RELEASED 16.6.2009
Meticulously restored from the best available prints, these priceless and ground-breaking jazz, jive and jump performances have never looked or sounded better. Featuring Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Jordan, Cab Calloway + more!

Description:

HALF-PAST JUMP TIME! is the first volume in 'The Swingtime Collection', a new DVD series dedicated to highlights from The Swing Era. Contrary to popular belief, the history of the popular music promo video did not begin with Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in 1975; as long ago as 1941 America's Soundie film company began making promotional music featurettes for the newly-arrived video jukebox. Compiled from those 'Soundies' and other promotional short films from the Forties, along with the rival Snader Telescriptions from the early Fifties, 'Half-Past Jump Time!' is an exhilarating collection of jump and jive classics from those halcyon years. In addition to such well-known names as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Jordan and Cab Calloway, just as importantly this collection features a host of memorable performances from several of the music's unsung heroes, some of whom were never recorded commercially for phonograph records. The Swingtime Collection will be featuring many rare and sought-after performances, not only from those lesser-known artists but will also boast alternative soundtrack versions of the big hits from the major artists, as well as numbers not available in any other form by performers big and small.

Track Listing/Features:

• Vanita Smythe: Low, Short & Squatty; Back Door Man;
• Skeets Tolbert & His Orchestra: Blitzkrieg Bombardier; 'Tis You Baby; Corn Pone; No, No Baby
• Meade Lux Lewis: Low Down Dog; Boogie Woogie
• Cab Calloway & His Cabaliers: Calloway Boogie
• The Lionel Hampton Orchestra: Ding Dong Baby
• Mabel Lee With Deryck Sampson'S Band: The Cat Can Dance; Baby Don'T Go Away From Me; Half Past Jump Time
• Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five: Fuzzy Wuzzy; Five Guys Named Moe; Old Man Mose
• The Count Basie Sextet: Basie Boogie
• Helen Humes With The Count Basie Sextet: I Cried For You
• Red Allen & His Band: Count Me Out; Drink Hearty; House On 52nd Street
• Maurice Rocco: Rocco Blues; Rhumboogie
• Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: V.I.P.'S Boogie
• Pat Flowers: Scotch Boogie
• Will Bradley & His Orchestra: Barnyard Bounce (Chicken Gumboog);
• June Richmond With Roy Milton'S Band: 47th Street Jive; Ride On, Ride On; Hey Lawdy Mama
• Mabel Lee And Harris & Hunt: Rhythmania; Lynn Albritton: Backstage Blues
• Dallas Bartley & His Band: Sandin' Joe; Ya Fine And Healthy Thing; All Ruzzit Buzzit; Cryin' And Singin' The Blues
• Dorothy Dandridge & Paul White: A Zoot Suit (For My Sunday Girl)
• Dorothy Dandridge: Cow Cow Boogie
• Cook & Brown: Chatter; Toot That Trumpet

Bonus Materials:

• 'Follow That Music' A short film from 1946 starring Gene Krupa and featuring him and his orchestra playing four numbers.
• Audio CD of Highlights