Geronimo
Sophisticated Swing
By America's College Prom Favorite
Les Elgart and His Orchestra
Columbia Records CL 536
1953
From the back cover: This dance collection introduces a bright new band to the Columbia label, that of Les Elgart. Well on his way to becoming the nation's College Prom king, Elgart leads a modern ensemble that cheerfully reflects the sophisticated aspects of the tastes of young dancing America. Modern, as used here, does not mean the often self-conscious distortion of the progressive bands; it simply means a good, solid beat divorced from the shackles of yesterday's music. The band's two-beat interpretations are conceived for dancing, but its harmonies and counterpoints are aimed at the ears of a musically discriminating and discerning generation.
The sound of the Elgart band is unmistakable. Brother Larry Elgart, one of the country's finest alto saxophonists, leads the sax section with its unusually wide range of dynamics and color; the section can be intimate, as in Sophisticated Swing or Soon (the latter featuring Larry Elgart) or forceful and swinging, as in The Gang That Sang Heart of My Heart or the Hubie Wheeler original, The Turtle Walk. The Elgart brass, with its frequent feature of unison trombones, is sharp and biting. Avoiding piano, the band puts extra emphasis on the guitar. Most of the arrangements are the work of Charles Albertine: Geronimo is one of his originals and such merry ideas as Bendix Bounce and The Weasel Pops Off are demonstrative of his work as is the wonderfully intricate setting known as Comin' Thru the Scotch.
Les Elgart, often called the "trumpet players' trumpet player," had his first big-time job as lead trumpet with Bunny Berigan's orchestra. Later he played lead trumpet with Harry James, and with Charlie Spivak. Born in New Haven, he and his brother began their musical education early, under the tutelage of their mother, a concert pianist. During the war, Les served in the Navy, and joined Woody Herman after his discharge. Later he joined the CBS radio staff, and a few years later with his brother Larry organized the orchestra that presents such bright, danceable music on this record.
The sound of the Elgart band is unmistakable. Brother Larry Elgart, one of the country's finest alto saxophonists, leads the sax section with its unusually wide range of dynamics and color; the section can be intimate, as in Sophisticated Swing or Soon (the latter featuring Larry Elgart) or forceful and swinging, as in The Gang That Sang Heart of My Heart or the Hubie Wheeler original, The Turtle Walk. The Elgart brass, with its frequent feature of unison trombones, is sharp and biting. Avoiding piano, the band puts extra emphasis on the guitar. Most of the arrangements are the work of Charles Albertine: Geronimo is one of his originals and such merry ideas as Bendix Bounce and The Weasel Pops Off are demonstrative of his work as is the wonderfully intricate setting known as Comin' Thru the Scotch.
Les Elgart, often called the "trumpet players' trumpet player," had his first big-time job as lead trumpet with Bunny Berigan's orchestra. Later he played lead trumpet with Harry James, and with Charlie Spivak. Born in New Haven, he and his brother began their musical education early, under the tutelage of their mother, a concert pianist. During the war, Les served in the Navy, and joined Woody Herman after his discharge. Later he joined the CBS radio staff, and a few years later with his brother Larry organized the orchestra that presents such bright, danceable music on this record.
Sophisticated Swing
The Gang That Sang Heart Of My Heart
Bendix Bounce
Soon
The Weasel Pops Off
Geronimo
I Never Knew
Why Don't You Fall In Love With Me?
Comin' Thru The Scotch
Sophisticated Lady
The Turtle Walk
Time To Go
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