This is an exceedingly valuable performance by the
Dorsey
band, from a live broadcast in front of an invited audience of servicemen and women in uniform, originally sponsored by Coca-Cola.
Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
were near their peak, and half of the 11 numbers from the show swing with a smooth elegance and bracing joy that's hard to beat. The sweet numbers, featuring
Bob Allen
or
the Sentimentalists
, are a lot less interesting and compelling to most modern ears, though they do represent just as much about what this band was about, and a major reason for their popularity in their own time, as the hotter side of its output. The band was a good one,
Pete Candoli
in the trumpet section,
Buddy DeFranco
on alto sax and clarinet,
Al Klink
on tenor sax, and
Gene Krupa
on the skins, while
Georgia Gibbs
and
handled the vocals.
Krupa
shows admirable restraint throughout the performance, seldom showing off and never overwhelming the band or the song.
Gibbs
shines among the singers, turning in a smooth yet bluesy rendition of
"Tess's Torch Song"
from the then-current movie
Up in Arms
.
Sy Oliver
was the featured arranger on much of the best material here, most notably
"Paramount on Parade,"
which included solos of two choruses each by
DeFranco
on clarinet and
's tenor sax.
also turns in a superb solo on the
"TD Chant"
in an arrangement by
Deane Kincaide
. The other 14 songs come from live
V-Disc
sessions from various locales, in October 1943 and June, July, August, and September of 1944, featuring
Bing Crosby
,
, and
Frances Langford
on vocals. The 1944 tracks also include
Buddy Rich
on the drums. The fidelity is very good, without any traces of noise or distortion, and the source has been nicely cleaned up. The track listing goes a little haywire about halfway through, one number off, but that's a small complaint in an otherwise well put together package. ~ Bruce Eder