Hour #1 is a swinging salute to the Calloway siblings—Cab and Blanche—whose flamboyant energy and rhythmic daring helped define the big band era. We open with Johnny Hodges’ “Below the Azore,” setting a mellow tone before Cab launches into a mini-set that mixes bop-era tightness with Harlem nightclub flair. Cuts like “We the Cats Shall Hep You” and “Just a Crazy Song” show Cab’s showbiz sparkle, while “Rhythm Cocktail” brings the band into full flight. Blanche Calloway, a pioneering bandleader in her own right, gets overdue attention here with punchy vocal numbers like “Growling Dan” and “Without That Gal.” Al Sears, who played with everyone from Ellington to R&B jump combos, caps the hour with deep-cut gems from the late ’40s and early ’50s.
Playlist – Hour #1:
- Below the Azore – Johnny Hodges
- Russian Lullabye – Cab Calloway
- Hey Now – Hey Now – Cab Calloway
- We the Cats Shall Hep You – Cab Calloway
- Afternoon Moon – Cab Calloway
- Lamarr’s Boogie – Cab Calloway
- How Big Can You Get – Cab Calloway
- Rhythm Cocktail – Cab Calloway
- Just a Crazy Song – Cab Calloway
- Growling Dan – Blanche Calloway
- I Got What It Takes – Blanche Calloway
- Without That Gal – Blanche Calloway
- 125th Street New York – Al Sears
- Tan-Skinned Lad – Al Sears
- Brown Boy – Al Sears
- Long Long Ago – Al Sears
- Going Out the Backway – Johnny Hodges