other countries to develop their own bands? In the previous week we looked into this tendency in Britain, this week we check out the German tendency to both copy American Big Band sounds and develop their own. Peter Herbolzheimer, Bert Kaempfert, Heinz Schonberger, Mainstream Power Band, James Last and Thilo Wolf will all contribute their work.

3-4 DECEMBER, 2011

'LIVE' FROM HOLLYOOD PALLADIUM

The announcers used to say, "The dining and dancing spot of the west…." and they were correct at the time. This program condenses the Big Band years of dancing dominance at the Palladium into two hours of 'live' broadcast memories. The top Big Bands of the nation appeared at the Palladium and we hear many of them exactly as they were heard on the air in the forties and into the fifties.

10-11 DECEMBER, 2011

INDIVIDUAL FAVORITES

Every time we do a survey in this BBJ NEWSLETTER we wind up with a bundle of single votes for titles and artists. They are listener's individual favorites, often musically superior and always interesting but never fitting into the bulk of the voting trends. We've gone back to previous surveys to pick out these singular favorites; they make an imaginative basis for a program.

17-18 DECEMBER, 2011

OTHER BAND'S HITS

We've done this before and thought it'd be fun to dig out some fresh examples of one band playing a tune made popular by another. There were so many examples of that occurring during the Big Band Era when, unlike today, nearly every significant band recorded every hit song. There was always one band associated with a specific hit, but others played it most certainly on personal appearances and sometimes on record. We seek out those secondary or tertiary versions of instrumentals and vocals often tied-in with a single band.

24-25 DECEMBER, 2011

SMALL TOWN CHRISTMAS

A few years ago we imagined we were in a typical mid-America small town at Christmas time. The idea was to view the holiday spirit as reflected in the activities of various citizens, both young and old as they prepared for the most glorious time of the year. The main street merchants, the school kids and the parents are all represented in our fantasy trip back to a more gentle time. The music, of course, will heighten the mood as it weaves in and out of the story. You're invited to visit on your radio.

31 DECEMBER, 2011 1 JANUARY, 2012

NEW YEAR'S DANCE

What an ideal time to have a New Year's program, straddling the last day of 2011 and the first day of 2012. Whenever you hear this BBJ it'll be devoted to music for dancing. Usually our focus is listening, but on this program we'll attempt to dig out some music with a prominent beat, maybe even with a good melody to go along with it.

7-8 JANUARY, 2012

SINGING GROUPS I

Dedicated to group vocals, this program presents both band members contributing to group vocals as well as the more traditional singing groups including the Modernaires, the Pied Pipers, the Ink Spots and the Andrews Sisters plus lesser-known groups such as Claude Thornhill's Snowflakes and Charlie Spivak's Stardusters. There will be others as the program unfolds. This is the first of two programs highlighting the contributions of the singing groups to the Big Band Era and beyond.

14-15 JANUARY, 2012

SINGING GROUPS II

We didn't realize when we attacked this program how many singing groups there were, all making considerable contributions to the totality of the Big Band sound. We had fun assembling the groups into something resembling a cohesive list. The difference between this and previous similar programs is the inclusion of the group vocals by band members in glee club style. At this writing we don't know the actual contents of either of these two programs but they will include the groups mentioned to make the program complete.