Secret Broadcasts

Performer: Glenn Miller
Artist: Ray McKinley; Mel Powell; Peanuts Hucko; Johnny Desmond; The Crew Chiefs; The Glee Club; Johnny Desmond & Ensemble; The Band
Producer: Hugh Palmer (Compilation)
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: The Army Air Forces Training Command Band includes: Glenn Miller (conductor); Johnny Desmond, Crew Chiefs, Glee club (vocals); Hank Freeman, Freddy Guerra (alto saxophone); Jack Ferrier, Vince Carbone (tenor saxophone); Chuck Gentry (baritone saxophone); Whitey Thomas, Bobby Nichols, Bernie Privin, Jack Steele (trumpet); Jimmy Priddy, James Harwood, Johnny Halliburton, Larry Hall (trombone); Addison Collins Jr. (French horn); Peanuts Hucko (clarinet, alto saxophone); George Ockner, Harry Katzman, Richard Motylinski, Carl Swanson, Nathan Kaproff, Milton Edelson, Dave Herman (violin); Dave Scwartz, Mannie Wishnow (viola); Morris Bailkin, Robert Ripley (cello); Mel Powell (piano); Carmen Mastren (guitar); Trigger Alpert (bass); Ray McKinley, Frank Ippolito (drums). Recorded in 1944. Includes liner notes by Geoffrey Butcher, Ted Kendall, Philip Farlow and Hugh Palmer. This has been digitally remastered. This superb three-CD set has highlights of the many radio broadcasts made by Glenn Miller & the Army Air Force Band while in Great Britain. Miller had a dream orchestra that had a hard-swinging rhythm section (which included pianist Mel Powell and drummer Ray McKinley), top soloists in clarinetist Peanuts Hucko, trumpeters Bobby Nichols and Bernie Privin and some lesser-known saxophonists, plus singer Johnny Desmond & the Crew Chiefs and a full string section arranged by Jerry Gray. Glenn Miller completists will prefer the first two volumes of the English Avid label's Miller series for that duplicates these three CDs while adding another full disc of material, but listeners wanting one definitive set are advised to pick up this release. The music ranges from heated swing (including some remakes of Miller's earlier hits) to mood music, ballad vocals and adventurous performances that hint at what Glenn Miller might have performed during the postwar years if he had lived. ~ Scott Yanow

JazzTimes (3/97, p.83) - "...Captain Miller was able to assemble the most qualified musicians in the service, thereby resulting in the formation of one of the best and most ambitious orchestras of his career..."

In the minds of most Americans, Glenn Miller's name is synonymous with big-band swing. His band of the late 1930s and early '40s was among the most popular of the time, and their instantly recognizable sound--marked by unusual arrangements for the wind instruments--sold millions of recordings. During World War II, trombonist Miller volunteered for service in the US Army, and his all-star service personnel band toured the US on recruiting drives. While visiting Britain in 1944, Miller's plane disappeared on a flight across the English Channel.

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