Jimmie Lunceford—”For Dancers Only” (1937)

Alto saxophonist and bandleader Jimmie Lunceford made a great reputation at the Cotton Club in 1934 with powerful swinging hot style in arrangements by Will Hudson and trumpeter Sy Oliver. Oliver did much to form the band’s style and identity. This is Oliver’s arrangement of his own composition “For Dancer’s Only,” recorded for Decca in New York on June 15, 1937, featuring alto saxophonist Willie Smith and trumpeter Freddie Webster.

Jimmie Lunceford and his Orchestra: Jimmie Lunceford directing Eddie Tompkins, Paul Webster, and Sy Oliver-trumpets; Elmer Crumbley, Russell Bowles and Eddie Durham-trombones; Willie Smith and Ed Brown-alto saxes; Dan Grissom and Joe Thomas-tenor saxes; Earl Carruthers-baritone sax. All reed men -- except Brown -- doubled on clarinet. The rhythm section was formed by Edwin Wilcox-piano; Al Norris-guitar; Moses Allen-double bass; and Jimmy Crawford-drums.

James Melville Lunceford (1902-1947) had studied music in Colorado under Wilberforce Whiteman, father of orchestra leader Paul Whiteman. Jimmy began his musical career playing several instruments in local groups, before forming the nucleus of his own band with fellow students of Fisk University in 1929.

When some of the original members of his band were graduated from Fisk, the musicians were ready for travel. Moving east to Buffalo, the band made slow but steady progress. Then in 1934, Jimmy Lunceford’s orchestra was engaged for the famous Cotton Club in New York City, where the sophisticated show band skyrocketed to fame.

In the Spring of the following year, Lunceford was the first bandleader who regularly employed a 5-men reed section -- a few years before other bands could economically or musically afford to do so.