
METRONOME AND ESQUIRE ALL-STARS
Current Episode
SSRH 852
October 3, 2026
Celebrating America 250
THE METRONOME AND ESQUIRE ALL-STARS
PART 3
Esquire All-American Jazz Concert
(Selections Issued For V-Disc)
January 16, 1946
Ritz Theatre
New York, New York
(ABC) (WJZ)
Orson Welles, host
Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra
Woody Herman and his Orchestra
Metronome All-Star Band
Columbia Recording Session
December 15, 1946
New York, New York
Charlie Shavers (trumpet), Lawrence Brown (trombone), Johnny Hodges (alto sax), Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax), Harry Carney (baritone sax), Nat King Cole (piano, vocal), Bob Ahern (guitar), Eddie Safranski (string bass), Buddy Rich (drums), Frank Sinatra and June Christy (vocals), Sy Oliver (arranger)
Metronome All-Star Band
Capitol Recording Session
December 21, 1947
New York, New York
Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Bill Harris (trombone), Buddy DeFranco (clarinet), Flip Phillips (tenor sax), Nat King Cole (piano), Bill Bauer (guitar), Eddie Safranski (string bass), Buddy Rich (drums), Pete Rugolo (arranger)
Same Session, with Stan Kenton and his Orchestra
Metronome All-Star Band
RCA Victor Recording Session
January 3, 1949
Studio #2
New York, New York
Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro, Miles Davis (trumpet), Kai Winding, J. J. Johnson (trombone), Buddy DeFranco (clarinet), Charlie Parker (alto saxophone), Charlie Ventura (tenor saxophone), Ernie Caceres (baritone saxophone), Lennie Tristano (piano), Bill Bauer (guitar), Eddie Safranski (string bass), Shelly Manne (drums), George Simon (producer)
Metronome All-Stars
Columbia Recording Session
January 10, 1950
New York, New York
Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Kai Winding (trombone), Buddy DeFranco (clarinet), Lee Konitz (alto saxophone), Stan Getz (tenor saxophone), Segre Chaloff (baritone saxophone), Lennie Tristano (piano, arranger), Billy Bauer (guitar), Eddie Safranski (string bass), Max Roach (drums), Pete Rugolo (arranger)
Metronome All-Stars
Capitol Recording Session
January 23, 1951
New York, New York
Miles Davis (trumpet), Kai Winding (trombone), John LaPorta (clarinet), Lee Konitz (alto saxophone), Stan Getz (tenor saxophone), Serge Chaloff (baritone saxophone), Terry Gibbs (vibraphone), George Shearing (piano, arranger), Billy Bauer (guitar), Eddie Safranski (string bass), Max Roach (drums), Ralph Burns (arranger)
Billy Eckstine and the Metronome All-Stars
MGM Recording Session
July 9, 1953
New York, New York
Roy Eldridge (trumpet), Kai Winding (trombone), John LaPorta (clarinet), Wayne Marsh, Lester Young (tenor saxophones), Teddy Wilson (piano), Terry Gibbs (vibraphone), Billy Bauer (guitar), Eddie Safranski (string bass), Max Roach (drums), Billy Eckstine (vocals)
Metronome All-Stars 1956
Clef Recording Session
June 18, 1956
New York, New York
Thad Jones (trumpet), Eddie Bert (trombone), Tony Scott (clarinet), Lee Konitz (alto saxophone) Zoot Sims, Al Cohn (tenor saxophones), Serge Chaloff (baritone saxophone), Teddy Charles (vibraphone), Billy Taylor (piano), Tal Farlow (guitar), Charles Mingus (string bass), Art Blakey (drums)
Playlist
(49-01-03) (D9VB 0022-1, RCA Victor 20-3361) Victory Ball (short take), (D9VB 0022-3, RCA Victor LEJ-10) Victory Ball, (D9VC 1001-3, RCA Victor LPV-519) Victory Ball (long take) (46-12-15) (46-12-15) (CO 37177-1, Columbia 37293, V-Disc 754) Sweet Lorraine (Frank Sinatra, vocal), (CO 37177-2, Columbia 37293) Sweet Lorraine (Frank Sinatra, vocal), (CO 37177-3, Unissued) Sweet Lorraine (Frank Sinatra, vocal), Sweet Lorraine Breakdowns, (CO-37178-1, Columbia 37293, V-Disc 754) Nat Meets June (Nat King Cole and June Christy, vocal), (CO-37178-2, Columbia 37293) Nat Meets June (Nat King Cole and June Christy, vocal), (CO-37178-3, Unissued) Nat Meets June (Nat King Cole and June Christy, vocal), (CO-37178-4, Unissued) Nat Meets June (Nat King Cole and June Christy, vocal), Nat Meets June Breakdown and Chatter (47-12-21) (2933-4, Capitol 15039) Leap Here, (2934-4, Capitol 2417 and 15039) Metronome Riff (Pete’s Riff) (with Stan Kenton) (46-01-16) (JDS 25 – D6TC 5076, V-Disc 617 A) Spoken Introduction by Leonard Feather, Esquire Swank (Duke Ellington), (JDS 26 – D5YC 5071, V-Disc 617-B) Mean To Me, Caldonia (Woody Herman, vocal) (Woody Herman), (JDS 66 – B 45213, V-Disc 648-A) Spoken Introduction by Leonard Feather, Blowing Up A Storm (Woody Herman) (JDS 67 – B 45217, V-Disc 648-B) Jackson Fiddles While Ralph Burns (with Red Norvo, vibraphone) (Woody Herman), C Jam Blues (Duke Ellington and Woody Herman) (50-01-10) (CO 42629-1A, Columbia 38734) Double Date, (CO 42630-1A, Columbia 38734) No Figs (53-07-09) (53S507/508, MGM E3176) How High the Moon (Parts 1-2) (Billy Eckstine, vocal), (53S509/510, MGM E3176, St. Louis Blues (Parts 1-2) (56-06-18) (11740-3, Clef MGC743) Billie’s Bounce

Authentic Sounds of the Big Band Era
Firstly, The Star-Spangled Radio Hour is the best big band podcast in existence. Moreover, it is Inspired by the book Star Spangled Radio by Col. Ed Kirby and Col. Jack Harris, honoring the radio broadcasting achievements of the Armed Forces during World War II. Therefore, Dennis Spragg, author of Glenn Miller Declassified, joins legendary Denver radio personality Rick Crandall on the Star-Spangled Radio Hour for a widely acclaimed weekly presentation of original popular music and jazz broadcasts. Likewise, the podcasts feature the highest-quality source materials, with insights, and details about a special era in American musical history. Therefore, bands that regularly appear include Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Harry James, and Duke Ellington. Meanwhile, popular singers including Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore and Jo Stafford also appear on Star-Spangled Radio Hour broadcasts.

Original Broadcasts in High Fidelity
Consequently, since April 2010, The Star-Spangled Radio Hour is the most popular big band program available in the world. Moreover, it is the weekly “go to” spot for big band enthusiasts. We present original broadcasts tastefully and accurately in mint audio condition. our production standards and documentation are second to none. Likewise, we are pleased to offer a year of archived Star-Spangled Radio Hour episodes streaming here. In conclusion, please click each episode for details and to listen:
2026 Podcasts
2025 Podcasts
By Request, 2010-2024
All Star-Spangled Radio Hour Legacy Podcasts and Broadcasts from 2010 through 2024 — Episodes 1 to 760 — are available by request. If you have a favorite, please let me know and I will add it to the “Requests” Playlist. Thank you for your support and interest in the Star-Spangled Radio Hour.
