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
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Three Shades of Blue
World - Released by TP4 Music on 6 Jan 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sitting On a Rainbow
Jazz - Released by Valuable Records on 22 May 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
An American In Paris (1951 Recording)
Jazz - Released by CAPITOL CATALOG MKT (C92) on 11 Feb 1952
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Irving Berlin Songs, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Shellac Revival on 24 Jun 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Original Recordings 1926-1930
Dixieland - Released by Van Up Records on 12 Nov 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Paul Whiteman Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Saar srl on 24 Jul 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas Night In Harlem (feat. Johnny Mercer and Jack Teagarden) (Fox Trot)
Christmas Music - Released by Startone records on 15 Dec 1934
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gershwin: An American in Paris & Rhapsody in Blue (Mono Version)
Leonard Pennario, Paul Whiteman
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1954
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue (Orch. by Ferde Grofé, Mono Version)
Leonard Pennario, Paul Whiteman Orchestra, Paul Whiteman
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1954
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
An American in Paris (Mono Version)
Paul Whiteman, Paul Whiteman Orchestra
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1955
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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50th Anniversary Record
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Paul Whiteman, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 31 May 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra, Vol. 4: Japanese Mammy
Jazz - Released by Vocalion on 7 Jan 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Carnegia Hall Concert December 25, 1938
Jazz - Released by Nostalgia Arts on 27 Apr 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Paul whiteman & his orchestra (1920-1935)
Traditional Jazz & New Orleans - Released by EPM on 1 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vintage Belle Epoque No. 38 - EP: The Roaring 20's
Ragtime - Released by Vintage Music on 25 Jan 1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Doo Wacka Doo
Alternative & Indie - Released by Paul Whiteman on 1 Jan 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Night I Played 666 Fifth Avenue
World - Released by TP4 Music on 6 Jan 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo