Classical Fingerprints

Classical Fingerprints

From At the Jazz Band Ball by Kevin McLaughlin

November 29, 2025 · 59 min · Season 1 · Episode 41

About this episode

The episode explores the influence of classical music on jazz from the 1920s onwards.

"In a Mist": Jazz expanded its world with classical music beginning in the 1920s — borrowing attributes, techniques and sometimes making arrangements. Music : Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five: West End Blues (rec. 1928), Cornet Chop Suey (rec. 1926); Debussy: "Voile" Prelude Book 1, No. 2 (1910) (Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli); Bix Beiderbecke: In a Mist (1927); J.S. Bach 2-Part Invention No. 1 in C Major, BWV 772 (Angela Hewitt, piano); Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines Weather Bird , (rec. 1928); Summer Ridge Drive - Artie Shaw and His Gramercy Five (rec. 1940); Jelly-Roll Morton and His Red Hot Peppers Pontchartrain (1930); Jack Teagarden, Stars Fell On Alabama (rec. 1933); Duke Ellington & The Jungle Band Mood Indigo; John Kirby Sextet: Bounce of the Sugar Plum Fairy (rec. 1941), Lucia Sextet (rec. 1940), Mr. Haydn Gets Hip (1940); Raymond Scott: Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals (1937);

People in this episode

Host: Kevin McLaughlin

Topics covered

  • jazz
  • classical music
  • music history
  • arrangements
  • influence
  • 1920s

Keywords

  • jazz
  • classical music
  • Louis Armstrong
  • Bix Beiderbecke
  • Debussy
  • arrangements
  • music history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five, Earl Hines, His Red Hot Peppers, The Jungle Band, John Kirby Sextet

Books & works: West End Blues, Cornet Chop Suey, Voile, In a Mist, 2-Part Invention No. 1 in C Major, BWV 772, Weather Bird, Summer Ridge Drive, Pontchartrain, Stars Fell On Alabama, Mood Indigo

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