Tex Beneke was a big band saxophonist and singer who joined the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1941, and remained with him until Miller broke up his band the following year to join the Army Air Forces,... more

Like Duke Ellington, Count Basie didn't set out to be a performer of pop hits. But his big band singles were so good that people around the world couldn't stop spinning them on jukeboxes and... more

Sometimes folks think of Duke Ellington as a "serious" jazz musician, and he was all of that and more, but many of his catchiest compositions also got airplay on jukeboxes in juke joints 'cross the... more

22 tracks from this swingin' jump blues band out of Kansas City, featuring EVERY hit! Includes the classic Take It and Git; Hey Lawdy Mama (Meet Me in the Bottom); I Know; I Don't Know What I'd Do... more

Cab's band brought to the world some of the greatest jazz stars of the future, and Cab's charisma helped bring him a stunning run of chart hits in the '30s and '40s. Here are 20 of his essential... more

In spite of his own criticisms of the commercialization of jazz, renowned swing bandleader and clarinetist Artie Shaw charted more than his share of hits during his career, most notably his version... more

Hit after hit by the great trumpeter/bandleader from Birmingham, Alabama: ALL his R&B hits—Tippin' In; Bicycle Bounce; Don't Cry Baby; Cherry; Caldonia; Fifteen Years (And I'm Still Serving Time);... more

Always one to give credit where credit was due, Duke Ellington designed his small bands around one or more soloists from his touring and recording ensemble and released the recordings under the... more

25 performances by the big bands that ruled the Chicago club circuit between 1923 and 1934, the height of prohibition. Although not necessarily native Chicagoans, all these hot Jazz bands enjoyed... more

The Lunceford Orchestra was one of the most exciting of the 30's with a swing style courtesy of arranger and trumpeter Sy Oliver. The selection here contains some of his earliest recordings including... more

Long overshadowed by the historical importance of US Big Bands, the British scene of the pre-war years has been sadly neglected on CD. This 20 track overview presents the cream of UK based dance... more

Although one of the big band era's greatest stars and bandleaders, Tommy Dorsey, like many of his contemporaries, enjoyed the freedom of smaller outfits. This CD presents a selection of his classic... more

If Acrobat's Tommy Dorsey small groups CD made you sentimental for his orchestra, here are 20 sides his big band cut between 1935 and 1940, when they were one of the most popular acts of the era.... more