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Stompin' at the Savoy
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Wikipedia article
"'Stompin' at the Savoy'" is a 1933 jazz standard composed by Edgar Sampson. It is named after the famed Harlem nightspot the Savoy Ballroom in New York City.
History and composition
Although the song is credited to Benny Goodman, Chick Webb, Edgar Sampson, and Andy Razaf, it was written and arranged by Sampson, Rex Stewart's alto saxophonist. Sampson wrote the song when he was with Stewart's orchestra at the Empire Ballroom in 1933. It was used as the band's theme song until the band broke up, after which Sampson joined Webb's band, taking the song with him.McGee, Earl, "Neither Benny Nor Chuck Wrote Savoy?", 'DownBeat' '4': 4, p. 21 (April 1937). Both Webb and Goodman recorded it as an instrumental, Goodman's being the bigger hit. Lyrics were added by lyricist Andy Razaf.
Goodman's 1936 version is written in 32-bar song form with four 8-bar phrases arranged AABA. The A sections use a Db6, Ab9, Db6, Ddim, Ebm7, Ab7, Db, Db chord sequence. The B section phrases use a Gb9/G9, Gb9, B13/F#m6, B13, E9/F9, E9, A13, Ab13 chord sequence. The tempo is medium fast.
Chick Webbs recording rose to number ten on the charts in 1934. Two years later the piece charted by Ozzie Nelson and by Benny Goodman. Since becoming a jazz standard, the song has been recorded hundreds of times, including
by Judy Garland (1936), Charlie Christian (1941),Harrison et al, p. 1. Art Tatum (1941), Clifford Brown and Max Roach (1954), Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong (1956), Jim Hall (1957),Harrison et al, p. 160. Ahmad Jamal and Cal Tjader (1958),Harrison et al, p. 282. Sarah Vaughan (1964), the Boston Pops Orchestra (1991, under John Williams), and Nikki Yanofsky (with Herbie Hancock and will.i.am) (2007).
Other cover versions
* Karrin Allyson, 'Azure-T', 1995
* Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, 'Ella and Louis Again', 1957
* Ella Fitzgerald live, on her Ella at the Opera House album
* Clifford Brown and Max Roach, 'Brown and Roach Incorporated', 1954
* Eddie Daniels, 'Swing Low Sweet Clarinet', 1999
* Glenn Miller and the AAFB, V-Disc, 1944
* Esquire All Stars, 1944
* Benny Goodman, 1936
* Henri Salvador, Salvador plays the blues, 1959
* Anita O'Day, 'Pick Yourself Up with Anita O'Day', 1956
* Art Pepper, 'Modern Art', 1956
* Art Tatum, 'The Art Tatum Solo Masterpieces Volume 5', 1953
* Chick Webb, 1934
* Tony Glausi, 'My Favorite Tunes', 2020
* Harry Connick, Jr., 'When Harry Met Sally...', 1989
See also
*List of jazz standards (1930s)
Notes
References
*
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