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Jimmie Lunceford
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James Melvin Lunceford aka Jimmie Lunceford; leader, saxophone, arranger; born in Fulton MS on the 6th of June 1902, died on the 12th of July 1947, while on tour in Seaside, Oregon.
Jimmie Lunceford will long be remembered as the leader of a powerful, swinging big band that rivaled on record, and exceeded in person, the orchestras of Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Count Basie. His band differed from many of the other big bands of the 1930s and 1940s in that Lunceford’s group was noted less for its soloists (although they boasted several outstanding ones) than for its incomparable sax section and sterling ensemble work. Additionally, most bands of the period used a four-beat rhythm while the Lunceford orchestra also developed and added, a distinctive two-beat swing, often played at medium, eminently danceable tempos. Finally, they pioneered (as an ensemble) playing slightly “behind the beat” which imparted a truly compelling drive to their outstanding arrangements -and proved irresistible to the dancers. Altogether, these components produced a unique sound that became known during the Swing Era as the “Lunceford beat”. Jimmie Lunceford recruited the nucleus of his band while an athletic and music instructor at Manassas High School in Memphis, Tennessee. It was here, in 1927, that he organized a student jazz band called the Chickasaw Syncopators. After five often despairing years of scuffling, by 1933 after trumpeter, vocalist and most importantly, arranger Sy Oliver joined the band -they were poised for greatness.
Jimmie Lunceford will long be remembered as the leader of a powerful, swinging big band that rivaled on record, and exceeded in person, the orchestras of Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Count Basie. His band differed from many of the other big bands of the 1930s and 1940s in that Lunceford’s group was noted less for its soloists (although they boasted several outstanding ones) than for its incomparable sax section and sterling ensemble work. Additionally, most bands of the period used a four-beat rhythm while the Lunceford orchestra also developed and added, a distinctive two-beat swing, often played at medium, eminently danceable tempos. Finally, they pioneered (as an ensemble) playing slightly “behind the beat” which imparted a truly compelling drive to their outstanding arrangements -and proved irresistible to the dancers. Altogether, these components produced a unique sound that became known during the Swing Era as the “Lunceford beat”. Jimmie Lunceford recruited the nucleus of his band while an athletic and music instructor at Manassas High School in Memphis, Tennessee. It was here, in 1927, that he organized a student jazz band called the Chickasaw Syncopators. After five often despairing years of scuffling, by 1933 after trumpeter, vocalist and most importantly, arranger Sy Oliver joined the band -they were poised for greatness.
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Jazznocracy
Jimmie Lunceford
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Jukebox Hits 1935-1947
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Swingsation
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Rhythm Is Our Business
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Shoutbox
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F_Hole wrote:
I'd do anything to've seen this band. They were supposedly THE showman's big band, with the trumpet section spinning their trumpets in the air in unison, catching them to come in on cue. "Lunceford's trained seals" was one comment I remember the old timers making.
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doceasubio wrote:
IIIUng@
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zrsullivan wrote:
Forgive me.
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bigsexyshaq wrote:
Tom's the name.
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zrsullivan wrote:
You spam like no other, Sam. I sense a Sy Oliver rediscovery in the works, & lucky you, your hot garbage is stamped all over every relevant page! Oh, & the Lunceford Orchestra was better than some critics would have you believe.
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bigsexyshaq wrote:
And they could swing.
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SYL2Oh wrote:
At the head of one of the most explosive orchestra of the swing era, Jimmie Luncerford contributed to the legend of Harlem.
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bigsexyshaq wrote:
Sy Oliver should be well-known. There should be some biographies. Rhythm is Our Business is pretty good though, and WORTH BUYING.
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trickyroman wrote:
love vocals by Chuck Richards
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schizodanny wrote:
Exemplary!
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bigsexyshaq wrote:
The best band there ever was, in at least SOME aspect.
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bigsexyshaq wrote:
The Lunceford Band's Sy Oliver was history's most interesting, and therefore, most underrated arranger. Strategizing where and how interest will be conveyed is ultimately the purpose of an arranger in popular music. Am I wrong here?
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bigsexyshaq wrote:
The finest non-Ellingtonian band there ever was!
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ron_zed wrote:
even two.
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bigsexyshaq wrote:
Certainly deserves ONE shout.
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Dragtar tagged Jimmie Lunceford with saxophone, big band, swing and one other tag. 18 days ago
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Groups (13)
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Swing Dancers
351 members
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Swing
660 members
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1920s and 1930s Jazz
399 members
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Modern Big Band and Swing
277 members
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Clifford Brown
62 members
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