Flying Home

[Pete Jacobs]

Who was Lionel Hamptons main trumpet player in 1942? Thanks

[Jeff Parker]

Not to complicate a simple question but since your post was titled "Flying Home;"

Perhaps the best known trumpet solo on any recording of the song came from a Hampton small group All Star date of 2-26-40 on Bluebird. On this particular recording of the song Ziggy Elman handled the solo.

Although Hampton did record the song with a full orchestra finally in 1942 his trumpet section consisted of Eddie Hutchinson, Manny Klein, Jack Traynor, and Ernie Royal. Hamp only cut 4 sides with a full orchestra in 1942 all in June and then the recording ban pretty much screwed that all up.

Perhaps what you are thinking of is the 1944 band that cut Flying Home 1 & 2 on a V-Disc in 1944. For this session on March 10 Hamp had the upper register trumpet man and long time Ellington alumni Cat Anderson. Anderson was also the man wailing on Loose Wig cut March 2.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for asking.

JP

[Swingchef]

The version to end all is the 1967 Newport Jazz Festival with Illinois Jacquet blowing his brains out on tenor saxophone and Hampton doing his usual job of swinging the vibraphone. A mighty tasty 8+ minutes of bliss. No trumpet solos to speak of that I can recall but Jacquet sure jumps

[maryinfla]

re Flying Home: This is just to remind people of the 1948 movie "A Song is Born" with a remarkable lineup of jazz guys, and a big jam on Flying Home is the most significant musical number. In fact, with Hampton in the lead, FLYING HOME is the physical weapon that actually does the bad guys in!

It's not surprising that Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey are in the movie, they did quite a few films in those years, usually as themselves. What is very unusual is that Goodman isn't playing himself or a big band leader, but is a genuine character in the main cast, and I think he's kinda cute! well, not utterly out of place, let's say.

Most amazing is that Mel Powell's in this movie, his only film appearance. Also more familiar to film-- Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Louis Bellson, Charlie Barnet, on and on, plus Fletcher Henderson did some arrangements. For more names, see imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040820/fullcredits#cast

Whatever the movie, at this point, it's worth seeing. The musicians are treated quite decently for the time. Otherwise, it's a standard 1940's big studio comedy, pretty ridiculous, but not actually a bad movie, silly plot, good moviemaking, at least compared to its contemporaries.

How this jazz player gathering came to be I'm not sure, but I'd guess it was to some extent Danny Kaye's doing, and he does tone down his comedy in this film, possibly in deference to his guests? Plus, Howard Hawks, Billy Wilder, Samuel Goldwyn, all quality moviemakers and independent souls.

A Song is Born appears on TV every once in a while, it's out on DVD, and Netflix carries it.

[jazzjester]

Mary,

Gleefully indebted to you for that gem of a post and the great info. Buying the DVD!

JP