22 June 2021
(Until 22 June)Bud Freeman Improvisation Tips – Phantom Dancer 22 June 2021
Greg Poppleton's Phantom Dancer swing jazz radio show
Bud Freeman, is the Phantom Dancer feature artist this week. You’ll hear his Summa cum Laude Orchestra from a 1940s radio broadcast. He was known for his improvisations on tenor sax and I quote from some of his tips on improvisation below.
The Phantom Dancer is your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV hosted presented by me, Greg Poppleton.
Hear past Phantom Dancer mixes online now at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/.
Meanwhile, this Phantom Dancer mix will be online after 2pm AEST, Tuesday 22 June, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/
BUD
In 1922, Freeman and some friends from high school formed the Austin High School Gang. Freeman played the C melody saxophone with band members such as Jimmy McPartland and Frank Teschemacher before switching to tenor saxophone the next year. The band was influenced by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings and Louis Armstrong.
In 1927, he moved to New York City, where he worked as a session musician and band member with Red Nichols, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Ben Pollack, and Joe Venuti. One of his most notable performances was a solo on Eddie Condon‘s 1933 recording, The Eel, which became Freeman’s nickname for his long snake-like improvisations.
Freeman played with Tommy Dorsey‘s Orchestra (1936–1938) and Benny Goodman‘s band in 1938 before forming the Summa Cum Laude Orchestra (1939–1940). About this band, Freeman said,
“I had this band and the guys were late all the time. I didn’t want to have to hassle with them. I didn’t want to mistreat them, so I said, “Fellas, should we quit?”… we were good friends. They started to come on time.”
Freeman joined the U.S. Army during World War II and headed a U.S. Army band in the Aleutian Islands.
After the war, Freeman returned to New York and led his own groups. He also worked with Buck Clayton, Ruby Braff, Vic Dickenson, and Jo Jones. In 1960, he wrote the book and lyrics for the Broadway musical Beg, Borrow or Steal, which included the ballad “Zen Is When”, later recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet on Jazz Impressions of Japan (1964). He was a member of the World’s Greatest Jazz Band in 1969 and 1970. In 1974, he moved to England and continued to record and perform. He returned to Chicago in 1980 and continued to work into his eighties.
He wrote two memoirs (You Don’t Look Like a Musician (1974) and If You Know of a Better Life, Please Tell Me (1976)) and an autobiography (Crazeology) with Robert Wolf.
IMPROVISATION
In a 1970 interview with Studs Terkel, Freeman said about jazz and improvisation,
“Jazz is a music that came out of the black man’s oppression, yet it allows for great freedom of expression.”
“There’s been a lot of untruths told about improvisation. Men just don’t get up on stage and improvise on things they’re not familiar with. True improvisation comes out of hard work. When you’re working at home, you work on a theme and you work out all the possibilities of that theme. Since it’s in your head, it comes out of you when you play.”
“I practice because I want to play better. I’ve never been terribly interested in technique, but I’m interested in facility. To feel comfortable, so when the idea shoots out of my head I can finger it, manipulate it. Something interesting happens. You’ll hear a phrase and suddenly you’re thrown into a whole new inspiration.”
22 JUNE PLAY LIST
Play List – The Phantom Dancer | ||
107.3 2SER Tuesday 22 JUNE 2021 | ||
Set 1 | 1940s One Night Stand Radio | |
Apurksedy (theme) + Hop, Skip and Jump | Gene Krupa Orchestra (voc) Carolyn Gray | ‘One Night Stand’ Meadowbrook Ballroom Culver City Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 31 Mar 1946 |
You’re My Thrill | Charlie Barnet Orchestra (voc) Betty Perry | ‘One Night Stand’ Casino Gardens Ocean Park Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 3 Jan 1947 |
How High the Moon + Brahm’s Lullaby (theme) | Buddy Morrow Orchestra | ‘One Night Stand’ Blue Room Hotel Lincoln NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 27 May 1946 |
Set 2 | Jimmie Grier Orchestra | |
After All Is Said and Done | Jimmie Grier Orchestra (voc) Dick Webster | ‘Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1933 |
A Secret Love | Jimmie Grier Orchestra (voc) Kenny Allen | ‘Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1933 |
Kiss by Kiss + Music in the Moonlight (theme) | Jimmie Grier Orchestra (voc) The Three Cheers | ‘Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1933 |
Set 3 | Trad Radio | |
Have Your Chill | Coot Grant and Kid Socks Wilson | ‘This is Jazz’ WOR Mutual NYC 3 May 1947 |
Yellow Dog Blues | Coot Grant | ‘This is Jazz’ WOR Mutual NYC 3 May 1947 |
A Good Man is Hard to Find | George Brunies | ‘This is Jazz’ WOR Mutual NYC 5 Apr 1947 |
Set 4 | Bud Freeman | |
Theme + I Ain’t Gonna Give You None Of My Jelly Roll | Bud Freeman’s Summa cum Laude Orchestra | Hotel Sherman WMAQ NBC Red Chicago 20 May 1940 |
Secrets in the Moonlight | Bud Freeman’s Summa cum Laude Orchestra | Hotel Sherman WMAQ NBC Red Chicago 20 May 1940 |
Shake Down the Stars + Medley | Bud Freeman’s Summa cum Laude Orchestra | Hotel Sherman WMAQ NBC Red Chicago 20 May 1940 |
Sierra Sue | Bud Freeman’s Summa cum Laude Orchestra | Hotel Sherman WMAQ NBC Red Chicago 20 May 1940 |
Set 5 | Benny Goodman 1938-39 | |
Chicago | Benny Goodman Orchestra | ‘Camel Caravan’ WBBM CBS Chicago 6 Sep 1938 |
Lilacs in the Rain | Benny Goodman Orchestra (voc) Mildred Bailey | ‘Camel Caravan’ WEAF NBC Red NYC 18 Nov 1939 |
Open + The Spring Song | Benny Goodman Orchestra | ‘Camel Caravan’ WEAF NBC Red NYC 9 Sep 1939 |
Set 6 | 1930s-40s Swing Discs | |
Popcorn Man | Ray Ventura Orchestra (voc) Betty Allan | Comm Rec Paris 1938 |
Rumba Azul | Lecuona Cuban Boys (voc) Alberto Rabagliati | Comm Rec Paris 1936 |
Le Boogie de Paris | Jacques Helian Orchestra | Comm Rec Paris 1946 |
Cafunga | Bruguera | Comm Rec Paris 1936 |
Set 7 | Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street | |
Winnin’ Boy | Jelly Roll Morton | ‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue NY 14 Jul 1940 |
Open + Get Happy | Esquire All Stars | ‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue NY 16 Jan 1944 |
Body and Soul | Bobby Hackett | ‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue NY 23 Jun 1940 |
Honeysuckle Rose + Close | Esquire All Stars | ‘Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue NY 16 Jan 1944 |
Set 8 | Medleys | |
Twilight in Teheran | Buck Ram All-Stars | Comm Rec New York City 18 Sep 1944 |
High On an Open Mike | Frank Navarro | ‘Saturday Night Swing Club’ WNEW New York City 12 Apr 1947 |
| Sabroso | Slim Gaillard | ‘Symphony Sid Show’ Birdland WJZ ABC NY 7 Jul 1951 |
