Harry James & His Orchestra - Music Makers free for downloading

What about Red Rodney, Manny Klein, Sonny Berman, Cootie Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge, Max Kaminsky, Jonah Jones, or Rex Stewart?

anyone like the drummer? its my uncle for real. he ilved to be 93 years old. a good old boy from pittsaburgh pa.its great seeing him again

It cannot be denied. Our grandparents were much cooler, hipper, and more sophisticated than we can ever hope to be.

The King of the lead trumpets. What a sound! Juan, you forgot to mention the great Rafael Mendez as possibly the greatest of them all. I saw a special on Louie Armstrong a long time ago and he showed among his favorite LP's a Rafael Mendez special collection. My all time favorite? HarryJames, followed by Mies Davies.

How about Miles Davis or Bud Herseth

What about Charlie Spivak, Ziggy Elman or Bunny Berigan?

As a trumpet player myself, I would say Harry had the best tone....angelic. Mendez played like a machine gun, deadly accurate, but without a lot of feeling, IMO. Al Hirt was fabulous. Herseth is terrific, fifty years at the first chair of our Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Jonah Jones tone was a bit thin. Chet Baker played simply, softly, sang like a lonely child. Wynton also can play, but rather soulless. Doc Severinsen could play anything and I never heard him flub a note. Uncanny.

question: where do you think James ranks in the top big band trumpet players of his day.....1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. Maybe its just because I have not lisened to enough different palyers....but to me....he is the best horn player I ever heard.

In his time,nobody was better .He inspired more kids to take up trumpet playing than any other trumpet player.He is the most iconic trumpet player of his time.

What about Rafael Mendez(mexican) forget about Herp Albert Al Hirt, Harry James, Louis Armstrong, Freddie Hubbard, Chet Baker, Maynard Fergusson.LISTEN TO RAFAEL MENDEZ there are several you tube videos about him. Listen to him then lets talk about trumpet players

This is what I call riffy. Not a great deal of melody but lots of rhythm. you couldn't turn it into a song like you could with Melody Makers which is tune based rather than rhythm-based. Still a lot of run to listen to.

Anyone know when this was played? Neither my father nor I ever met him but my paternal grandfather played the French horn in Harry James’ band. I think he may be the French horn player who doesn’t stand up at 1:10. I’m trying to find some better images of him and it’s almost impossible.

This is a good example of progressive Jazz. I love it! Thanks for posting!