Benny Goodman had Fletcher Henderson, Tommy Dorsey had Sy Oliver and Chick Webb had Edgar Sampson. All were super-hot black composer-arrangers in the 1930s and '40s who specialized in swing.
Yesterday I posted about Chick Webb. Today, a rare treat to swing you into 2025. I found Edgar Sampson's sole 12-inch album up on YouTube—Swing Softly Sweet Sampson: Edgar Sampson and His Orchestra. Recorded for Coral over three days in April 1956, the LP swings like mad.
The band and tracks
April 2 and 3...
Charlie Shavers, Jimmy Nottingham and Red Solomon (tp); Tyree Glenn and Lou McGarity (tb); Milt Yaner and Hymie Schertzer (as); Boomie Richman and George Berg (ts); Lou Stein (p); Allen Hanlon (g); Beverly Peer (b); Terry Snyder (d) and Edgar Sampson (arr,ldr).
- Stompin' at the Savoy
- I'll Be Back for More
- Blue Lou
- Lullaby in Rhythm
- Hoopdee Whodee
- If Dreams Come True
April 4...
Bernie Kaufman (as) replaces Hymie Schertzer
- The Sweetness of You
- Light and Sweet
- The Blues Made Me Feel This Way
- Cool and Groovy
- Happy and Satisfied
Here's Swing Softly Sweet Sampson: Edgar Sampson and His Orchestra in full, without ad interruptions. And dig the crazy chart for Lullaby in Rhythm at 12:54. Happy New Year!...