Jazz Articles about Claude Hopkins

Claude Hopkins: Swing Time

by AAJ Staff
June 1, 1999

Bob Weinstock loved older jazz but rarely recorded it: apart from some Jimmy McPartland sides, the first decade of Prestige was strictly modern. In the late ‘Fifties he started to diversify: new labels were set up (including Swingville), and records were cut. The assembled roster was amazing: big stars (Coleman Hawkins, Pee Wee Russell) and overlooked swing masters (Budd Johnson, Tiny Grimes, Al Casey.) Claude Hopkins fits the latter category: popular bandleader in the ‘30s, he arranged for most of ...