Amber asks:
~Amber
Swing DJ Resources' answer
I was doing some research in the book [easyazon-link asin=”1592135641″ locale=”us”]Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop[/easyazon-link] and found several passages:
On page 82:
As I've mentioned, there was a contest every Saturday night at the Savoy. (…)
The orchestra leader picked the music, which was almost always “Christopher Columbus,” because it was so swinging.
On page 99: here Frankie writes about doing the first air step in a contest:
As I've said before, the tune we always used in contests was “Christopher Columbus.” But earlier in the evening, Chick had played “Down South Camp Meeting,” which is this real swingy tune. […]
On page 151: about the big apple contest
If Chick Webb was the house band, he usually played “Stompin' at the Savoy.” Other bands, such as Teddy Hill, Erskine Hawkins, Buddy Johnson, or Lucky Millinder, generally chose “Christopher Columbus.”
And on page 95 he writes:
At that time I didn't know anything about counting. We were used to working with bands that played the Savoy, like Chick Webb.
So, my understandig is that Frankie doesn't say that Chick Webb played “Christopher Columbus”.
I don't know any recordings of “Christopher Columbus” by Chick Webb.
What about you?
Does anyone of you – the readers – have any other informations? Share them in the comments sections below.
The closest I can find is that Ella Fitzgerald (who was singing with Chick at the time) recorded some tracks with Teddy Wilson during the same session that Teddy Wilson’s band recorded their version of Christopher Columbus.
It sounds like it was a popular chart so it’s quite possible that Chick Webb played it but never recorded it – though there could be a broadcast recording out there somewhere.
On page 151, Frankie writes, “If Chick Webb was the house band, he usually played ‘Stompin’ at the Savoy.’ Other bands, such as Teddy Hill, Erskine Hawkins, Buddy Johnson or Lucky Millinder, generally chose ‘Christopher Columbus.’
Yup, that’s what is quoted in the article above 😉
Brian Rust’s Jazz Records Discography (Storyville 1983) mentions about 150 CHICK WEBB recordings from 1927 till 1939, but no “Christopher Columbus”. He lists the unpublished tracks as well as the known republished broadcast recordings then.
On May 18th, 1934, he recorded an outstanding uptempo version of “Stomping At The Savoy” for Columbia records (that was published on Col 2626-D, Vocalion 3246, Parlophone R-2088). In February 1936, there was another (live) recording made that was published on several LPs (Polydor and Jazz Archives).
Being a resident band at the Savoy in Harlem, it seems more logical that Chick Webb had his “themesong”, esp. as himself and his saxophone player Edgar Sampson are credited as co-authors with Benny Goodman to this peace.
“Christopher Columbus” was recorded by many other bands like Joe Haymes, Fletcher Henderson, Teddy Stauffer, Teddy Wilson… Chu Berry is credited as author. Although Berry was sitting in with Teddy Wilson in May 1936, he is not playing the saxophone on “Christopher Columbus” by Teddy Wilson that was recorded on March 17th, 1936 already.
The riff named “Chistopher Columbus” was so popular in those days that Benny Goodman used it in the famous Louis Prima tune “Sing, Sing, Sing” in the Jimmy Mundy arrangement as intro (mentioned on the record!).
Conclusion: I suppose Chick Webb was holding on his proper theme song, but other bands prefered the popular “Christopher Columbus” tune for batteling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDT-tWZ07n0
Awesome Stephan, thanks for the insights!