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The war had ended So had the recording ban, under which the musicians' union, led by Petrillo, had forbidden its members to make records. Sidemen left the services and began taking their old places on the bandstands and the big bands prepared to return to the way they were. But there were casualties. Many musicians had survived the war, but were unwilling now to suffer the rigors of one-night stands on the road. Glenn Miller, one of swing's great bandleaders, became a casualty of the war when his plane was lost only a few months before V-E Day. Some bands were nearly non-existent. Vocalists, who had been able to record as non-union musicians, became entrenched in the public favor during the recording ban. Thus, the enthusiasm by the previous admirers of jazz seemed to have waned. This was a devastating time for the big bands and very abruptly the swing era was coming to an end. The music of the period contained size and subtlety. The musicians were vigorous and inventive. Stan Kenton was recording some of his most brilliant work at this time. Woody Herman's band, The Thundering Herd, was voted the best band of the period. Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton and Les Brown turned away from traditional jazz for the more popular harmonies of progressive jazz. Swing has its unique sound and techniques which seemed to have faded into the sunset but that is not the case, for the music is still hot, brilliant and bold. The era had ended, but swing lives on. Check out the artist's website: http://bigbandsounds.com Track List: 1. Chicago (Tommy Dorsey Version) 2. September Song (Harry James Version) 3. High on a Windy Trumpet (Les Brown Version) 4. Midnight Sun (Lionel Hampton Version) 5. Tenderly (Randy Brooks Version) 6. Chloe (Tommy Dorsey Version) 7. Dream (Pied Pipers Version) 8. Concerto to End All Concertos: Part I (Stan Kenton Version) 9. Concerto to End All Concertos: Part II (Stan Kenton Version) 10. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (Les Brown Version) 11. I Should Care (Tommy Dorsey Version) 12. Hamp's Walkin' Boogie (Lionel Hampton Version) 13. Afternoon in August (Billy Butterfield Version) 14. At Sundown (Tommy Dorsey Version) 15. Rachel's Dream (Benny Goodman Version) 16. The Man with the Horn (Randy Brooks Version) 17. Bijou (Woody Herman Version) 18. Then I'll Be Happy (Tommy Dorsey Version) 19. Blowin' Up a Storm (Woody Herman Version) 20. Happy-Go-Lucky Local: Part I (Duke Ellington Version) 21. Happy-Go-Lucky Local: Part II (Duke Ellington Version) 22. The Good Earth (Woody Herman Version) 23. Autumn Serenade (Harry James Version) 24. Route 66 (Nat King Cole Version) 25. Lover's Leap (Les Brown Version) Suggested CDs:
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