Three from Jerry Gray and Band

Jerry Gray (1915-76) was one of the most significant arrangers of the swing period, working with the bands of Artie Shaw and Glenn Miller - for the latter both his civilian and Army Air Force ensembles.

Gray has not been featured here for many years, so I wanted to make amends by presenting three of his 10-inch Decca LPs from the early 1950s - two new transfers and one remaster from long ago.

A few words about Gray's career from a earlier post: "Gray first came to notice for Artie Shaw arrangements, including Shaw's biggest hit, 'Begin the Beguine.' Shaw, always ambivalent about fame, disbanded that particular group in 1939, and Gray went to Glenn Miller. He proceeded to write many of that band's iconic numbers - 'Pennsylvania 6-5000,' 'Sun Valley Jump' and 'A String of Pearls' - and arranged others - 'Chattanooga Choo-Choo,' 'Elmer's Tune' and 'Moonlight Cocktail.' Many people think he invented the clarinet-lead Miller sound ... Gray wasn't limited to that sound. His own identity was much more tied up with his compositions. His pattern was to start with a short melodic cell, repeat it, vary it, and then elaborate. If you are familiar with the Miller library, 'Pennsylvania 6-5000' is a good example of this pattern."

Jerry's band existed as a studio ensemble, radio orchestra and a road outfit, although the personnel could vary. The band was heard three time a week on the radio show Club 15 until early 1953.

These recordings show a tight ensemble with talented soloists and excellent arrangements, many of them Milleresque. 

In the Mood

Jerry was in effect Decca's entry in the great Glenn Miller revival sweepstakes, contending with such Miller influenced bands as Ralph Flanagan, Ray Anthony and Tex Beneke. For his first LP, Decca chose to lead off with one of the most famous Miller hits, "In the Mood." Ironically, Gray didn't arrange the song for the Miller band, but he had done so earlier for Shaw.

The LP also includes several standards along with two of Jerry's compositions. One is "A String of Pearls," among the greatest tunes of the swing era. Here, he even includes Bobby Hackett's famous trumpet chorus from the Miller record, transcribing it for reeds. The second Gray original is "Desert Serenade," his band's theme song. Also in the album is "Minuet in G," based on a Paderewski piece.

These recordings all come from 1950, soon after Gray started recording for Decca.

LINK to In the Mood

Dance Time with Jerry Gray

Many big bands in the early 50s were at pains to distance themselves from the progressive jazz bands such as that of Stan Kenton by calling themselves dance bands. There were dancers on the cover of the LP above, and for this 1953 offering the title (and murky cover) made the link explicit. 

The songs include three Gray originals - "Oh! So Good," "Solid as a Stone Wall, Jackson," which I believe he wrote for Miller, and "A Pair of Trumpets," which features Pete Candoli and Mickey Mangano. There are two numbers by Jimmy Valentine - "One Stop Boogie" and "Tompkins Cove," Jerry's famed arrangement of "Begin the Beguine," his gloss on Sibelius' "Valse Triste" and his chart for David Rose's  "Holiday for Strings," first heard with the Miller AAF band.

The recordings date from 1950-53.

LINK to Dance Time

A Tribute to Glenn Miller

In August 1951, Decca had Gray in the studio to record eight numbers that he had arranged for Glenn Miller. Unlike the LPs above - which are composed of items also released on singles or EPs - this album was first issued as a 10-inch LP (along with the usual variants of a 45-rpm box and 78-rpm album).

Four of the eight songs are Gray compositions - "Jeep Jockey Jump," "Flag Waver," "Introduction to a Waltz" and "V Hop." Drummer Don Lamond is the emphatic soloist on "Flag Waver."

The other selections are Handy's "St. Louis Blues," Kalmar and Ruby's "Who's Sorry Now?", Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth's "Shine On Harvest Moon" and Larry Clinton's "The Dipsy Doodle."

I transferred this material from my set of the 45s many years ago and have revisited the sound for this post.

LINK to A Tribute to Glenn Miller

Jerry Gray in the studio in the 1940s, with tenor sax Al Klink and
clarinetist Hymie Schertzer. The pianist may be Bob Curtis.