1944 Esquire All-American Jazz Concert


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1944 Esquire All-American Jazz Concert at the Metropolitan Opera House. Broadcast on NBC Blue and also AFRS as part of "One Night Stand." This was the first jazz concert at the Met and it probably wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been a War Bond Drive. (Admission was paid in War Bonds.) NY Times' article headline: "3,600 BUY BONDS AT JAZZ SESSION; $650,000 Raised for War by Sale of Tickets to Concert of Esquire's Band" It was also mentioned in Billboard http://books.google.com/books?id=gQwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT12 Musicians included Louis Armstrong, Mildred Bailey, Barney Bigard, Al Casey, Sid Catlett, Roy Eldridge, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, Red Norvo, Oscar Pettiford, Art Tatum, Jack Teagarden and Teddy Wilson. Any typo or error is mine.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.