Billy Butterfield Blows His Horn

 

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Billy Butterfield Blows His Horn

Billy Butterfield and His Orchestra

Columbia Records CL 1514

1961

From the back cover: Since the days when he first gained prominence as a member of Bob Crosby's Bobcats, Billy Butterfield has been one of the most admired trumpeters in music. The sounds he produces are warm, soft and swinging, or bright, shiny and swinging, depending on the tune, but the Butterfield touch is ever-present, lending its special accent to whatever he plays.

Butterfield joined the Crosby crew when he was in his early twenties, and gained even further notice as a songwriter when he and Bobby Taggart collaborated on the now-classic What's New. Later, Billy moved on to join one of the Artie Shaw's various orchestras, doubling with the famous Gramercy Five from time to time. Thereafter he played with Benny Goodman until service with the armed forces temporarily interrupted his career.

Returning, Billy found that he was one of the most sought-after sidemen in New York. This, coupled with an aversion to traveling, led him to pick and choose engagements around New York, including many spots on the radio. Some time later he was prevailed upon to form his own band and go out on the road, but eventually he returned to New York. Since that time he has resumed his status as one of the busiest and most prominent trumpeters in the area.

In this collection Billy leads his group through a dozen standard tunes, some of them swing classics, others tenderly romantic. As in his recent outing with Ray Conniff (Conniff Meets Butterfield, CL 1346/CS 8155), the accent is on melody and a danceable beat. And soaring all through the album is the wonderful Butterfield trumpet, clear as a summer sky.

It's Easy To Remember

Somebody Else Is Taking My Place

Narcissus

Johnson Rag

What's New

The Donkey Serenade

Just Friends

Tuxedo Junction

It Must Be True

Sunrise Serenade

Reminiscing 

Moonlight In Vermont