Fud on the Radio
If you haven't heard this music of the 1920's-early 1930's, it might surprise you.
This radio show I did in 2014 seems an appropriate follow up to my last post, about clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and arranger Joseph Anthony (Fud) Livingston (April 10, 1906 - March 25, 1957).
Listening to his arrangements was an eye opener. He uses musical devices from the jazz world and the "modernist" school of composition, juxtaposing earthy blues/jazz and expanded harmonic conceits, resulting in arrangements that are stylistic anomalies. “Modern” arrangers like Eddie Sauter, Bill Finnegan and Gil Evans owe him a debt of gratitude.
Playlist:
Ben Pollack and His Californians "Red Hot"(1924) on Victor
Ben Pollack and His Californians "'Deed I Do"(1926) on Victor
Ben Pollack and His Californians "He's the Last Word" (1926) on Victor
The Charleson Chasers "Feelin No Pain" (1927) on Columbia
Miff Mole and His Little Molers "Imagination" (1927) on Okeh
Frankie Trumbauer and his Orchestra "Humpty Dumpty" (1927) on Okeh
The Devonshire Restaurant Dance Band "Sax Appeal" (1927) on Zonophone
All Star Orchestra "Alexander's Ragtime Band" (1927) on Victor
Nat Shilkret And His Orchestra "Oh Baby"(1928) on Okeh
Leonard Hayton’s Blue Four "Old Fashioned Girl (In A Gingham Gown)" (1928) on Vocalion
Joe Venuti and His New Yorkers "Doin' Things"(1928) on Okeh
Fred Elizalde and His Music "Singapore Sorrows" (1929) on Parlophone
Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra "Choo Choo"(1930) on Columbia
Bing Crosby "I'm Through With Love"(1931) on Brunswick
Lily Pons "The Blues Danube" (1936) on RKO
Fud Livingston "Moo" (1932) on Arc (A viper, if not much of a singer)