Harry James - Swing Session With Harry James

My Favorite Harry James release

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Apr 27, 2005

Pros: Proof that swing can be hard-hitting and powerful

Cons: Not available new, never offered digitally.

As a kid in the '60s, I grew up listening to my Dad play swing records. With the exception of "In the Mood" and a couple of Gene Krupa/Anita O'Day tracks, none of the songs ever made me sit up and take notice. Later in life, I heard... Benny Goodman's punchy version of "Sing, Sing Sing (with a Swing)" and it was as if I was hearing it for the first time--WOW! That's kinda cool! Then my father slipped me a copy of "Swing Session" on cassette. Suddenly I understood why my Dad flipped out over swing as a teenager in the '40s, and why "musicians always got the girls." Here was cutting edge stuff--edgy, powerful, innovative. Forget elevator music, this music is BOLD, SEXY and really shows off the immense skill and discipline necessary in playing great orchestral music. James's version of "Moten Swing" and "New Two o'Clock Jump" are the standout tracks. It's unfortunate that this mature, sophisticated, sonic powerhouse of an album is not available on CD. I wouldn't run into a burning building to save my cassette copy, but if I ever have to evacuate a flood, this recording will be in my pocket. This album begs for a remaster! I'd bet there are some kids a generation behind me who would also like the chance to discover how progressive and hip swing can really be! Read more Less