James, Harry
One of the most exciting and technically proficient trumpeters of all time, Harry James left behind a substantial legacy of recordings and performances that continue to delight listeners to this day. Born into a family of traveling circus performers in 1916, James looked primed to live a life in the family business, performing as a contortionist as a young boy. At age 10, however, he began taking trumpet lessons from his father, developing a stunning level of technical proficiency by the time he was in his mid-teens.
Joining up with the Benny Goodman Orchestra in 1937, James quickly became one of the band's star soloists. Leaving Goodman two years later, he formed his first orchestra (featuring a young Frank Sinatra as its male vocalist). The band's greatest commercial success would come in the early 1940s, when it expanded to include a string section and focused on achieving a “sweeter” sound than most contemporary outlets. In addition to recording a number of hits, the band would also appear on-screen in a number of films during this time.
Despite this string of hits, James' bands were also known to have an experimental side. Several of their recordings from the mid- to late-1940s showed a surprising amount of bebop influence, most notably through the arrangements of the young Neal Hefti. A lifelong fan of the Count Basie Orchestra, James' later bands would oftentimes showcase a strong Basie influence, no doubt in part to the band's book being fueled with arrangements from Basie writers Hefti, Thad Jones and Ernie Wilkins.
Being diagnosed with lymphatic cancer in 1983, James continued to perform all the way up until his passing later that year. The Harry James Orchestra still continues to operate to this day, currently under the direction of Fred Radke.
ANDY GIBSON/HARRY JAMES FIVE ARRANGEMENT SET
Recorded by the Harry James Orchestra
Five Jazz Big Band Arrangement (One With Vocal)
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-1059
$290.00
THAD JONES JAZZ LINES PUBLICATIONS SERIES: TEN ARRANGEMENT SET
Written for Count Basie, Harry James, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra
Ten Jazz Big Band Arrangements
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-1002
$600.00
(YOU'D) BETTER HAVE FOUR [DOWNLOAD]
Recorded by Harry James
Jazz Big Band Arrangement
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-7184DL
$75.00
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Written for Harry James
Jazz Big Band Arrangement
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-8743DL
$75.00
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Recorded by Harry James
Jazz Studio Orchestra Arrangement
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-8731DL
$75.00
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Recorded by Harry James
Jazz Big Band Arrangement
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-7765DL
$75.00
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Recorded by the Harry James Orchestra
Jazz Big Band Arrangement
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-8717DL
$75.00
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Recorded by Harry James
Jazz Big Band Arrangement
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-8720DL
$75.00
As Performed by Harry James
Jazz Big Band Arrangement
Lush Life Music
LL-1198
$65.00
Our Price: $61.75
Written for Harry James
Jazz Studio Orchestra Arrangement
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-8760
$75.00
Written for Harry James
Jazz Studio Orchestra Arrangement
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-8760DL
$75.00
![CREEPER, THE [DOWNLOAD]](https://www.ejazzlines.com/wp-images/product/thumbnail/jlp8736.jpg)
Recorded by Harry James
Jazz Big Band Arrangement
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-8736DL
$75.00
As Performed by Harry James and The Skylarks
Jazz Big Band Arrangement with Vocal Group
Lush Life Music
LL-2107
$65.00
Our Price: $61.75
Written for Harry James
Jazz Big Band Arrangement
Jazz Lines Publications
JLP-8738DL
$75.00