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One O'Clock Boogie, Two O'Clock Jump

The Tom Cunningham Orchestra has done it again! They've come out with another CD that is guaranteed to get your toes tapping! Get this one while it's hot! This one lists beats per minute for you cats and kittens who like to plan your dance cards. The tunes on this swingin' CD include such greats as:

• The first title cut, " Two O'Clock Jump," This wild adaptation of HARRY JAMES' 1939 recording features rockin' tenor man Brent Sessions. Dig how he rides on top of the ever-building ensemble riffs through to the climax. When we play this one for 20-minute dance jams, Brent never runs out of ideas or energy!"
• " You Turned the Tables on Me, "This was a hit for Helen Ward with the BENNY GOODMAN band of 1936. The easy tempo and humorous lyric make it a good one for starters;
• " Beulah's Boogie , " Boogie woogie is the "missing link" between swing and rock and roll - like Father Abraham, both camps trace their origins back to it. LIONEL HAMPTON played four-fingered piano (just like mallets) when he laid this down in 1945;
• " Hawaiian War Chant , " When TOMMY DORSEY waxed his pulsating version of King Leilohaku's little ditty in 1938, it seemed as though tom-toms were pounding from every swingin' bandstand in America, thanks to the fame of Gene Krupa and Sing, Sing, Sing.
• Money is Honey By the time COUNT BASIE recorded "Money," his long-time vocalist Jimmy Rushing was already established as one of the best blues singers in the land. This medium-tempo blues also showcases the impact Rhythm and Blues was starting to have on music by 1947;
• One O'Clock Boogie Again from BASIE'S 1947 aggregation, its title says it all - Basie's signature sound in an "updated" style;
• " Avenue C , " A rousing 1945 tribute to one of Brooklyn's main stems from the COUNT'S hot trumpet man, Buck Clayton;
• " Shout and Feel It ." Taken from a 1937 COUNT BASIE radio air check (but starting with a six-string nod to the movie Swing Kids) this flag-waver shows off the raw energy of the Kansas City swing bands;
• "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop," Only the "scat" lyric hints at the be-bop revolution that had swept through the music world by 1946. Through and through, this was an Rhythm and Blues hit for LIONEL HAMPTON, who sang and played piano;
• "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen," With apologies to the late Ziggy Elman, we omitted his "fraelich" from this recording, in order to keep the flow of the dancing. There's still plenty to enjoy, though, as whenever BENNY GOODMAN would spice a "liltin'" Martha Tilton vocal with his own clarinet. This tune was included in the historic 1938 Carnegie Hall concert;
• Benny Goodman's " Let's Dance " : If it weren't already BENNY'S instantly recognizable theme, we would've probably titled our CD after this - what more could we say? Very hot;
• Harry James' " James Session ," HARRY JAMES' 1942 tom-tom and trumpet opus also had a piece of Corky Corcoran's tenor. Harry adopted Corky so he could travel on the road with the band, as a minor.;
• "I Ain't Mad at You," In 1946 this tune was performed as a novelty vocal exchange between the BASIE band, Taps Miller, and Harry "Sweets" Edison. The whole thing just grew out of another piece called High Tide. Julian makes it his, complete with improvised scat-singing chorus;
• " Watch the Birdie," Martha Raye first sang this stop-time deluxe in the motion picture Hellzapoppin'. GENE KRUPA'S 1941 version featured singer Anita O'Day and trumpeter Roy Eldridge
• " Big John Special ," One of the secrets of BENNY GOODMAN'S initial success was his canny decision to buy the great charts from the Fletcher Henderson band that otherwise would not have had the exposure Benny could give them. Fletcher's brother, Horace, penned the highly danceable "Big John Special" and it's a killer-diller! From 1938
• " Bugle Call Rag ," Speaking of killer-dillers, this 1936 BENNY GOODMAN barn burner will definitely get your feet flying! Here's your chance to try out your "balboa" or "Artie Shaw Shag" steps;
• " Bounce Me Brother With a Solid '4' ," This song was introduced as a lindy feature in the 1941 movie, Buck Privates, performed by the ANDREWS SISTERS, and later showed up as the "B side" of their huge hit, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B

If you're interested in purchasing one of our CDs e-mail us or send $17.50 for "One O'clock Boogie - Two O'clock Jump" or $14.50 for "All the Cats Join In" (prices include shipping and handling) to:

The Tom Cunningham Orchestra
PO Box 50243
Arlington, VA 22205

"One O'clock Boogie - Two O'clock Jump" is also available from Amazon.com .

All The Cats Join In

Get ready to get your bobby socks knocked off as the Tom Cunningham Orchestra lets loose and ALL THE CATS JOIN IN. The tunes on this swingin' CD include such greats as:

• The title cut, " All the Cats Join In ," a hybrid between Benny Goodman's original work commissioned by Disney Studios for a full-length animated movie, "Make Mine Music," and the Buck Clayton All Stars' hard-swingin' jam tune on his album, also entitled "All the Cats Join In;"
• The Count Basie/Joe Williams classic, " Smack Dab in the Middle," as sung by Julian Hipkins. To call this version atomic would be an understatement;
• Krupa's " Drum Boogie ," featuring that drummin' man, Ed Crow, and vocals by Robin;
• Herman's beautiful ballad, " Early Autumn ," featuring the smooth, velvety tenor sax stylings of Don Lerman;
• Krupa's classic "Let Me Off Uptown," featuring vocals by Robin and Tom, and fine, swingin' trumpet work by Tom;
• a Don Lerman original, "Eight Brothers," reminiscent of Woody Herman's "Four Brothers;"
• Dorsey's " On the Sunny Side of the Street ," featuring the RPM vocal trio;
• Basie's hot "Swingin' the Blues" and " Shorty George ." "Hot" says it all;
• Basie's "All of Me," with the added twist of Julian Hipkins' vocals;
• Basie's intense "Red Bank Boogie," a jumpin' piano feature that's a fine number for Lindy-hopping;
• Goodman's sultry " Why Don't You Do Right? " sung by Robin. Very hot;
• Ray Charles' " I've Got News for You," down and dirty blues;
• Goodman's "Solo Flight," featuring guitarist Paul Pieper, 1st Runner-Up in the prestigious Thelonius Monk Jazz Competition;
• Ellington's "Johnny Come Lately," a rare gem, rich and lush in harmony, and heavy in swing; and
• Basie's " The King ," which says it all about the Tom Cunningham Orchestra. An extremely hot number featuring battling tenors.

If you're interested in purchasing either of our CDs, contact us .