Jazz Club USA #01

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Jazz Club USA #01

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Original Air Date: May 12, 2026
Host: Leonard Feather (original show), presented via Harold's Old Time Radio

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Episode Overview

This inaugural episode of "Jazz Club USA," originally hosted by the renowned jazz critic and composer Leonard Feather, transports listeners back to the golden age of radio. The show offers both studio recordings and live, on-location performances from legendary jazz venues, giving an authentic taste of the era's musical culture. The episode highlights styles from Dixieland to swing, boogie woogie to bebop, and features celebrated artists such as Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Phil Napoleon, Ruth Kraus, and the Errol Garner Trio.

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Key Discussion Points & Musical Highlights

1. Show Introduction & Purpose

• Timestamp: 00:27
  • Leonard Feather welcomes listeners:

    "Greetings and modulations, friends. This is your host, Leonard Feather, inviting you to join our ringside table at Jazz Club USA." (Leonard Feather, 00:33)

  • Outlines the show’s mission to present jazz in all its forms and to feature live club performances as well as studio recordings.

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2. Opening Performance: Count Basie & Benny Goodman – “Mad Boog”

• Timestamp: 02:17
  • The episode kicks off with “Mad Boog,” a lively collaboration recorded during a broadcast with Count Basie performing alongside the Benny Goodman Orchestra. The segment encapsulates the energy of live swing music.

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3. Exclusive Preview: Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn – “C Jam Blues”

• Timestamp: 04:21
  • Feather introduces a rare, unreleased piano duet between Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, created spontaneously at the end of a recording session:

    “Duke decided to make use of the extra 20 minutes of studio time... they recorded four completely ad libbed piano duets.” (Leonard Feather, 04:35)

  • The chosen track, "C Jam Blues," is described as showcasing the creative spontaneity and virtuosity of the two legends.

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4. Jazz Innovation: Dizzy Gillespie with Strings – “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”

• Timestamp: 08:26
  • Feather discusses the emerging trend of jazz soloists blending with string and woodwind arrangements. Dizzy Gillespie’s rendition, uniquely arranged by Johnny Richards, stands out for its unusual instrumentation:

    “You’ll hear Dizzy’s trumpet and his vocal in this very unusual arrangement... ten strings, no saxes or trumpets, four woodwinds, rhythm and conga drums.” (Leonard Feather, 08:33)

  • The song moves from contemplation to exuberance, exemplifying jazz's capacity for reinvention.

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5. On-the-Scene at Cafe Society, Greenwich Village

• Timestamp: 11:45
  • The show transitions to a live club setting at New York's famed Cafe Society nightclub.
  • Phil Napoleon, veteran trumpeter, greets the audience:

    “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Cafe Society Downtown. It's showtime.” (Phil Napoleon, 12:20)

a. Phil Napoleon & The Memphis Five – “Marlenberg Joys”

• Timestamp: 12:20
  • A spirited Dixieland performance, demonstrating the style’s enduring appeal.

b. Kazoo Solo: Tony Spargo

• Timestamp: 16:13
  • Leonard Feather highlights an unusual kazoo solo by the band's drummer, Tony Spargo:

    “That’s really not a musical instrument, but a sort of modern version of the old comb and paper idea that children like to play with.” (Leonard Feather, 16:13)

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6. Vocal Feature: Ruth Kraus – “That Old Black Magic”

• Timestamp: 17:37
  • Ruth Kraus is introduced as an exceptional new vocal talent:

    “What we think is one of finest little gal singers we've heard in a long time...” (Phil Napoleon, 17:37)

  • Delivers an expressive, swinging rendition of “That Old Black Magic”—a highlight of the night.

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7. Pianist Spotlight: The Errol Garner Trio – “Lover”

• Timestamp: 22:05
  • Presented by workshop emcee Phil Napoleon and introduced by Leonard Feather:

    “This is actually the Errol Garner Trio. The other two members being John Simmons on bass and Shadow Wilson on drums.” (Leonard Feather, 22:23)

  • The trio’s interpretation of “Lover” showcases Garner’s innovative piano style and the trio’s cohesive interplay.

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8. Dixieland Finale: Phil Napoleon’s Group – “South Rampart Street Parade”

• Timestamp: 26:55
  • The Memphis Five returns with a lively interpretation of this Bob Crosby classic, wrapping up the live club segment.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Leonard Feather’s commitment to jazz education:

  • “If there's any particular artist you'd like to hear on Jazz Club usa, any questions you want to ask about the American musical scene, just drop us a line.” (Leonard Feather, 27:30)

• Atmosphere of Cafe Society:

  • Reminder of the club’s storied past and the intimacy of live jazz in its heyday.

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:27 – Show introduction and host welcome
• 02:17 – Count Basie & Benny Goodman: “Mad Boog”
• 04:21 – Preview: Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn: “C Jam Blues”
• 08:26 – Dizzy Gillespie’s new arrangement: “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
• 11:45 – Transition to Cafe Society, NYC
• 12:20 – Phil Napoleon & The Memphis Five: “Marlenberg Joys”
• 16:13 – Tony Spargo’s kazoo solo
• 17:37 – Ruth Kraus: “That Old Black Magic”
• 22:05 – The Errol Garner Trio: “Lover”
• 26:55 – Phil Napoleon’s Group: “South Rampart Street Parade”
• 31:09 – Episode closing and sign-off

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Tone & Style

Leonard Feather’s narration is warm, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic, blending musical expertise with a genuine love for the jazz community. The on-location recordings add an immediacy and vibrancy—listeners truly feel “ringside” at the Jazz Club.

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Conclusion

This first episode of Jazz Club USA serves as a lively, immersive introduction to American jazz culture, spotlighting celebrated artists and the unique atmosphere of its historic venues. It’s an engaging, expertly curated listening experience both for jazz aficionados and newcomers curious about the genre’s golden era.

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Transcript

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[Leonard Feather]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. The Voice of America Presents Jazz Club USA. The Voice of America presents the first in a new series of programs designed to bring you jazz at its best. And here's your commentator and host, well known jazz critic and composer, composer, contributor to Esquire, Metronome and other magazines, Leonard Feather. Greetings and modulations, friends. This is your host, Leonard Feather, inviting you to join our ringside table at Jazz Club usa. In these highlights from the treasury of jazz, you're going to hear every kind of music that's identified by the word jazz and that includes Dixieland swing, boogie woogie, beach bebop and whatever else comes along. Here and there we'll tell you the story about the men who make this music. And as an extra feature, you're going to hear jazz as it's being performed in the nightclubs, the theaters, hotels throughout the United States, wherever jazz is played. So it won't be just recordings, but also on the spot performances of jazz at its best. To start off our first show in a swinging mood, let's play a number recorded during a broadcast when Count Basie joined forces with the Benny Goodman Orchestra for a number entitled Mad Boog.

[Jazz Vocalist/Chorus]

It.

[Leonard Feather]

Next, we bring you our exclusive preview of the week, a record that hasn't yet been released. A few weeks ago, Duke Ellington made some records featuring a new singer. The recording session finished 20 minutes early and Duke decided to make use of the extra 20 minutes of studio time. Well, during that time, he and his arranging partner, Billy Strayhorn recorded four completely ad libbed piano duets. And here is one of them. The famous Ellington hit, the Sea Jam Blues.

[Jazz Vocalist/Chorus]

Sam. Sa.

[Leonard Feather]

So that was the C Jam Blues, the latest one with Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn at the pianos

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[Leonard Feather]

You know, some of the top American jazz stars have been experimenting lately with the idea of recording a jazz performance with a background of strings and woodwinds. The latest soloist to try this idea, and very successfully, I think, is Dizzy Gillespie. You'll hear Dizzy's trumpet and his vocal in this very unusual arrangement written by Johnny Richards of the traditional spiritual number Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. You think I'm playing the wrong record? No, it really is Dizzy Gillespie, but this time he has a background of 10 strings, no saxes or trumpets, four woodwinds, rhythm and conga drums.

[Phil Napoleon]

I looked over Jordan and what did I see.

[Jazz Vocalist/Chorus]

A band of angels coming out Me. Sam.

[Leonard Feather]

Swing low Swing chariots Coming for to

[Jazz Vocalist/Chorus]

carry me home Swing close we carry us Coming for to carry me home Come and.

[Leonard Feather]

A few nights ago, we took the Voice of America microphone down to a famous home of jazz in New York's Greenwich Village. The place is called Cafe Society. It's a small, intimate nightclub where such great stars as Teddy Wilson, Mead, Lux Lewis, Billie Holiday and many others made musical history a few years ago. But when we recorded down there recently, the orchestra was led by a great veteran of jazz, trumpeter Phil Napoleon. And here he is.

[Phil Napoleon]

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Cafe Society Downtown. It's showtime. We'd like to start. My name, by the way, is Phil Napoleon. The band, the Memphis Five. We'd like to start with an old Dixieland favorite, and I hope you like Marlenberg, Joyce.

[Leonard Feather]

Looking at the bandstand, I can see that the drummer, Tony Spargo, is about to take a solo on the kazoo. That's really not a musical instrument, but a sort of modern version of the old comb and paper idea that children like to play with.

[Jazz Vocalist/Chorus]

It's.

[Phil Napoleon]

And now, ladies and gentlemen, Cafe Society downtown here in the heart of Ranch Village in New York City. That's to Sheridan Square probably presents what we think is one of finest little gal singers we've heard in a long time. I'm sure you're going to like. And let's welcome Ms. Ruth Kraus.

[Jazz Vocalist/Chorus]

Lot of old black magic has been spell old like magic that you weave so well I think Helping down my spine Same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine Same old angles that I feel inside when that elevator starts to rise Round and round I go Round I go Like a leaf holding the tide I cannot do I hear name and on play I will play with turn into the sun. Can pull out the fire for you are the love I waited for to make that fade out Me created for the. Down and down I go down and down I go In a spin loving the spin I'm in Under vital. I took that away what can I do? I hear your name and I'm a flame I'm a flame with sight A burden to sight Only your kids can pull out the fire for your love I have waited for the ma Created for Every time you leave me far willing down and down I go down and down I go In a spin loving the spin I'm in Under the black magic called love. Black magic colorado black magic color. Black magic.

[Phil Napoleon]

And now, ladies and gentlemen, Cathay Society downtown here in New York City is so proud to present what we think is one of the greatest groups of the kind in the country today. I'm sure you'll agree asking where that man played at the piano, that one and only Errol Garner.

[Leonard Feather]

I'd like to point out for you listeners that this is actually the Errol Garner Trio. The other two members being John Simmons on bass and Shadow Wilson on drums.

[Jazz Vocalist/Chorus]

And they're playing lovers. Sam it. Sa. Sam it. Sa.

[Leonard Feather]

That was the Errol Garner trio playing Lover recorded during the visit of Jazz Club USA to Cafe Society. And now Phil Napoleon's group returns to play a number that was originated and popularized by the old Bob Crosby band, a famous Dixieland special called South Rampart Street. Parade It. Now it looks as though we will have to close the doors on our first edition of Jazz Club usa. But next week at the same time, we'll be bringing you some more new music, including another preview of an unreleased record, as well as some great in person performances from one of the leading New York jazz clubs. And until then, may we remind you that if there's any particular artist you'd like to hear on Jazz Club usa, any questions you want to ask about the American musical scene, just drop us a line. Write to Jazz Club USA, Voice of America New York 19. This is your host, Leonard Feather, bidding you the best of tempos. Until next week,

[Jazz Vocalist/Chorus]

Sam.