Glenn Miller: Centenary Collection 1 auf 4 CDs

(December 1926 until June 1939)

During this Glenn Miller centenary year, AVID Entertainment are proud to announce a programme of five lavishly re-mastered 4CD Boxsets that document the story of the most popular bandleader of the twentieth century. Discs 1 & 2 of this collection cover Glenn Miller as sideman and his own early band sides before the days of commercial success. Discs 3 & 4 mark the start of the Victor recording contract.

Jazz aficionados who may dislike what they term as the 'smooth, commercial' sound of Miller will be in for a few surprises on this volume. The first 29 tracks feature Miller as a sideman in his formative years (1926-1937). Here we can admire him not only as an exceptionally fine trombonist but one who could turn his hand to arranging too. When bandleader Ray Noble arrived in New York in the mid-1930s, it was Glenn Miller who set about organising the band for the Englishman.

The majority of Disc 2 focuses on Glenn's early attempts to run a band on his own, starting with two 1935 studio band sides. The 1937 titles are by Miller's first organised road band though this unit failed commercially and broke up in January 1938. Undeterred, Miller reformed a band three months later featuring the immediately identifiable sound of the clarinet lead, which would become the unmistakable hall-mark of the famous Miller band. Even so, it took a further year of struggle before the big-time breakthrough came. Discs 3 & 4 are devoted to the first recordings for Victor, interspersed with 'live' performances, and marks the 'breakthrough' recording of his signature tune 'Moonlight Serenade' and 'Little Brown Jug' (his first hit). From April 1939 the 'live' performances are taken off-air from the prestigious Meadowbank Ballroom and the Glen Island Casino - Miller had definitely arrived.