Paul Whiteman
Because press agents dubbed him "The King of Jazz" in the 1920s, Paul Whiteman has always been considered a controversial figure in jazz history. Actually, his orchestra was the most popular during the era and at times (despite its size) it did play very good jazz; perhaps "King of the Jazz Age" would have been a better title.
Originally a classically trained violinist, Paul Whiteman led a large Navy band during World War I and always had a strong interest in the popular music of the day. In 1918, he organized his first dance band in San Francisco and, after short periods in Los Angeles and Atlantic City, he settled in New York in 1920. His initial recordings ("Japanese Sandman" and "Whispering") were such big sellers that Whiteman was soon a household name. His superior dance band used some of the most technically skilled musicians of the era in a versatile show that included everything from pop tunes and waltzes to semi-classical works and jazz. Trumpeter Henry Busse (featured on "Hot Lips" and "When Day Is Done") was Whiteman's main star during the 1921-1926 period. Seeking to "make a lady out of jazz," Whiteman's symphonic jazz did not always swing, but at Aeolian Hall in 1924 he introduced "Rhapsody in Blue" (with its composer George Gershwin on piano) in what was called "An Experiment in Modern Music." Red Nichols and Tommy Dorsey passed through the band but it was in 1927, with the addition of Bix Beiderbecke, Frankie Trumbauer, and Bing Crosby (the latter originally featured as part of a vocal trio called the Rhythm Boys), that Whiteman began to finally have an important jazz band. Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang soon joined up, and many of Whiteman's recordings of 1927-1930 (particularly the ones with Bill Challis arrangements) are among his finest.
After Beiderbecke left the band in 1929 and Whiteman filmed the erratic but fascinating movie The King of Jazz in 1930, the Depression forced the bandleader to cut back on his personnel (which at one time included two pianos, tuba, bass sax, string bass, banjo, and guitar in its rhythm section). Although his orchestra in the 1930s at times featured Bunny Berigan, Trumbauer, and both Jack and Charlie Teagarden, Whiteman's music was considered old hat by the time of the swing era and he essentially retired (except for special appearances) by the early '40s. Many of his recordings (particularly those with Beiderbecke) have been reissued numerous times and are more rewarding than his detractors would lead one to believe. In the 1970s, Dick Sudhalter for a time organized and led "the New Paul Whiteman Orchestra" which recorded a couple of fine recreation records.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
-
Without a Song, Vol. 5
Pop - Erschienen bei Vocalion am 21.11.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Incomparable Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra
Jazz - Erschienen bei Westmill am 25.03.2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
50 Greatest Hits
Jazz - Erschienen bei Kipepeo Publishing am 29.06.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rhapsody in Blue
Jazz - Erschienen bei Editions Audiovisuel Beulah am 20.03.2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rhapsody In Blue
Jazz - Erschienen bei CAPITOL CATALOG MKT (C92) am 01.01.1951
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Best Of 1920-1930
Jazzgesang - Erschienen bei Brownbeats Records am 01.04.2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gershwin Plays Gershwin (1919-1931)
Fred Van Eps, George Gershwin, Van Eps Quartet, Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra, Paul Whiteman
Jazz - Erschienen bei Naxos am 16.01.2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Paul Whiteman - King of Jazz 1920-1927
Jazz - Erschienen bei Timeless Records am 07.07.2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All Time Dance Party! Boardwalk Empire Era
Jazz - Erschienen bei Vintage Masters Inc. am 01.02.2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nostalgic Memories-The Very Best of Paul Whiteman-Vol. 60
Jazz - Erschienen bei RP-DSP am 25.11.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Presenting Paul Whiteman
Jazz - Erschienen bei Universal Digital Enterprises am 27.05.1933
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Paul Whiteman Original 1927 Recordings
Jazz - Erschienen bei Nostalgia Arts am 27.04.2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Original Recordings (Remastered)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Underground Inside Records am 05.09.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Vintage Belle Epoque No. 36 - EP: Charleston
Jazz - Erschienen bei Vintage Music am 21.09.1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All The Best
Jazz - Erschienen bei Retro Music Box am 19.02.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
Vintage Belle Epoque No. 38 - EP: The Roaring 20's
Ragtime - Erschienen bei Vintage Music am 25.01.1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo