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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The Incomparable Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra
Jazz - Paru chez Westmill le 25 mars 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
50 Greatest Hits
Jazz - Paru chez Kipepeo Publishing le 29 juin 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rhapsody in Blue
Jazz - Paru chez Editions Audiovisuel Beulah le 20 mars 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rhapsody In Blue
Jazz - Paru chez CAPITOL CATALOG MKT (C92) le 1 janv. 1951
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Best Of 1920-1930
Jazz vocal - Paru chez Brownbeats Records le 1 avr. 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 - Paru chez Naxos le 16 janv. 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Paul Whiteman - King of Jazz 1920-1927
Jazz - Paru chez Timeless Records le 7 juil. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All Time Dance Party! Boardwalk Empire Era
Jazz - Paru chez Vintage Masters Inc. le 1 févr. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nostalgic Memories-The Very Best of Paul Whiteman-Vol. 60
Jazz - Paru chez RP-DSP le 25 nov. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Presenting Paul Whiteman
Jazz - Paru chez Universal Digital Enterprises le 27 mai 1933
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Paul Whiteman Original 1927 Recordings
Jazz - Paru chez Nostalgia Arts le 27 avr. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Original Recordings (Remastered)
Jazz - Paru chez Underground Inside Records le 5 sept. 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Vintage Belle Epoque No. 36 - EP: Charleston
Jazz - Paru chez Vintage Music le 21 sept. 1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Magical Memories
Musique vocale (profane et sacrée) - Paru chez Magical Memories le 27 janv. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo