Stompin' At The Savoy

I was listening to live recordings of Benny Goodman's group from 1938 and came across their take on "Stompin' at the Savoy." Goodman is great, but Max Roach's lyrical drum solo on the 1954 recording with Clifford Brown is unforgettable. Roach is undeniably one of my favorite jazz percussionists, and moments like this illustrate how bop and post-bop freed the drummer from the restraints they had to deal with during the swing phase of the 1930s and early 1940s. Roach's lyrical side as a soloist is a treat on Saxophone Colossus and Monk's Brilliant Corners, too. Perhaps Roach's M'Boom phase is next on my list for jazz to devour. More drummers could use Roach's sense of melodicism.

Interesting Songs

These two songs have been stuck in my head lately. Just thought I would share them with y'all. I've also decided to add several versions of Stompin' at the Savoy by different artists. The Savoy was a ballroom in Harlem for integrated audiences. Home of Chick Webb's Orchestra and host of several great swing musicians, Ella Fitzgerald performed there in the 1930s and a number of famous dances like the Lindy Hop were popularized there.