Native American jazz artist Mildred Bailey (born Mildred Rinker) was swinging with Rhythm Boys Al Rinker (her brother) and Bing Crosby in Los Angeles in the late 1920s. She found them work when they moved there from Spokane and Crosby returned the favor by introducing her to Paul Whiteman. She was singing with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, the Casa Loma Orchestra, and Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in the early 1930s.
In 1933 she married xylophonist Red Norvo and the two formed their own band – which went recorded a steady stream of records with a veritable who’s who of 1930s jazz: Chu Berry, Teddy Wilson, Dick McDonough, Bunny Berigan, Johnny Hodges, Cozy Cole, Roy Eldridge, Zutty Singleton, Edmond Hall, Hank D’Amico, Charlie Shavers, and many others.
This tune’s a veritable jazz-bo anthem – but it was the flip side, the slower show tune “Small Fry”, that went to number 9 on the charts.
Recorded in New York City on June 29, 1938.
Released as Vocalion 4224.
Credits:
Mildred Bailey – vocals
Red Norvo – xylophone, director
Jimmy Blake, Zeke Zarchey, Barney Zudecoff – trumpet
Wes Hein – trombone
Hank d’Amico – clarinet
Len Goldtstein – alto sax
Jerry Jerome, Charles Lamphere – tenor sax
Bill Miller – piano
Alan Hanlon – guitar
Pete Peterson – bass
George Wettling – drums