Bebop’s Twin: Rhythm and Blues (1939 - 1951)

Some of the same forces that launched Bebop as a break from Big Band Swing, also fueled the birth of Rhythm and Blues—the rise of independent labels in the wake of the recording ban of 1942— 1944, the economic infeasibility of touring with 16-member orchestras, the decline of dance halls in the aftermath of the war, and the rise of juke boxes and radio as primary entertainment media. Bebop and R&B also shared the big bands as a common pool of musicians who used that platform to explore the harmonically-rich alternative to swing in bebop and the rhythmically propelled alternative in R&B.

Playlist

• Host Intro 0:00
• Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra. "The Jumpin' Jive" from Swing Time: Vol. 027, Lionel Hampton Groups (1939) (Encyclopedia of Jazz) 2:43
• Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra. "Flying Home" from Hamp the Legendary Decca Recordings (Decca Jazz) 5:55
• Host speaks 9:04
• Lucky Millinder and his Orchestra. "Apollo Jump" from Apollo Jump (Proper) 10:09
• Lucky Millinder and his Orchestra. "Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well?" from Lucky Millinder: 1943 -1947 (Classics) 13:33
• Host speaks 16:30
• Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. "You Run Your Mouth and I Run My Business" from Let the Good Times Roll (Bear Family) 21:48
• Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra. "You Run Your Mouth and I Run My Business" from Complete Decca Studio Master Takes 1940- 1949 (Definitive) 24:25
• Host speaks 27:25
• Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" from Let the Good Times Roll (Bear Family) 27:48
• Cootie Williams & His Orchestra. "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" from Bebop Story: Vol. 006, The Early Years Vol. 6 -Cootie Williams -Bud Powell—Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (1944) (Encyclopedia of Jazz) 30:30
• Host speaks 33:14
• Roy Milton & His Solid Senders. "Rhythm Cocktail" from Vol. 2: Groovy Blues (Specialty) 36:13
• Jimmy Liggins & His Drops Of Joy. "Now's the Time" from Jimmy Liggins & His Drops of Joy Vol. 2: Rough Weather Blues (Specialty) 38:34
• Host speaks 43:45
• Jimmy Forrest Quintet. "Night Train" from Night Train (Delmark) 46:23
• Host speaks 45:00
• Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" from Let the Good Times Roll (Bear Family) 51:30
• Host speaks 54:30
• Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. "Don't Worry 'Bout That Mule" from Let the Good Times Roll (Bear Family) 54:57
• Host Outro 57:24