Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 22nd Jun 2021

Bud Freeman, is the Phantom Dancer feature artist this week. You’ll hear Bud Freeman’s Summa cum Laude Orchestra from a 1940s radio broadcast. He was known for his improvisations on tenor sax and I quote from some of his tips on improvisation below.

The Phantom Dancer is your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV hosted presented by me, Greg Poppleton.

Hear past Phantom Dancer mixes online now at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/.

Meanwhile, this Phantom Dancer mix will be online after 2pm AEST, Tuesday 22 June, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/

BUD

In 1922, Bud Freeman and some friends from high school formed the Austin High School Gang. Freeman played the C melody saxophone with band members such as Jimmy McPartland and Frank Teschemacher before switching to tenor saxophone the next year. The band was influenced by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings and Louis Armstrong

In 1927, he moved to New York City, where he worked as a session musician and band member with Red NicholsRoger Wolfe KahnBen Pollack, and Joe Venuti. One of his most notable performances was a solo on Eddie Condon‘s 1933 recording, The Eel, which became Freeman’s nickname for his long snake-like improvisations.

Bud Freeman played with Tommy Dorsey‘s Orchestra (1936–1938) and Benny Goodman‘s band in 1938 before forming the Summa Cum Laude Orchestra (1939–1940). About this band, Freeman said,

“I had this band and the guys were late all the time. I didn’t want to have to hassle with them. I didn’t want to mistreat them, so I said, “Fellas, should we quit?”… we were good friends. They started to come on time.”

Bud Freeman joined the U.S. Army during World War II and headed a U.S. Army band in the Aleutian Islands.

After the war, Freeman returned to New York and led his own groups. He also worked with Buck ClaytonRuby BraffVic Dickenson, and Jo Jones. In 1960, he wrote the book and lyrics for the Broadway musical Beg, Borrow or Steal,  which included the ballad “Zen Is When”, later recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet on Jazz Impressions of Japan (1964). He was a member of the World’s Greatest Jazz Band in 1969 and 1970. In 1974, he moved to England and continued to record and perform. He returned to Chicago in 1980 and continued to work into his eighties.

He wrote two memoirs (You Don’t Look Like a Musician (1974) and If You Know of a Better Life, Please Tell Me (1976)) and an autobiography (Crazeology) with Robert Wolf.

IMPROVISATION

In a 1970 interview with Studs Terkel, Freeman said about jazz and improvisation,

“Jazz is a music that came out of the black man’s oppression, yet it allows for great freedom of expression.”

“There’s been a lot of untruths told about improvisation. Men just don’t get up on stage and improvise on things they’re not familiar with. True improvisation comes out of hard work. When you’re working at home, you work on a theme and you work out all the possibilities of that theme. Since it’s in your head, it comes out of you when you play.”

“I practice because I want to play better. I’ve never been terribly interested in technique, but I’m interested in facility. To feel comfortable, so when the idea shoots out of my head I can finger it, manipulate it. Something interesting happens. You’ll hear a phrase and suddenly you’re thrown into a whole new inspiration.”

22 JUNE PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer
107.3 2SER-FM Sydney
LISTEN ONLINECommunity Radio Network Show CRN #497

107.3 2SER Tuesday 22 JUNE 2021
12:04 – 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) and Saturdays 5 – 5:55pm
National Program
5GTR Mt Gambier Monday 2:30 – 3:30am
3MBR Murrayville Monday 3 – 4am
4NAG Keppel FM Monday 3 – 4am
2SEA Eden Monday 3 – 4am
2MIA Griffith Monday 3 – 4am
2BAR Edge FM Bega Monday 3 – 4am
2BRW Braidwood Monday 3 – 4am
3VKV Alpine Radio Monday 6 – 7pm
7MID Oatlands Monday 6 -7pm
6GME Radio Goolarri Broome Tuesday 12am – 1am
2MCE Bathurst Wednesday 9 – 10am
1ART ArtsoundFM Canberra Friday 10 – 11am
2ARM Armidale Friday 12 – 1pm
5LCM Lofty FM Adelaide Friday 1 – 2pm
7LTN Launceston Sunday 5 – 6am
3MGB Mallacoota Sunday 5 – 6am
3BBR West Gippsland Sunday 5 – 6pm

Set 1
1940s One Night Stand Radio
Apurksedy (theme) + Hop, Skip and Jump
Gene Krupa Orchestra (voc) Carolyn Gray
‘One Night Stand’
Meadowbrook Ballroom
Culver City Ca
AFRS Re-broadcast
31 Mar 1946
You’re My Thrill
Charlie Barnet Orchestra (voc) Betty Perry
‘One Night Stand’
Casino Gardens
Ocean Park Ca
AFRS Re-broadcast
3 Jan 1947
How High the Moon + Brahm’s Lullaby (theme)
Buddy Morrow Orchestra
‘One Night Stand’
Blue Room
Hotel Lincoln NYC
AFRS Re-broadcast
27 May 1946
Set 2
Jimmie Grier Orchestra
After All Is Said and Done
Jimmie Grier Orchestra (voc) Dick Webster
‘Cocoanut Grove’
Radio Transcription
Los Angeles
1933
A Secret Love
Jimmie Grier Orchestra (voc) Kenny Allen
‘Cocoanut Grove’
Radio Transcription
Los Angeles
1933
Kiss by Kiss + Music in the Moonlight (theme)
Jimmie Grier Orchestra (voc) The Three Cheers
‘Cocoanut Grove’
Radio Transcription
Los Angeles
1933
Set 3
Trad Radio
Have Your Chill
Coot Grant and Kid Socks Wilson
‘This is Jazz’
WOR Mutual NYC
3 May 1947
Yellow Dog Blues
Coot Grant
‘This is Jazz’
WOR Mutual NYC
3 May 1947
A Good Man is Hard to Find
George Brunies
‘This is Jazz’
WOR Mutual NYC
5 Apr 1947
Set 4
Bud Freeman
Theme + I Ain’t Gonna Give You None Of My Jelly Roll
Bud Freeman’s Summa cum Laude Orchestra
Hotel Sherman
WMAQ NBC Red Chicago
20 May 1940
Secrets in the Moonlight
Bud Freeman’s Summa cum Laude Orchestra
Hotel Sherman
WMAQ NBC Red Chicago
20 May 1940
Shake Down the Stars + Medley
Bud Freeman’s Summa cum Laude Orchestra
Hotel Sherman
WMAQ NBC Red Chicago
20 May 1940
Sierra Sue
Bud Freeman’s Summa cum Laude Orchestra
Hotel Sherman
WMAQ NBC Red Chicago
20 May 1940
Set 5
Benny Goodman 1938-39
Chicago
Benny Goodman Orchestra
‘Camel Caravan’
WBBM CBS Chicago
6 Sep 1938
Lilacs in the Rain
Benny Goodman Orchestra (voc) Mildred Bailey
‘Camel Caravan’
WEAF NBC Red NYC
18 Nov 1939
Open + The Spring Song
Benny Goodman Orchestra
‘Camel Caravan’
WEAF NBC Red NYC
9 Sep 1939
Set 6
1930s-40s Swing Discs
Popcorn Man
Ray Ventura Orchestra (voc) Betty Allan
Comm Rec
Paris
1938
Rumba Azul
Lecuona Cuban Boys (voc) Alberto Rabagliati
Comm Rec
Paris
1936
Le Boogie de Paris
Jacques Helian Orchestra
Comm Rec
Paris
1946
Cafunga
Bruguera
Comm Rec
Paris
1936
Set 7
Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street
Winnin’ Boy
Jelly Roll Morton
‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’
WJZ NBC Blue NY
14 Jul 1940
Open + Get Happy
Esquire All Stars
‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’
WJZ NBC Blue NY
16 Jan 1944
Body and Soul
Bobby Hackett
‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’
WJZ NBC Blue NY
23 Jun 1940
Honeysuckle Rose + Close
Esquire All Stars
‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’
WJZ NBC Blue NY
16 Jan 1944
Set 8
Medleys
Twilight in Teheran
Buck Ram All-Stars
Comm Rec
New York City
18 Sep 1944
High On an Open Mike
Frank Navarro
‘Saturday Night Swing Club’
WNEW
New York City
12 Apr 1947
Sabroso Slim Gaillard
‘Symphony Sid Show’
Birdland
WJZ ABC NY
7 Jul 1951

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