José Melis and His Latin-American Ensemble - Piano Classics – The South American Way (1947)

"Moonlight Sonata" by José Melis and His Latin-American Ensemble

When Jack Paar took over Tonight, he brought on his good friend from USO days José Melis to be the show's musical director. They had worked together, with the same job dynamic, previously on both radio and television. Alongside his career beginnings as a musical director after World War II, Melis recorded instrumental singles with Mercury Records, first packaged together as an album and released in 1947 as Piano Classics – The South American Way. (The album and other contemporary singles were re-released in 1952 as a proper LP rather than just a set of 7"s.)

On the heels of the Good Neighbor Policy and a boom in popular Latin Orchestras in the United States, José Melis mixes his classical training with Latin rhythms (as the album's title implies.) On the six songs that make up the first album's release, the "South American Way" is driven just as much by the continual conga rhythm and bass as by Melis on the piano. It feels like the conga drums often force Melis away from his classical comforts into syncopation and staccato touches. Still, the piano arrangements do their part to make the genre mix work while also showing off Melis's virtuosity.

It's on the later singles (that appear on the re-release) where the piano arrangements take Melis's virtuosity to vaudevillian levels. The piano also takes over for the drums as the crucible for genre mixing, this time adding a sprinkle of jazz to the blend. The jazz, though, is mostly found on the aftertaste of the arrangement, the spare saxophone or guitar, and not from the piano itself—unless you mistake tasteful flourishes for jazz. The recordings as a whole are a fine dish of skill mixed in such a bland way as to not be any flavor in particular. Though, with all those runs, you'd expect there to have been a little more heat.

Here is the discography surrounding José Melis's debut album:

Hungarian Dance No. 6 (1946 single with His Latin-American Ensemble)

Hungarian Rhapsody (1946 single with His Latin-American Ensemble)

Prelude in G Minor (1946 single with His Latin-American Ensemble)

Stardust (1947 single with His Latin-American Ensemble)

Piano Classics – The South American Way

Eli Eli (1947 single)

Cumana (1947 single with His Orchestra)

Don't Call It Love (1947 single with His Orchestra)

Pasion Oriental (1947 single with His Orchestra)

Tamanaco (1951 single)

The Hour of Parting (1952 single)

Piano Classics - The South American Way (1952 album re-release)

Run Away (1954 single)

José Melis Interprets the Classics the South American Way (compilation album with His Latin-American Ensemble)

"Anitra's Dance" by José Melis and His Latin-American Ensemble

"Pasion Oriental" by José Melis and His Orchestra

"Keyboard Kapers" by José Melis and His Latin-American Ensemble

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Bobby Byrne and His New Orchestra - Movie Parade (1947)

"How Many Times" by Bobby Byrne and His Orchestra

From radio to television, Steve Allen hosted a version of The Steve Allen Show. His first namesake show on television was an 11 a.m. CBS program that premiered in 1950 and only lasted a couple of years. After cancellation, Steve Allen took the rest of 1952 and 1953 to further build his national reputation, jumping between networks, with other television hosting gigs and guest appearances. NBC finally gave him another shot at his The Steve Allen Show: this time as a comedy-driven talk show, Monday through Friday at 11:15 p.m. and only New York local. Bobby Byrne and His Orchestra performed as The Steve Allen Show's resident band.

Bobby Byrne formed his first orchestra at the young age of 21 under the mentorship of clarinetist and Big Band leader Jimmy Dorsey. As a teenager, Byrne's impressive trombone play got him his first professional work with the feuding Dorsey Brothers, filling in for Tommy Dorsey when he refused to perform with Jimmy. Bobby continued to play with Jimmy Dorsey after the two brothers finally split and formed their own competing Swing orchestras. Byrne would soon do the same and form his own orchestra with the Dorsey Brothers formula: danceable and brass-heavy arrangements, pleasant singers and with either the trombone or clarinet taking up solos.

Although the respective Dorseys and Glenn Miller would have greater success with popular Big Band (thanks to better arrangements, hotter jazz or more popular singers depending on who you listen to,) Bobby Byrne and His Orchestra is worth listening to simply for Bobby Byrne. His solos, often opening any particular recording, are catching in their precision and smooth timbre.

The Orchestra wouldn't make it through World War II as band members kept getting drafted and Bobby himself would join the Army Air Corps in 1943. He would reform the band in 1945 and record a handful more singles with Cosmo Records, but the lagging call for Big Bands (as smaller units became more popular and financially practical) saw Byrne have to rethink his model. He zagged by forming a bigger New Orchestra!—the difference being the addition of a string section. Bobby Byrne and His New Orchestra recorded a couple of singles and Byrne's debut album Movie Parade, a collection of movie themes, released in 1947 on Rainbow Records.

The arrangements are string forward and not too different from their original arrangements but for the odd presence of a trombone, either soloing the melody or overlaying the composition as an apparent afterthought.

Bobby Byrne would go back to the Big Band format in 1949 but this time in a lineup favoring woodwinds and the French Horn. He was finally out of the shadows of the Dorseys. It was Bobby Byrne and His Orchestra at their best and most unique! That is...according to the critics of the time; the best version of Bobby's Orchestra didn't record.

Here is the discography surrounding Bobby Byrne and His Orchestra:

How Many Times (1939 single)

One Cigarette for Two (1939 single)

Speaking of Heaven (1939 single)

Two Little Doodle Bugs (1939 single)

Barnyard Cakewalk (1940 single)

Busy as a Bee (I'm Buzz, Buzz, Buzzin') (1940 single)

'Deed I Do (1940 single)

Easy Does It (1940 single)

Maria Elena (1940 single)

Maybe (1940 single)

Orchids for Remembrance (1940 single)

The Right Time (1940 single)

Slow Freight (1940 single)

That's for Me (1940 single)

Trade Winds (1940 single)

When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano (1940 single)

Brazilian Nuts (1941 single)

Do I Worry? (1941 single)

Down, Down, Down (What a Song) (1941 single)

I Found a Million Dollar Baby (In a Five and Ten Cent Store) (1941 single)

I Guess I'll Have to Dream the Rest (1941 single)

If It's True (1941 single)

It's You Again (1941 single)

Music Makers (1941 single)

Two Hearts That Pass in the Night (1941 single)

You Walk By (1941 single)

The Angelus Rings Again (1942 single)

Now and Forever (1942 single)

Hymn to the Sun (1946 single)

Ridin' on a Summer Afternoon (1946 single)

Take Me Back to Little Rock, Arkansas (1946 single)

This Is Always (1946 single)

Take It Slow, Taste the Vanilla (1946 single)

Buttered Roll (1947 single with His New Orchestra)

Movie Parade

Upper Fifth Avenue (1947 single with His New Orchestra)

Movie Parade by Bobby Byrne and His New Orchestra

"Hey Bobby!" by Bobby Byrne and His Orchestra

"I Guess I'll Have to Dream the Rest" by Bobby Byrne and His Orchestra

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Jimmie Davis - Souvenir Album (1947)

"You Are My Sunshine" by Jimmie Davis

Leon Chappelear and the Shelton Brothers broke up after only a couple of years due to creative differences.  The Sheltons ended up performing with Jimmie Davis for a time in his backing band.  Jimmie Davis started recording in 1928 and released his "debut album" Souvenir Album in 1947 on Decca Records.

Here is the discography surrounding Jimmie Davis's debut album:

Ramona (1928 single)

You'd Rather Forget Than Forgive (1928 single)

The Barroom Message (1929 single)

Out of Town Blues (1930 single)

Doggone That Train (1930 single)

My Louisiana Girl (1930 single)

Settling Down for Life (1930 single)

Arabella Blues (1931 single)

In Arkansas (1931 single)

Penitentiary Blues (1931 single)

I'll Be Happy Today (1931 single)

There's Evil in Ye Children, Gather 'round (1931 single)

She Left a Runnin' Like a Sewing Machine (1931 single)

Midnight Blues (1931 single)

Get on Board, Aunt Susan (1931 single)

Down at the Old Country Church (1932 single)

My Arkansas Sweetheart (1932 single)

Red Nightgown Blues (1932 single)

I'll Get Mine Bye and Bye (1932 single)

1982 Blues (Davis' Last Day Blues) (1932 single)

High Behind Blues (1932 single)

Cowboy's Home Sweet Home (1932 single)

You Can't Tell About the Women Nowadays (1932 single)

Home in Caroline (1932 single)

Tom Cat and Pussy Blues (1933 single)

Gambler's Return (1933 single)

Yo Yo Mama (1933 single)

The Keyhole in the Door (1933 single)

When It's Round-Up Time in Heaven (1933 single)

Would You (1934 single)

Beautiful Texas (1934 single)

You've Been Tom Cattin' Around (1934 single)

There Ain't Gonna Be No Afterwhile (1934 single)

Triflin' Mama Blues (1934 single)

It's Been Years (Since I've Seen My Mother) (1934 single)

Good Time Papa Blues (1934 single)

Jellyroll Blues (1935 single)

When It's Round-Up Time in Heaven (1935 single)

Moonlight and Skies (No. 2) (1935 single)

Are You Tired of Me Darling? (1935 single with Buddy Jones)

The Answer to Nobody's Darling But Mine (1936 single)

Bed Bug Blues (1936 single)

In My Cabin Tonight (1936 single)

'Twill Be Sweet When We Meet (1936 single with Buddy Jones)

My Blue Bonnet Girl (1936 single)

Come on Over to My House (Ain't Nobody Home But Me) (1936 single)

Don't Say Goodbye If You Love Me (1936 single)

The Greatest Mistake of My Life (1937 single)

That's Why I'm Nobody's Darling (1937 single)

High Geared Daddy (1937 single)

I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (1937 single)

Pi-Rootin' Around (1937 single)

Honky Tonk Blues (1937 single)

Just Forgive and Forget (1937 single)

Jimmie's Travelin' Blues (1937 single)

Sweet Lorene (1937 single)

Nobody's Darlin' But Mine (1937 single)

There's a Gold Mine in the Sky (1938 single)

By the Grave of Nobody's Darling (My Darling's Promise) (1938 single)

Shackles and Chains (1938 single)

Goodbye Old Booze (1938 single)

Call Me Back Pal O' Mine (1938 single)

Just a Girl That Men Forget (1938 single)

There's a Ranch in the Rockies (1938 single)

Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland (1938 single)

It Makes No Difference Now (1938 single)

You Tell Me Your Dream I'll Tell You Mine (1938 single)

I'm Drifting Back to Dreamland (1939 single)

What Good Will It Do (1939 single)

Memories (1939 single)

I've Tried So Hard to Forget You (1939 single)

Down at the End of Memory Lane (1939 single)

In My Heart You'll Always Be Mine (1939 single)

The Last Letter (1939 single)

Leanin' on the Old Top Rail (1939 single)

Two More Years (And I'll Be Free) (1939 single)

Why Do You Treat Me Like the Dirt Under Your Feet (1939 single)

Why Should I Care (1939 single)

What Else Can I Do (1940 single)

Your Promise Was Broken (1940 single)

You Are My Sunshine (1940 single)

Baby Your Mother (Like She Babied You) (1940 single)

There's a Chill on the Hill Tonight (1940 single)

Why Should I Be to Blame (1940 single)

I Feel the Same as You (1940 single)

I'm Waiting for Ships That Never Come In (1940 single)

You're My Darling (1940 single)

On the Sunny Side of the Rockies (1940 single)

I'm Sorry Now (1941 single)

Too Late (1941 single)

I'll Be True to the One I Love (1941 single)

The Prisoner's Song (1941 single)

I Hung My Head and Cried (1941 single)

Pay Me No Mind (1941 single)

Won't You Forgive Me? (1941 single)

Sweetheart of the Valley (1941 single)

Tears on My Pillow (1942 single)

You'll Be Sorry (1942 single)

The End of the World (1942 single)

Live and Let Live (1942 single)

Don't You Cry Over Me (1942 single)

Plant Some Flowers by My Grave (1942 single)

A Sinner's Prayer (1942 single)

Walkin' My Way Blues (1943 single)

Is It Too Late Now (1944 single)

There's a New Moon Over My Shoulder (1944 single)

No Good for Nothin' (1944 single)

Grievin' My Heart Out for You (1945 single)

Wave to Me, My Lady (1946 single)

Bang Bang (1946 single)

I Just Dropped In to Say Goodbye (1947 single)

I'm Only in the Way (1947 single)

Souvenir Album

Golden Curls (1948 single)

Rockin' Blues (compilation album)

Barnyard Stomp (compilation album)

The Jimmie Davis Collection 1929-47 (compilation album)

"You Won't Be Satisfied That Way" by Jimmie Davis

"Out of Town Blues" by Jimmie Davis

"My Louisiana Girl" by Jimmie Davis

"The Davis Limited" by Jimmie Davis

"Nobody's Darlin' But Mine" by Jimmie Davis

"'Twill Be Sweet When We Meet" by Jimmie Davis and Buddy Jones

"You Told Me a Lie" by Jimmie Davis

"Wave to Me, My Lady" by Jimmie Davis

"Bang Bang" by Jimmie Davis

"Atlanta, Georgia" by Jimmie Davis

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Charlie Parker - The Chronological Classics: Charlie Parker 1945-1947 (1947)

"Bird's Nest" by the Charlie Parker Quartet


From Diz to Bird, Charlie Parker played alto saxophone with The Quintet and was a frequent collaborator of Dizzy Gillespie's.  He is spoken of as the most formative influence in the development of bebop jazz.

Here is the discography surrounding Charlie Parker's debut recordings:

The Complete Birth of the Bebop (1937-1945 recordings)
Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945 (1945 live recordings)
Warming Up a Riff (1945 single with The Be Bop Boys)
Billie's Bounce (1945 single with his Ree Boppers)
Now's the Time (1945 single with his Ree Boppers)
The Complete Savoy Sessions Volume 1 (1944-1945) (1944-1945 recordings)
The Complete Savoy Sessions Volume 2 (1945) (1945 recordings)
Yardbird Suite (1946 single with his Septet)
A Night in Tunisia (1946 single with his Septet)
Yardbird in Lotus Land (1946 live recordings)
Jazz at the Philharmonic (1946 live recordings)
Lover Man (1946 single with his Quintet)
Charlie Parker on Dial Volume 1 (1946-1947 recordings)
Bird's Nest (1947 single with his Quartet)
Cool Blues (1947 single with his Quartet)
Relaxin' at Camarillo (1947 single with his All Stars)
Cheers (1947 single with his All Stars)
Chasin' the Bird (1947 single with his All Stars)
Charlie Parker on Dial Volume 2 (1947 recordings)
Donna Lee (1947 single with his All Stars)
The Complete Savoy Sessions Volume 3 (1947 recordings)
The Chronological Classics: Charlie Parker 1945-1947

"Ko-Ko" by the Charlie Parker Quintet


"Live at Town Hall, NYC, June 22, 1945" by Dizzy Gillespie & Charlie Parker


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Bud Powell - The Chronological Classics: Bud Powell 1945-1947 (1947)

"Indiana" by The Bud Powell Trio


Bud Powell was the pianist with The Quintet.  His earliest recordings of note are collected in The Chronological Classics: Bud Powell 1945-1947.  Max Roach (also of The Quintet) can be heard playing drums as a member of The Bud Powell Trio, Bud's first stint as a recorded band leader.  (Note: As usual for older jazz musicians, I go to the Chronological Classics well for a pretty thorough summation of their recorded body of work).

Here is the discography surrounding Bud Powell's debut recordings:

The Chronological Classics: Bud Powell 1945-1947
I'll Remember April (1949 single)
Indiana (1949 single)
Somebody Loves Me (1949 single)
I Should Care (1949 single)

"I'll Remember April" by The Bud Powell Trio


"I Should Care" by The Bud Powell Trio


"Nice Work if You Can Get It" by The Bud Powell Trio


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Oscar Peterson - The Chronological Classics: Oscar Peterson 1945-1947 (1947)

"Oscar's Boogie" by Oscar Peterson


In the early fifties, Oscar Peterson collaborated with Fred Astaire for The Astaire Story, a collection of modern jazz retellings of every notable song in his recording history.  The Chronological Classics: Oscar Peterson 1945-1947 (a recurring label on this blog because they're the best at collecting nearly complete jazz discographies) collects Oscar Peterson's earliest recordings that helped to make his name in the jazz world.

Here is the discography surrounding Oscar Peterson's debut album:

The Chronological Classics: Oscar Peterson 1945-1947

"The C Jam Blues" by Oscar Peterson


"I Got Rhythm" by Oscar Peterson


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Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan - Great Master Great Voice (1947)

"Raga Multani" by Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan


Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan, or Deaf Wahid Khan, is a Hindustani classical singer.  With his brother-in-law Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, he founded the Kirana gharana (of which Pandit Pran Nath was a student).  He refused to have his voice recorded out of fear or imitators, but All India Radio music producer Jivan Lal Mattoo secretly recorded a 1947 radio performance to document his style.  Wahid Khan died in 1949.

Here is the complete discography for Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan:

Great Master Great Voice
Raga Darbari Kanada

"Raga Patdip" by Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan


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