I've got a Gal in Kalamazoo: Orchestra Wives

I've got a Gal in Kalamazoo is a song that I think sometimes come out a little bit flat when I hear it on a recording, but that is not the case here in this scene from the 1942 movie Orchestra Wives.

You actually get two different but equally great versions (in their own way). First out is one with Glenn Miller's band in the background. In the film the name is somewhat modified to Gene Morrison's band, probably good for the budget so you don't have to change all the GM initials on the drums and the other things.

The real focus is however on the singers Tex Beneke and Marion Hutton and the vocal group The Modernaires.

The second version features the fabulous tap dancing Nicholas Brothers. I think their tap dancing influences their singing because I really like how they phrase the words. I think that kind of phrasing is of the same kind as the rhythms they create when they dance.

And, wow, who wouldn't like to be athletic like them? Those splits... :)

I've featured the Nicholas Brothers before on my blog.

What do you think of the two versions of I've got a Gal in Kalamazoo? Tell me.

Jan Slottenäs Storband: In the Glenn Miller Mood

Tonight the Jan Slottenäs Storband performs at Uppsala Konsert & Kongress with the show "In the Glenn Miller Mood".

The band plays the arrangements just like Glenn Miller did. The concert starts at 19.30. The tickets costs 365 kr.

If you like Glenn Miller, this is the concert to attend tonight. I hope they play more swing than sweet music.

Did you visit the concert? What did you think of it? Tell me.

Glenn Miller - In The Mood

If you ask a person on the street to name a swing song, many would probably say "In the Mood" performed by Glenn Miller. In the Mood is a one of the classic swing songs that everybody should know of. What many people don't know is that the main theme in the song comes from Tar Paper Stomp by Wingy Manone. The Glenn Miller version is credited to Joseph C Garland.

Here is a video clip with Glenn Miller and his orchestra performing "In the Mood" from the film Sun Valley Serenade (1941).

I always thought of Glenn Miller and his band as a quite polished band and I didn't know that they could be so showy, maybe it's because it is a film, I don't know if they did the same thing when they played for dancers in the real world (do you know?).

However, it's great to hear the energy and see the female character played by Sonja Henie get swept into digging the band. As I like to say: "The music made me do it". Resistance is futile.

I can't really tell but about 3:00 in the clip it looks like there is couple dancing balboa, but I'm not sure. What do you think?

You can read more about what other people think about Sun Valley Serenade over at Amazon.com.

What do you think about the video clip with Glenn Miller and his orchestra playing "In the Mood? Tell me.

Wingy Manone - Vine Street blues

Often you just hear about the really big names in the jazz world like Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald but the are other musicians from that era that also should be discovered. One of those musicians is trumpet player Wingy Manone.

Here is a video clip from a soundie from 1943 where Wingy Manone plays Vine Street blues together with singer Ann Lee.



Wingy Manones moment of jazz fame is that he came up with a great riff in the melody Tar Paper Stomp. While you may not have heard about Tar Paper Stomp, the riff is used as the main riff in "In the Mood" that was made famous by Glenn Miller.

Check out the discussion thread on swingdjs.com about Wingy Manone.

What do you think about this video clip with Wingy Manone playing Vine Street blues? Tell me.

Glenn Miller Orchestra with Chattanooga Choo Choo featuring Dorothy Dandridge and the Nicholas Brothers

The Glenn Miller Orchestra played both swing and sweet music. I can't say that I'm particularly interested in his sweet music (ballads). But his swing music is good, here is a video clip with a really swinging version of Chattanooga Choo Choo with song and dance by the Nicholas Brothers & Dorothy Dandridge.

I'd love to be able to tap dance like them. So much energy!



What do you think of the video clip with Glenn Miller and Nicholas Brothers & Dorothy Dandridge? Tell me.