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In A Mellow Tone
Wednesday September 10th, 2025 with Natalie McGrath
Battle of the Bands…Leaders

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
Interactive CKCU
Natalie McGrath (host)
Hey everyone! Had a lot of fun putting this show together. Hope you enjoy.

9:05 PM, September 10th, 2025
Ron Steeds
Great start Natalie! Looking forward to the show!

9:06 PM, September 10th, 2025
Heavy Ben
Hey Nat, fun vibes and a change of pace!

9:11 PM, September 10th, 2025
Natalie McGrath (host)
Really appreciate your positive vibes Ron and Ben! Been a minute since I did a little deep dive into jazz history

9:14 PM, September 10th, 2025
Satellite Birdhouse
Loving this playlist!!

10:20 PM, September 10th, 2025
Heavy Ben
Drake vs Kendrick 100 years ago

10:23 PM, September 10th, 2025
Natalie McGrath (host)
So true

10:37 PM, September 10th, 2025