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An episode with no planned theme that ended up having one anyway. We talk murders, arrangers, partying and reinventing the classics with among others Count Basie, Andy Kirk, Scrapper Blackwell and a farewell to Denise Lasalle. If you like the podcast don't forget to hit subscribe and like us on https://www.facebook.com/Soulacious and if you have any feedback drop a line at soulaciousdj@gmail.com For song list and more goodies, check https://mrben.podiant.co/b

Things are getting dramatic in episode 23. Juvinile delinquents, addictions, stormy weather, and elctricity. We make a journey from the early 30s in New York through the RnB and end up on the west coast in the mid 60s. Join us for this howler of a midwinter episode and warm your feet by our fire. If you like the podcast don't forget to hit subscribe and like us on https://www.facebook.com/Soulacious and if you have any feedback drop a line at soulaciousdj@gmail.com For song list and more goodies, check https://mrben.podiant.co/b

Nice grab bag of tunes to end the year. This week I indulge in my obsession with groovy horns and slick pianos and we reacquaint ourselves with my favourite gigolo as well as introducing some outstanding sidemen to the lime light. If you like the podcast don't forget to hit subscribe and like us on https://www.facebook.com/Soulacious and if you have any feedback drop a line at soulaciousdj@gmail.com For song list and more goodies, check https://mrben.podiant.co/b 

Episode 21, the second episode featuring female band leaders, and yeah they are better than many male ones who were twice as famous. We meet the woman who taught Cab Calloway everything he knew, the best female jazz drummer of the 1930s, a woman who got arrested for having an orgy with her chorus girls and the two women who invented Rock n Roll. Come along as we dive deeper into the world of Swing and Blues! If you like the podcast don't forget to hit subscribe and like us on https://www.facebook.com/Soulacious and if you have any feedback drop a line at soulaciousdj@gmail.com For song list and more goodies, check https://mrben.podiant.co/b There were some slight editing issues with this episode, apologies for that, I guess it isn't always that easy to talk about orgies.

It is time for the first episode of two celebrating and highlighting the amazing women who made Swing and Blues what it is today. While blues was a women's game for a long time, the same can't be said for jazz so it is time to bring back those women who led the band. We will meet the woman who arranged and composed for Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Andy Kirk, and Duke Ellington. On top of that we'll make acquaintance with the all female band who beat Erskine Hawkins in a battle of the bands. On the blues side I will introduce you to three queens and an empress and we will be listening to the first blues ever recorded. If you like the podcast don't forget to hit subscribe and like us on https://www.facebook.com/Soulacious and if you have any feedback drop a line at soulaciousdj@gmail.com For song list and more goodies, check https://mrben.podiant.co/b

While studio recordings almost always have better sound live takes just have that extra bit of energy and emotion. This is never so true as when it comes to dance music like swing where the dancers and the musicians feed of each other’s energy to just create a vortex inspiration which goes straight into the music. Or in an emotional blues where the artists pour their heart into the music and the emotions just bounce around the audience and amplify until they boil over. That’s why we love it live. Apart from all the great music, we will be uncovering some secrets about Ella Fitzgerald, find out who Al Capone's own piano man was, hear a blues about real pain and find out where blues singers go when they die. If you like the podcast don't forget to hit subscribe and like us on https://www.facebook.com/Soulacious and if you have any feedback drop a line at soulaciousdj@gmail.com

What does an animated rabbit, marijuana, and two adjacent dressing rooms have in common? That is just one of the many stories we will explore this week. Got a whole lot of goodness coming your way this week. All the way from Texas swing to fiddle driven blues. With a bit of clarinet in the middle, right where it belongs. Remember to hit subscribe if you like the show and give us a like on https://www.facebook.com/Soulacious/ If you want to give some feedback you can drop an email to soulaciousdj@gmail.com Songs Sam Price and his Texas Bluesicians - Swing Out In The Groove Edmond Hall - It's Just an Chanty in an old Chanty Town Artie Shaw - Donkey Serenade Will Bradley and his Orchestra - Bounce Me Brother, With a Solid Four Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra - The Count Big Bill Broonzy - Baby Don't Tear My Clothes Lil' Green - Why Don't You Do Right? (Get Me Some Money Too) Blind Boy Fuller - I Don't Want No Skinny Woman Louis Armstrong - Yellow Dog Blues Skip James - Crow Jane

Did you know Charlie Barnet worked as a gigolo in Havanna? Another week another set of stories. Another set of of songs. We will talk about some of the bad boys of swing and some of the tragic life stories in blues. Give us a like on https://www.facebook.com/Soulacious/ or if you have any feedback drop me a line on soulaciousdj@gmail.com Gene Krupa - Boogie Blues Count Basie - I'm Beginning to see the light Lionel Hampton - Stand by! For Further Announcements (and more good news) Charlie Barnet - You got me Voodoo'd Charie Spivak - Cincinnati Billie Holiday - Willow Weep for Me Etta James - Lil' Red Rooster Di Anne Price - Knocking Myself Out Etta Baker (with Taj Mahal) - Railroad Bill Magic Sam - All Your Love

Got another episode jam packed with good music for you. Willie Bryant, Sonora Swing Swingers, Josh White, Dinah Washington and more will be featured in this weeks episode. Get ready to have your toes tickled by some sweet tunes and hot jazz.

Mr Ben's songs of the week number 15, Gamblers, death and old English people. Got a bit of a special episode coming up for you after the swing part. We will be dissecting the history and melody of that ever green blues St James Infirmary, or Gamblers blues as it is also known. All that coming up later. It is a pure coincidence that this coincides with Halloween. If you like the podcast, don’t forget to hit subscribe so you get it straight to you every week. You can find it on all major podcast apps like stitcher, itunes pocket cast or whatever you use, and if you want to give me some feedback, drop an email on soulaciusdj@gmail.com or send me a message on facebook Soulacious mr Ben

Hi and welcome to Mr. Ben's Songs of the week #14 we have a new load of swing and blues tunes ready for your listening pleasure. This week the swing will be at a slightly more relaxed tempo than usual, I'm not sure why, I just felt like that this week. Maybe because I just came back from a great Drag the Blues festival in Barcelona and I'm still in that mellow groove. Three days and nights with great music, dancing and lovely people will do that for you. Among others I will be featuring Big Mabel, Alvino Rey, Sunnyland Slim, Big Joe Turner, and Duke Ellington in this episode. Should you wish to only here the music from this week without any talking, please go to: https://goo.gl/vT5tn6 If you like the podcast, don't forget to hit subscribe and like it on facebook https://www.facebook.com/Soulacious/

Hi and welcome to Mr. Ben's songs of the week lucky number 13. This one is a bit different, for example, you will actually hear my voice introducing the songs and telling you a bit about them. Should you just want the music, free to go to my mixcloud page and find it there (https://goo.gl/Jy1SLm). This week I will be talking about among others, Fletcher Henderson, Charlie Norman, James Booker, the story behind the song Stagger Lee, or Stack-O-Lee as it is also called, and giving you a sneak preview from Stefano Slidin' Wolf Ronchi's new album. If you have any comments, feel free to drop me a line on soulaciousdj@gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/Soulacious/ and if you like the podcast, make sure to subscribe!

New week new songs! On the swinging side we are going a bit later for the majority, and perhaps not perfect dance tunes but still toe tapping good and a delight for your ears. But yeah, we are entering bop land. Be warned. Back on the blues side of things we sample some very high energy blues as well as some latin blues and some very nice and soulful tunes. I mean, it is essentially just a bit of everything but the delta! Oh and apparently we aren't done with the super groups... 1 Too Close for Comfort by Terry Gibbs Dream Band 00:00 Recorded 1961 Max Bennett Bass, Joe Cadena Trombone, Conte Candoli Trumpet, Bob Enevoldsen Trombone, Med Flory Sax (Tenor), Vern Friley Trombone, Terry Gibbs Vibraphone, Bill Holman Arranger, Sax (Tenor), Pete Jolly Piano, Charlie Kennedy Sax (Alto), Mel Lewis Drums, Joe Maini Sax (Alto), Al Porcino Trumpet, Jack Schwartz Sax (Baritone), Jackson Schwartz Sax (Baritone), Ray Triscari Trumpet, Stu Williamson Trumpet 2 Yes Indeed by Hank Mobley 04:10 Recorded 1963 Hank Mobley tenor saxophone, Donald Byrd trumpet, Herbie Hancock piano, Butch Warren bass, Philly Joe Jones drum s 3 Soul Shoutin by Hank Crawford 09:40 _Released 1966 _Hank Crawford - alto saxophone piano, Fielder Floyd trumpet, John Hunt trumpet, Wendell Harrison tenor saxophone, Howard Johnson baritone saxophone, Sonny Forriest guitar, Charles Dungey bass, Joe Dukes drums 4 Blue Rhythm Be-Bop by Lucky Thompson 12:30 Recorded 1947 Mills Blue Rhythm Band / Van Alexander's Blue Rhythm Band 5 Index by Dexter Gordon and his Boys 15:35 Recorded 1947 fet. Fats Navarro on trumpet 6 Walking By Myself by Jimmy Rogers 18:40 Recorded 1956 _A.J. Gladney(Drums), Bob Woodfork(Guitar), Eddie Ware(Piano), Elgin Evans(Drums), Ernest "Big" Crawford(Bass), Ernest Cotton(Saxophone), Fred Below(Drums), Henry Gray(Piano), J.T. Br_ __ _own(Saxophone), Jimmy Rogers(Guitar), Jimmy Rogers(Vocals), Johnny Jones(Piano), Muddy Waters(Guitar), Otis Spann(Piano), Willie Dixon(Bass), Big Walter Horton(Harmonica), Little Walter(Harmonica), _ 7 Bad, Bad Baby blues by Cousin Joe with Mezzrow Bechet Septet 21:30 _ _Recorded 1947 Cousin Joe, Mezz Mezzrow, Sidney Bechet, Hot Lips Page, Danny Barker, Sid Catlet, Pops Foster 8 Slow Blues by Mick Taylor 24:31 Recorded 1979 Mick Taylor - guitar, Jean Roussel - piano, Kuma Harada - bass guitar, Pierre Moerlen - drums 9 Who's Been Talkin' by Robert Cray 28:10 Released 1980 Robert Cray - Vocals guitar, Richard Cousins - Bass, David Stewart - Piano, Curtis Salgado - Harmonica, Davie Li - Saxophone, Tom Murphy - Drums, Nolan Smoth - Trumpet 10 When the Hurt Is Over by Mighty Sam McClain 32:00 Released 1998 Kevin Barry - Guitar, Ted "Teddy B" Bukowski - Bass, Joe Casano - Trumpet, Zac Casher - Drums, Ted Decola - Sax (Tenor), Peter Giftos- Guitar, Mighty Sam _ _ McClain - Vocals, George Papageorge - Organ (Hammond)

This week we will be focusing on super groups. Why? Because sometimes they really are super, sometimes you don't understand how they got them in the same room without it resulting in murder, like with Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf.But it worked out and we are all grateful for that. The swing this week will be provided exclusively by the Metronome All Stars so here are a few words about them. The Metronome All-Stars were a collection of jazz musicians assembled for studio recordings by Metronome Magazine, based on its readers' polls. The studio sessions were held in the years 1939-42, 1946–53, and 1956, and typically consisted of two tracks which allowed each participant a chance to solo for one chorus. Earlier recordings feature more swing style, while the later sessions tend more toward bebop. 1. The Metronome All Stars - One O'Clock Jump _Recorded 1941 _ _ _Harry James, Ziggy Elman, Cootie Williams, Tommy Dorsey, J. C. Higginbotham, Benny Goodman, Benny Carter, Toots Mondello, Coleman Hawkins, Tex Beneke, Count Basie, Charlie Christian, Artie Bernstein, Buddy Rich. 2. The Metronome All Stars - Bugle Call Rag Recorded 1941 _ _ Harry James, Ziggy Elman, Cootie Williams, Tommy Dorsey, J. C. Higginbotham, Benny Goodman, Benny Carter, Toots Mondello, Coleman Hawkins, Tex Beneke, Count Basie, Charlie Christian, Artie Bernstein, Buddy Rich. 3. The Metronome All Stars - Blue Lou Recorded 1941 Bunny Berigan, Charlie Spivak, Sonny Dunham, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Jack Teagarden, Benny Goodman, Hymie Shertzer, Eddie Miller, Art Rollini, Carmen Mastren, Bob Haggart, Bob Zurke, Ray Bauduc. 4. The Metronome All Stars - Royal Flush Recorded 1941 Harry James, Roy Eldridge, Cootie Williams, J.C. Higginbotham, Lou McGarity, Benny Goodman, Toots Mondello, Benny Carter, Vido Musso, Tex Beneke, Count Basie, Freddie Green, Edward ‘Doc’ Goldberg, Gene Krupa. 5. The Metronome All Stars - Sweet Lorraine Recorded 1946 Charlie Shavers, Lawrence Brown, Johnny Hodges, Coleman Hawkins, Harry Carney, Nat King Cole, Bob Ahern, Eddie Safranski, Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, June Christy. 6. The Metronome All Stars - The Blues Recorded 1941 Bunny Berigan, Charlie Spivak, Sonny Dunham, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Jack Teagarden, Benny Goodman, Hymie Shertzer, Eddie Miller, Art Rollini, Carmen Mastren, Bob Haggart, Bob Zurke, Ray Bauduc. 7. Memphis Slim & Willie Dixon - Good Understanding Recorded 1959 Willie Dixon - double bass and vocals,Memphis Slim - piano, Gus Johnson - drums, Wally Richardson - guitar, Al Ashby - tenor saxophone, Harold Ashby - tenor saxophone 8. James Cotton & Billy Branch & Charlie Musselwhite & Sugar Ray Norcia - If I Should Have Bad Luck Recorded 1999 Per Hanson - Drums, Michael "Mudcat" Ward - Bass, Kid Bangham - Guitar, Anthony Geraci/David Maxwell - Piano, Billy Branch, Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, Sugar Ray Norcia - Harmonica 9. Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley - Spoonfull Recorded 1967 _ _ _ _Bo Diddley, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Otis Spann, Clifton James, Hubert Sumlin, Cookie Vee 10. Muddy Waters, Memphis Slim, Willy Dixon, Otis Spann, Big Joe Williams, Lonnie Johnson, Victoria Spivey, & Sonny Boy Williamson II - Bye Bye Blues "Bye Bye Blues" from the British show, "I Hear The Blues" shown in 1963.

Number 10! Lots of Frank Foster this week. Because he is awesome. Some High energy Basie, some more lovely Swedish swing and an Artie Shaw tune that always makes me smile. Some interesting stuff on the bluesier side including the extremely underappreciated Di Anne Price two of my favorite late night tracks, and just to end it some great soulful jazz by Milt Jackson, once again featuring Frank Foster 1 Hittin' Twelve by -Count Basie 2 Mister Meadowlark by Artie Shaw 3 Love in Swingtime by Alice Babs 4 Back to the Apple by Count Basie 5 Black Cat Blues by Di Anne Price 6 Eighteen Hammers by Taj Mahal 7 Poor Little Jesus by The Golden Gate Quartet 8 Summertime by Big Jay McNeely 9 When the Saints Go Marching In by Dr. John 10 Plenty Plenty Soul by Milt Jackson

New Years Blues in September? Well it's the Jewish New Years so that's how it has to be! This week we are balancing the fast and the slow, the new and the old, the European and the American. Hope you like it! Feel free to drop a comment if you do and to share it with your friends! 1 Jitterbug by Seymour Sterwall 2 Is you is or is you ain't my baby by Harry Arnold 3 Wichita Windstorm by Charlie Barnet 4 Mary Lou Williams Blues by Six Men and a Girl 5 Blue Ivories by The Blue Flagships 6 Little Red Rooster by Sam Cooke 7 Rocks In My Bed by Duke Ellington & his Orchestra 8 Soap and Water Blues by Wash Board Sam 9 Why Don't You Do Right? by Lil Green 10 New Year Blues by Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators feat. Meschiya Lake

Ok, so it might be a little light on the blues side this week, and I never promised that everything would be dancable... But just wait until you hear it! Crazy Swing out of Sweden! Insane Slide Guitar! Religious! A swing version of a Rock n Roll song?! Man, this one was fun! 1 Beale Street Blues by Pygme Jazz Band 2 Rock around the Clock by Arne Domnerus Orkester 3 Gimme Something Like That by Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlmen of Swing 4 The Man From The South by Spike Hughes 5 Dinah by Thore Ehrlings Orkester 6 99 1/2 won't do by Sister Rosetta Tharpe 7 St. Lewis Blues by Furry Lewis 8 I got a mind to ramble by Alberta Hunter 9 Don't let the music die by Willie Dixon 10 Summer Time by Sam Cooke

This week we will see mainly smaller combos on the swing side and as always, a glorious mishmash on the blues side. We will also end on the original blues version of a swing track from Songs of the Week #5. Let me know what you think in the comments and if you like the uploads, please favorite them, share with your friends and follow me. 1 Sports d'hiver by Marcel Bianchi et son Orchestra 2 Rompin' in '44 by Edmond Hall's All Start Quintet 3 5 Decembre by Gus Deloof 4 Two-fer by Tony pastor Orchstra 5 Swingin' the Blues by Count Basie 6 Re-Beat by Little Milton 7 Caldonia by The James Cotton Band 8 Slow Down by J.B Lenoir 9 No Need of Running by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee 10 The Twelves (Dirty Dozens by Kokomo Arnold

Time flies and it's already time for #6! Heavy on the swing this time but we will be spanning over 40 years of music from 2 continents. Let me know what you think! 1 Shoutin' Blues by Count Basie 2 Studio 1 by Fud Candrix 3 Stiches by Al Cooper's Savoy Sultans 4 The Mole by Harry James 5 Julius Caeser by And Kirk 6 'Taint Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do by Clarence Williams & his Orchestra 7 Oo-Bla-Dee by Mary Lou Williams with Orchestra 8 St. Louis Blues by Etta James 9 If I Was Your Man by Corey Harris & Henry Butler 10 I Guess You're Satisfied by 'Roosvelt' Antrim

This week features a mix, well every week features a mix, but this week is a mix of the more modern and traditional and the more, how shall we say, I guess novelty oriented. In general just things I really like to have in my ears. 1 All or Nothing by King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys 2 Flip Lid by Les Brown 3 Dirty Dozen by Sam Price and his Texas Bluesicians 4 Deed I Do by Art Blakey 5 Princess Poo-poo-ly Has Plenty Papaya by Big Kahuna and the Copa Cat Pack 6 Moten Stomp by Harry James 7 Bump and Grind by Grady Champion 8 You'd Be Frantic Too by Hot Lips Page 9 I Cried Like a Baby by Koko Taylor 10 Evil Ways by Cal Tjader