On this edition of In A Mellow Tone, host Natalie McGrath brings you Battle of the Bands…Leaders — a fresh twist on the classic bandstand showdown.
This session spotlights the famous rivalries and back-to-back brilliance between jazz’s greatest bandleaders, revealing how the theme of musical competition in jazz was a driving force that pushed some of the most iconic musicians to new heights in terms of challenging each other in styles, innovation, and showmanship.
| St. Louis Blues (Live at the Savoy Ballroom 1939) Chick Webb And His Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald - St. Louis Blues - Single |
| Stomping at the Savoy Chick Webb And His Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald - Stomping at the Savoy - Single - Columbia Records - 1934 |
| Undecided Chick Webb And His Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald - Undecided - Single - Decca Records - 1939 |
| Midnight In a Madhouse Chick Webb And His Orchestra - Midnight In a Madhouse - Single - ecca Records - 1937 |
| Sing Sing Sing Benny Goodman And His Orchestra - Sing Sing Sing - Single - RCA Victor Records - 1937 |
| Avalon Benny Goodman Quartet - Avalon - Single - RCA Victor Records - 1937 |
| All the Cats Join In Benny Goodman And His Orchestra - All the Cats Join In - Single - Columbia Records - 1946 |
| Begin the Beguine Artie Shaw And His Orchestra - Begin the Beguine - Single - RCA Victor Records - 1939 |
| Non Stop Flight Artie Shaw And His Orchestra - Non Stop Flight - Single - RCA Bluebird Records - 1938 |
| Any Old Time Artie Shaw And His Orchestra, Billie Holiday - Any Old Time - Single - RCA Bluebird Records - 1938 |
| In the Mood Glenn Miller And His Orchestra - In the Mood - Single - RCA Bluebird Records - 1939 |
| String of Pearls Glenn Miller And His Orchestra - String of Pearls - Single - RCA Bluebird Records - 1941 |
| Chattanooga Choo Choo - Sun Valley Serenade (1941) Glenn Miller And His Orchestra - Sun Valley Serenade Movie (1941) - 1941 |
| Moonlight Seranade Glenn Miller And His Orchestra - Moonlight Seranade - Single - RCA Bluebird Records - 1939 |
| No Two Words Nicholas Britell, Justin Hurwitz - Whiplash (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Lakeshore Records - 2014 |
| Good Job - He Was A Beautiful Player J.K. Simmons - Whiplash (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Lakeshore Records - 2014 |
| Summertime Charlie Parker - Charlie Parker with Strings - Mercury Records - 1950 |
| My Little Suede Shoes Charlie Parker - South of The Border - Mercury Records - 1952 |
| Salt Peanuts Dizzie Gillespie, Charlie Parker - Salt Peanuts - Single - Guild Records -1945 |
| Battle Royale Count Basie, Duke Ellington (and their orchestras) - First Time! The Count Meets the Duke - Columbia - 1961 |
| Wild Man - a.k.a. Wild Man Moore Count Basie, Duke Ellington (and their orchestras) - First Time! The Count Meets the Duke - Columbia - 1961 |
| One More Once Count Basie, Duke Ellington (and their orchestras) - First Time! The Count Meets the Duke - Columbia - 1961 |
| Corner Pocket (aka Until I Met You) Count Basie, Duke Ellington (and their orchestras) - First Time! The Count Meets the Duke - Columbia - 1961 |
| BDB (alternate take) Count Basie, Duke Ellington (and their orchestras) - First Time! The Count Meets the Duke - Columbia - 1961 |
| Segue in C Count Basie, Duke Ellington (and their orchestras) - First Time! The Count Meets the Duke - Columbia - 1961 |
| Blues in Hoss' Flat - Blues in Frankie's Flat Count Basie, Duke Ellington (and their orchestras)Count Basie, Duke Ellington (and their orchestras) - First Time! The Count Meets the Duke - Columbia - 1961 |
| Jumpin' at the Woodside Count Basie, Duke Ellington (and their orchestras) - First Time! The Count Meets the Duke - Columbia - 1961 |
| To You... Count Basie, Duke Ellington (and their orchestras) - First Time! The Count Meets the Duke - Columbia - 1961 |
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Hey everyone! Had a lot of fun putting this show together. Hope you enjoy.
9:05 PM, September 10th, 2025