Charlie Barnet
Charlie Barnet was unusual in several ways. One of the few jazzmen to be born a millionaire, Barnet was a bit of a playboy throughout his life, ending up with a countless number of ex-wives and anecdotes. He was one of the few white big band leaders of the swing era to openly embrace the music of Duke Ellington (he also greatly admired Count Basie). Barnet was a pioneer in leading integrated bands (as early as 1935). And, although chiefly a tenor saxophonist (where he developed an original sound out of the style of Coleman Hawkins), Barnet was an effective emulator of Johnny Hodges on alto in addition to being virtually the only soprano player (other than Sidney Bechet) in the 1930s and '40s.
And yet Charlie Barnet was only significant in jazz for about a decade (1939-1949). Although his family wanted him to be a lawyer, he was a professional musician by the time he was 16 and ironically in his career made more money than he would have in business. Barnet arrived in New York in 1932 and started leading bands on records the following year, but his career was quite erratic until 1939. Many of Barnet's early records are worthy but some are quite commercial as he attempted to find a niche. Best is a sideman appearance on a 1934 Red Norvo date that also includes Artie Shaw and Teddy Wilson.
In 1939, with the hit recording of "Cherokee" and a very successful run at the Famous Door in New York, Charlie Barnet soon became a household name. In addition to the fine trumpeter Bobby Burnet (who soloed on many of Barnet's Bluebird records), such sidemen as guitarist Bus Etri; drummer Cliff Leeman; singers Lena Horne, Francis Wayne, and Kay Starr; pianist Dodo Marmarosa; clarinetist Buddy DeFranco; guitarist Barney Kessel; and even trumpeter Roy Eldridge spent time with Barnet's bands. Although at the height of his popularity during 1939-1942 (when his orchestra could often play a close imitation of Ellington's), Barnet's recordings for Decca during 1942-1946 were also of great interest with "Skyliner" being a best-seller.
By 1947 Barnet was starting to look toward bop. Clark Terry was his star trumpeter that year, and in 1949 his screaming trumpet section included Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen, Rolf Ericson, and Ray Wetzel. Barnet, however, soon lost interest and near the end of 1949 he broke up his band. Semi-retired throughout the remainder of his life, Charlie Barnet occasionally led swing-oriented big bands during short tours and appearances, making his last recording in 1966.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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Discography
21 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Hop on the Skyliner
Jazz - Released by Universal Digital Enterprises on Feb 25, 1955
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Barnet Volume II
Jazz - Released by Archive of Folk & Jazz Music on Jun 19, 1978
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Drop Me Off In Harlem
Charlie Barnet, Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by GRP on Jan 1, 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Swingsation: Charlie Barnet & Jimmy Dorsey
Jazz - Released by GRP on Jan 1, 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Barnet Big Band - 1967
Jazz - Released by vault on Jun 2, 1967
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best of Jazz Greats Artie Shaw & Charlie Barnet
Jazz - Released by Platinum Collection on Feb 7, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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On Stage with...
Charlie Barnet, The Charlie Barnet Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Good Time Records on Mar 3, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Masters: Milano
Jazz - Released by Carinco AG on Feb 24, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Play Classics Standard
Jazz - Released by Play Classics Standard Music on May 5, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cherokee / Pompton Turnpike
Jazz - Released by Everest Records on Jul 20, 1965
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live At Basin Street East '66
Jazz - Released by Hep Records on Feb 28, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sing Boat Songs
Jazz - Released by Sing Boat Songs Rec on Jan 1, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bop Fabulous Music
Jazz - Released by Beat Machine Records on Dec 20, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Barnet Ultimate Collection
International Pop - Released by StreamWorld Entertainment Classics on Mar 21, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Giants of Swing, Charlie Barnet
Jazz - Released by SendDigital on Dec 15, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -