Red Norvo had taste. ‘Mr. Swing’ also had a problem. In late 1942, Norvo knew that the United States’ involvement in WWII would soon deplete his septet of key musicians and there was the small matter of the American Federation of Musicians strike which had effectively, and without exception, shuttered all the recording studios.
Red Norvo was not a man, or indeed a musician, to follow the rules and he persuaded a studio engineer to let them in on the sly. In the dead of night, Red Norvo and the band ‘gained access’ to the equipment and began to play. Red Norvo: The Secret Session is the result. More than 60 years after the clandestine operation, the previously unheard album is now available on CD and digital formats as part of the ‘Legends’ series.
Red Norvo’s band showcased tight attractive arrangements and presented soloists who blew like they were veterans. The septet boasted musicians who would later become stars in their own right, most of all trombonist Eddie Bert, who provided the tapes for this release.
This album is a snapshot – literally a stolen moment in time! – and an important look into a band that was bridging a gap between swing and bebop.
Track List
- One Note Jive
- Speculatin'
- I May Be Wrong
- Keep Smilin'
- Rose Room
- Russian Lullabye
- Bugle Call Rag
- Slender Tender and Tall
- Optical Illusion Pt. 1
- Liza
DOT8023
This product will be in stock on Friday 30 January, 2026.
