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A new Night Lights show celebrates the legacy of swing for America’s Independence Day. A World War I era recording from James Reese Europe’s Hellfighters, a live performance of the short-lived Duke Ellington band theme that preceded “Take The A Train,” Woody Herman’s rendition of a Frank Zappa tune, and music from the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Machito, Count Basie and others all contribute to this patriotic panorama for the holiday. A Big Band Fourth of July

At the end of World War II bandleader Duke Ellington was coming off an artistic and commercial zenith, and he’d managed to keep most of his talented orchestra intact during the war years. But economic and cultural changes, along with stubbornly persistent racism, would challenge, provoke, and inspire Ellington as he continued to pursue his unique musical vision while working to stay financially viable. On A Turquoise Cloud: Duke Ellington After The War, 1945-47 features lesser-known Ellington compositions such as “Lady of the Lavender Mist,” “Magenta Haze,” and “Air-Conditioned Jungle,” as well as a Carnegie Hall concert performance of the atonal/stride-paino “The Clothed Woman,” singer Al Hibbler’s anthemic performance of “I Like the Sunrise” from The Liberian Suite, and one of the few recorded numbers from Ellington’s score for the failed Broadway musical Beggar’s Holiday. Historian and Ellington expert Michael McGerr offers insights into this period of Ellington’s career as well. The program airs tonight at 11:05 p.m. EST on WFIU, at 9 p.m. Central Time on WNIN-Evansville, and at 11 p.m. Central Time on Oklahoma Public Radio. It also airs Sunday evening at 10 p.m. EST on Michigan's Blue Lake Public Radio. It will be archived Monday morning at this link: On A Turquoise Cloud: Duke Ellington After The War, 1945-47 which also includes a clip of Ellington performing his "The Perfume Suite" in 1947, accompanied by a cast of dancing puppets that emerge from perfume bottles.

Last week’s Night Lights, a centennial tribute to arranger and composer Ralph Burns, is now up for online listening. It focuses on his early years with Woody Herman’s big bands and also includes sides made with Charlie Barnet, Serge Chaloff, Sam Donahue, Lee Konitz, and Ben Webster. Midcentury Maestros: Ralph Burns

Last week's Night Lights show, which draws on the recent Mosaic set of Woody Herman's recordings for Decca, MGM, and Mars, and which includes commentary from set annotator Jeff Sultanof, is now up for online listening: Woody Herman's Trip To Mars

This past week’s Night Lights show focused on Duke Ellington’s weekly broadcasts to help sell war bonds for the U.S. government while World War II remained underway in the Pacific. It includes some little-known Ellington compositions and unusual arrangements, as well as several of Ellington’s promotional spots for war-bond sales and some news bulletins that occasionally broke into the broadcasts: “The Duke Is On The Air”: Duke Ellington’s Summer 1945 Treasury Shows

Last week's Night Lights show is now up for online listening--a musical survey of Parker's performances with big bands ranging from Jay McShann to Stan Kenton: Big Band Bird: Charlie Parker With The Big Bands Coming up this week: "The Durable Kenny Dorham."

The most recent Night Lights show is now up for online listening--a look at the big-band little bands led by Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, Gene Krupa and others: The Big Bands’ Little Bands

Top 'o the day to youse, Phantom Dancers, This is the first post on Organissimo about The Phantom Dancer, 2 hours of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV every Tuesday at 12 noon AEST (+11GMT) on 107.3 2SER Sydney and 2ser.com. On the air since 1985 and presented by 1920s-30s singer, Greg Poppleton. This Tuesday's Phantom Dancer, 12 noon 107.3 2SER Sydney, online at 2ser.com, and on over 30 stations of the Community Radio Network, brings to your eager ears live 1920s-60s radio by John Kirby and his Sextet, the Johnny Guanieri Quintet, that 1935 Congress Hotel broadcast of Sandman by the Benny Goodman Orchestra we missed out on playing last Tuesday, a couple of songs by Mildred Bailey and loads more. You can see the full play list and this week's Phantom Dancer Video of the Week on Greg Poppleton's Radio Lounge Blog http://gregpoppleton.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/stars-in-jazz-tv-show-jack-teagarden-phantom-dancer-show-4-march-2014/ This week's video is Jack Teagarden and his All-Stars on a 'Stars In Jazz' TV Show, Los Angeles TV, 1956. The host is singer, Bobby Troup, lyricist for the songs Route 66 and My City Of Sydney. And all the great 50s ads are intact! Enjoy.