SwingDJs

Does anyone play this song? I'm curious because the past year or so it has grown into one of my favorites. I often use the Earl Hines version from 1936 as the first song of a big band set. Because of it's familiarity everyone always gets up and dances to it. But sometimes I will use other more modern verions -Alberta Hunter, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Brown trio(very long version). Sometimes I will play the Eddie South/Django version. but all versions get people dancing, for me it's one of those sure thing songs if I feel I lost connection with the crowd.

So, anyway last night I was listening to blues before sunrise (www.bluesbeforesunrise.com) and Steve Cushing put on a version by Brother Bones which is the same version that the Harlem Globetrotters use. And He said he knew very little about Brother Bones. I found that curious I mean geez just go to allmusic.com. So, I did to look it up. and brother bones is not listed at all. I found that strange how can one of the most recognized version of any song not have a listing? Nothing? So I had to do a deeper internet search and found information on Brother Bones here: http://www.whistlingrecords.com/brother ... _bones.htm
At this site you can here many of his songs, most of his other stuff I thought was garbage. But on this site tallking about bones players there is an interesting version of "Ain't she Sweet" by Mr. Goon-Bones who is a conteporary on Brother Bones. (I ain't making this up)

So this got me thinking. Is there any song out there that anyone plays or a swing song that someone does not play in which the "bones" are played? It's an interesting sounding insturment and out of my own curiousity I would like to hear it in a few jazz recordings for I can make up my my if I like it or not.

I don't have the Brother Bones version, but I do play an Erskine Hawkins and an Earl Hines version from time to time... good stuff. I have other versions, but I can't say I've really listened to them... perhaps I will and see if they will go over well, like you suggest they will.

I was buying some 78's for my wife (she likes to collect them), and did find a version of Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue, by Brother Bones. I have not found anything on CD.

Here's some info: http://www.whistlingrecords.com/brother ... _bones.htm

Versions of Sweet Georgia Brown I have:
Earl Hines
Benny Goodman
Benny Carter & His Chocolate Dandies
Cab Calloway
Django Reinhardt (3 versions)
Erskine Hawkins
Harry James

Roy wrote:So this got me thinking. Is there any song out there that anyone plays or a swing song that someone does not play in which the "bones" are played?

Patrick Szmidt of Paris, France spins Brother Bones's version of Sweet Georgia Brown pretty regularly.

I personally don't really like dancing to it as much as other artists' versions. Then again, I think his version of "Charleston" that you can find on that site is the best I've ever heard. It gets especially captivating after the last whistling solo at 1:14. I'd spin it in Paris, where people are used to hearing his music (familiarity can put more of a happy smile on dancers' faces than bad recording quality can take off) or perhaps at an event with fans of older music.

Jive Melody of that site is pretty good also.

So funny that you posted this, a few months ago I got the Sweet Georgia Brown bug and I looked for as many different versions as I could find. In addition to some listed already, I love to play versions by Diane Schuur and the Ink Spots.

Gene Harris!

The version which I started to like recently is from one of our local bands. AS a matter of fact I played it last night. Corny name, but good sounds: Hotlanta Dixieland Jazz

Roy wrote:Does anyone play this song? I'm curious because the past year or so it has grown into one of my favorites.

Since you're collecting versions, a few not mentioned:

Henderson, Bill _Sweet Georgia Brown (180) _Live with the Count Basie Band ['65]
Aleman, Oscar _Sweet Georgia Brown (200) ['41] _Swing Guitar Masterpieces 1938~1957 (Disc 1)
Charles, Ray _Sweet Georgia Brown (245) _Ray Charles and Betty Carter , Dedicated To You
Kirby, John _Sweet Georgia Brown ['39may19] [C6] _Charlie Shavers, Jazz Archives No203~~ The Amazing Trumpet of Mister Charlie 1937~1947
Murphy, Mark _Sweet Georgia Brown (133) _The Best of the Capitol Years ['59~60]
Schuur, Diane _Sweet Georgia Brown (188'') ['92] [BB] _In Tribute

You're missing my favorite to play at dances:

Ella Fitzgerald w/ Duke Ellington - Cote d'Azur Concerts (Disc 7)

She also has a slightly faster one on "A Perfect Match" (with the Basie band), but I prefer the version with Ellington.

As for Brother Bones, his version used to be played all of the time here in San Francisco. I've gotten a kick on several occasions from watching dancers goofing around with some "air basketball" while it is playing.

Interesting side note: Leland Ho ripped Brother Bones' version from a 45 record, and every dancer/DJ I know who has the song got it either from Leland or from someone who got it from him - Erwin and Brainard from Chicago being one example. It's fun to trace how some songs have been discovered and have gotten around the Lindy scene.

Jesse

JesseMiner wrote:She also has a slightly faster one on "A Perfect Match" (with the Basie band), but I prefer the version with Ellington.

I find this one is wierd to dance to for some reason.

There's also a nice version on Chicago: The Living Legends by Alberta Hunter w/ Love Austin's Blues Serenaders. FWIW, the entire album is great - it's got my current favorite version of "St. Louis Blues." (More sound clips here)

FYI - amazon lists the 8-disc Verve Ella/Duke Cote set for $50 in zshops.
wow

Contains a phenomenal, explosive Big Band version that starts slow and builds to Mid-Tempo. Very good spin on a somewhat staid tune.

You have to cue it up at a certain time (or edit it) to avoid the intro... but Condon has an awesome live version on...

The Town Hall Concerts Vol. 11

I also like to play Harry Connick Jr's version, done when he was eleven years old :

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=music


Chris

hep2hop wrote:I also like to play Harry Connick Jr's version, done when he was eleven years old :

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=music


Chris

wow - I thought '20' was his first album. I was very into Harry Connick about 15 years ago and really enjoyed seeing his live band play the Seattle Opera House; I've been meaning to go through the CDs I have (about 7) to look for tracks for swing dj'ing.