Don Redman And His Orchestra
The first great arranger in jazz history, Don Redman's innovations as a writer essentially invented the jazz-oriented big band with arrangements that developed yet left room for solo improvisations.
After graduating from college at the age of 20 with a music degree, Redman played for a year with Billy Paige's Broadway Syncopators and then met up with Fletcher Henderson. Redman became Henderson's chief arranger (although Fletcher was often later on mistakenly given credit for the innovative charts) in addition to playing clarinet, alto, and (on at least one occasion) oboe. Redman, whose largely spoken vocals were charming, recorded the first ever scat vocal on "My Papa Doesn't Two Time" in early 1924, predating Louis Armstrong. Although his early arrangements were futuristic, they could be a bit stiff, and it was not until Armstrong joined Henderson's orchestra that Redman (learning from the brilliant cornetist) began to really swing in his writing; "Sugar Foot Stomp" and "The Stampede" are two of his many classic charts.
It was a shock to Fletcher Henderson when Redman was persuaded in 1927 by Jean Goldkette to direct McKinney's Cotton Pickers. Redman soon turned the previously unknown group into a strong competitor of Henderson's, composing such future standards as "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You" and "Cherry." He sang more, emphasized his alto over his more primitive sounding clarinet (guesting on some famous recordings with Louis Armstrong's Savoy Ballroom Five in 1928), and made a strong series of memorable records. In 1931, Redman put together his own big band which lasted (if not prospered) up until 1941. After that, he freelanced as an arranger for the remainder of the swing era, led an all-star orchestra in 1946 that became the first band to visit postwar Europe, and eventually became Pearl Bailey's musical director. Although he recorded a few sessions in the late '50s, Don Redman's main significance is for his influential work of the 1920s and '30s.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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I Got Rythm (In Chronological Order 1931 - 1932)
Jazz - Released by HotJazz on 1 Jan 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
At The Swing Cats Ball - Featuring Coleman Hawkins
Jazz - Released by Fresh Sound Records on 2 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Connaissance du jazz, vol. 3 (Mono Version)
Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra, Don Redman And His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Don Redman and His Orchestra Selected Favorites, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 21 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don Redman and His Orchestra Selected Favorites, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 21 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don Redman and His Orchestra Selected Favorites, Vol. 3
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 21 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don Redman and His Orchestra Selected Favorites Volume 1
Pop - Released by Charly Records on 20 Jun 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don Redman and His Orchestra Selected Favorites Volume 4
Pop - Released by Charly Records on 20 Jun 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Flowers That Bloom
Pop - Released by Digital Loaded on 28 Nov 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Man On the Flying Trapeze
Pop - Released by Digital Loaded on 25 Nov 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Swingin' With the Fat Man
Don Redman, Don Redman And His Orchestra, Wes Montgomery, The Mastersounds
Pop - Released by A Sense of Rhythm on 1 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don Redman and His Orchestra Selected Favorites, Vol. 4
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 21 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don Redman and His Orchestra's Watching The Knife and Fork Spoon
Pop - Released by Charly Records on 24 Jun 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don Redman and His Orchestra Selected Favorites Volume 2
Pop - Released by Charly Records on 20 Jun 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don Redman and His Orchestra Selected Favorites Volume 3
Pop - Released by Charly Records on 20 Jun 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Got the South in My Soul
Pop - Released by Digital Loaded on 27 Nov 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Try Getting a Good Night's Sleep
Don Redman, Don Redman And His Orchestra, Wes Montgomery and the Mastersounds
Pop - Released by Most Wanted Classics on 8 Nov 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Puddin' Head Jones
Pop - Released by Digital Loaded on 24 Nov 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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1936-1939 (HD Remastered)
Vocal Jazz - Released by Reborn recordings on 1 Apr 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
1931-1933 (HD Remastered)
Vocal Jazz - Released by Reborn recordings on 1 Apr 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo