It could be said that in 1935, America’s Golden Age of Swing was born. Benny Goodman’s performances for capacity crowds of swing-dancers at Los Angeles’ Palomar Ballroom were broadcast on the radio to an audience hungry for this exciting dance music. Carnegie Hall and Town Hall presented spectacular jam sessions. Radio broadcasts from New York’s Swing Street sent the sounds of the Count Basie Orchestra nationwide. America was swinging!!

This is the musical world that welcomed three brilliant musicians, all in their 20’s: vibraphonist Red Norvo, trumpeter Bunny Berigan, and vibraphonist Lionel Hampton.

Red Norvo introduced Benny Goodman to the excitement of the clarinet/vibes combination on a 1933 record date. Berigan’s outstanding solos on Goodman’s first hit recordings of “Sometimes I’m Happy” and “King Porter Stomp” helped launch the Swing Era. Hampton joined Goodman’s group in their memorable Carnegie Hall concerts in 1938 and 1939 ----and the rest is history.

Cornetist Ed Polcer was fortunate to have played with both Red Norvo and Benny Goodman. Join Ed and his Swingtet on this Centennial tribute to the musical lives of Lionel, Red, and Bunny.