" HARLEM AFTER MIDNIGHT " 1947 JAZZ VOCALIST BILLY ECKSTINE AFRICAN AMERICAN BIG BAND XD13524
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- Опубліковано 13 вер 2024
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Released by Transvideo Corporation of America, "Harlem After Midnight" was produced by Alexander, a distributor of African American films in the 1940s. The film features Billy Eckstine and his band with vocals by Eckstine and Ann Baker, and dancing by Nicky O'Daniel and Al Guster. The film was made in 1940 and photographed by Don Malkames.
William Clarence Eckstine (July 8, 1914 - March 8, 1993) was an American jazz and pop singer and a bandleader during the swing era. He was noted for his rich, almost operatic bass-baritone voice. His recording of "I Apologize" (MGM, 1948) was given the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999. The New York Times described him as an "influential band leader" whose "suave bass-baritone" and "full-throated, sugary approach to popular songs inspired singers like Joe Williams, Arthur Prysock and Lou Rawls."
Eckstine first came on the scene when he joined Earl Hines' Grand Terrace Orchestra in 1939. He stayed with the band as vocalist and trumpeter until 1943. By that time, Eckstine had begun to make a name for himself through the Hines band's juke-box hits such as "Stormy Monday Blues", and his own "Jelly Jelly."
In 1944, Eckstine formed his own big band and it became the finishing school for adventurous young musicians who would shape the future of jazz. Included in this group were Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Charlie Parker, and Fats Navarro, as well as vocalist Sarah Vaughan. Tadd Dameron, Gil Fuller and Jerry Valentine were among the band's arrangers. The Billy Eckstine Orchestra is considered to be the first bop big-band, and had Top Ten chart entries that included "A Cottage for Sale" and "Prisoner of Love". Both were awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.
Ann Baker (August 21, 1915 - August 29, 1999) was an American jazz singer. Baker was discovered by Louie Armstrong and played with his band on Broadway. She is best known for her time spent as a member of Billy Eckstine's band, "The Dream Band" where she performed with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis and Art Blakey. In 2008, Baker was inducted into the West Virginia Musician Hall of Fame
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Billy used to carry a newspaper cutting in his wallet at all times where Duke Ellington said that no one sings his songs as well as Billy Eckstine. He was very proud of that.
#allanmatthewson and coming from the Mozart of Jazz Duke Ellington you'd better had to be proud of that !!!!
One of the best, and most under appreciated, voices of the period.
A very underrated vocalist.
. As far as I'm concerned he's incredible
Handsome Billy was from Pittsburgh pa. Popular with divine Sarah Vaughn at concerts.
Billy was the best during my young teen years 1949 onward. Saw him live. The band was way was always great. Frankie, Bing never measured up.
WOW!! WHAT A MARVELOUS BARITONE, RICH AND SWEET AS HONEY!!
You know the incredible talent, musicianship of all races back in the day was incredible..... It just seems like people wanted to hear very good music !
@@paulgentile1024
No! Your horrific "all races" Transylvanian music sucks worse than the Suckers who play that dreck.
Salute to Mr. B.
I'm originally from Czechoslovakia, we also had quite nice music, but the American Swing and Jazz just won't stop fascinating me. This is something I can listen to over and over again, Glen Miller, Beny Goodman, Bilie Holiday, The Andrews Sisters, Beny Carter or Helen Forrest...
The opening song, "I Want to Talk About You," was written by Eckstine himself and later covered by John Coltrane. Eckstine was also a musician who played trumpet and valve trombone (check out his song "She's Got the Blues for Sale" with great solos by Wardell Gray on tenor sax and Eckstine on trombone), and he worked hard as a bandleader to make sure his group played the new bebop music with tightness and precision (which wasn't always the case with Dizzy Gillespie's big band). A great singer and a great bandleader. The second song is Tadd Dameron's bop classic "Our Delight," which also showcases Gray on tenor and Eckstine on valve trombone.
That was Frank Wess on tenor, not Wardell Gray.
Exactly...Frank Wess from Washington DC, pre-Basie days. Surprised on "She's Got the Blues for Sale" you didn't mention the pianist (it took years to find out who it was, and now I've forgotten). His solo was prototypical comping in the new style and stands out....if memory serves me correct, he was a more obscure names from the period, which only points to the depth of talent
well back in the day Harlem after midnight must have been one hip place to hear music
Agreed!
Art Blakey on drums wow !
10lassie ...That's right!
The great Billy Eckstine! Almost forgotten now...but the fans he has now are very dedicated. Note that there's no break at the cuffs of his trousers. That's so there's an uninterrupted view of those magnificent shoes. Also dig the collar of his shirt: the famous Mister B collar. The cat knew how to dress.
What a sensational Time Capsule this is. I’ve been a professional guitarist ( now retired) since 1964 and when I see and hear this wonderful band I realize I missed the best of the swing era. What a thrill to finally hear and see it as it was.
Thank you for this post.
John Paiva aka Snugg Fitt
These were originally shot in June of 1946 for "Rhythm In A Riff"-- 10 titles in all. They look to have been repackaged for another short--ironically released in '47 after the band you see was no more. "I Want To Talk About You" was one of his big hits for DeLuxe in late '44 when the band first started recording. After the few DeLuxe sides he went over to the new National label in '45, leaving them shortly after breaking up the band in early '47 and moving on to MGM records
Thank you.
Oh my God is this Wonderful!
Fabulous footage ! Eckstein has the smoothest of voices ,, My dad would sing his ‘I apologize’.
AWESOME!
That amazing voice!
Swingin' with Mr. X!!
True
Billy Eckstine has always been one of my favorite vocalists. And of course, his female counterpart is Sassy Sarah Vaughn. But until this recording, I had never heard of Ann Baker. She is just amazing and I can not understand how she is not better known. She reminds me of Anita O'Day but Ann is definitely amazing in her own right.
Pretty sure that sax player soloing on the second tune is a young Frank Wess
yep
The beautiful singer is Ann Baker.
How lovely.
2023 👏✨🇧🇷👏✨👏🇧🇷
His last name was originally spelled 'Eckstein', but since his people felt it was too Jewish, they changed it to Eckstine. I saw him in Chicago in 1967 and it was wonderful. Also, his daughter Gina performed at Monteleone's in Woodland Hills.
GOAT
So he could play at least two instruments because I've seen him holding a trumpet is other pictures.
I not sure why but sooth my anxiety.
Me too
What instrument was Eckstine playing? It's not a trumpet, although the description calls him a trumpeter.
Its a valve trombone
WHAT! Someone gives this a thumb down? The only taste he has is in his mouth.
THIS FILM SEGMENT WAS NOT DONE IN 1940, THERE WAS NO B.E. IN 1940.
1949
Mr. B made Frankie sound like a HACK. I heard he was mean asF.