Glenn Miller - Chatanooga Cho - Cho CD
With its unique sound and ebullient swing, the Glenn Miller Orchestra rapidly became the most popular band of its day. That sheer popularity is celebrated here in the remarkable string of No. 1 hits that the band recorded for RCA Victor from 1939 until 1942, when Miller decided to break up the band and enter the armed forces. Emphasizing sweet over swing, Miller created a unique, liquid reed sound by voicing a clarinet over the saxophones, often contrasting that effect with muted brass. Even a powerhouse swing tune like Erskine Hawkins's "Tuxedo Junction" took on softer hues in the Miller treatment, while the Modernaires vocal group added another trademark sound to such infectious songs as "Chattanooga Choo Choo." Miller's keen sense of public taste is apparent, from novelty tunes to superior ballads to his signature, "In the Mood." For anyone seeking a single-CD introduction to the Miller band, this collection has excellent sound and offers a window on the era. --Stuart Broomer
