Paul Whiteman Orchestra – “Doo Wacka Doo”
The Paul Whiteman Orchestra famously pushed the boundaries of jazz by incorporating classical orchestration into big band arrangements. Whiteman commissioned and debuted George Gershwin’s groundbreaking “Rhapsody In Blue” in 1924, and his symphonic jazz style influenced many greats who followed – including Miles Davis, Gil Evans and later Winton Marsalis. Here’s an early recording by Paul Whiteman Orchestra – the classic horn player anthem, “Doo Wacka Doo.”
Here’s legendary American singer Alberta Hunter’s vintage recording of “Nobody Knows The Way I Feel This Morning.” Originally penned by Tom and Pearl Delaney, this classic was later a hit for Dinah Washington and Aretha Franklin. Alberta Hunter and her small, smart combo, put this song on the musical map forever in 1921, with this unforgettable take.
“I Wonder” was pre-war pianist and blues singer Cecil Gant’s first single. Released on Oakland’s Gilt-Edge Records, “I Wonder” is a romantic pop-tinged ballad which topped the R&B charts despite a wartime shellac shortage that hit tiny independent companies like Gilt-Edge particularly hard. Grab a glass of wine, cozy up with your lover, and let the beautiful voice of Cecil Gant remind you of what’s really important in life.