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Clare Teal profiles the work of arranger and composer Neal Hefti. Featuring his works written for Count Basie, Woody Herman, Harry James, Charlie Ventura and Frank Sinatra.

Clare Teal profiles the work of trumpeter, arranger and composer Neal Hefti. Featuring his works written for Count Basie, Woody Herman, Harry James, Charlie Ventura and Frank Sinatra.

In a professional career spanning 40 years Neal Hefti was hugely influential on the direction of big band music through his work with Woody Herman's First Herd in the 1940s and with Count Basie's 'new testament' band of the 1950s. His collection of original works for Count Basie's best-selling 1957 album, The Atomic Mr Basie, remain amongst the most popular works for big band ever written.

Neal Hefti also enjoyed a successful career as a composer for film and television creating the themes for The Odd Couple, Batman and Girl Talk.

57 minutes

Last on

Sun 12 Aug 2012 22:00

Music Played

  • Neal Hefti

    Batman Theme

    • Batman Theme and 11 Other Bat Songs.
    • BMG DRC1-1491.
  • Charlie Ventura

    How High the Moon

    • High On An Open Mike.
    • Proper P1262.
  • Woody Herman

    Wild Root

    • Blowin’ Up a Storm: The Columbia Years.
    • Columbia CK 5032802.
  • Woody Herman

    Blowin' Up a Storm

    • Blowin’ Up a Storm: The Columbia Years.
    • Columbia CK 5032802.
  • Frances Wayne

    Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe

    • Blowin’ Up a Storm: The Columbia Years.
    • Columbia CK 5032802.
  • Neal Hefti

    Coral Reef

    • Mr & Mrs Music.
    • Sepia 1083.
  • Count Basie and His Orchestra

    Bluebird Blues

    • 1959 51.
    • Classics 1228.
  • Count Basie and His Orchestra

    Little Pony

    • 1950 51.
    • Classics 1228.
  • Count Basie and His Orchestra

    Midnite Blue

    • The Atomic Mr Basie.
    • EMI CDP 8286352.
  • Count Basie and His Orchestra

    Teddy the Toad

    • The Atomic Mr Basie.
    • EMI CDP 8286352.
  • Count Basie and His Orchestra

    Pensive Miss

    • The Complete Roulette Recordings.
    • Mosaic MD 10149.
  • Harry James and His Orchestra

    Harry, Not Jessie

    • Verve.
    • 8332852.
  • Frank Sinatra

    Learnin' the Blues

    • An Historic Musical First.
    • Reprise 47241.
  • Gene Harris and the Philip Morris Superband

    Girl Talk

    • Big Band Soul.
    • Concord Jazz CCD 2-2143-25.
  • Count Basie and His Orchestra

    Li'l Darlin'

    • The Atomic Mr Basie.
    • EMI CDP 8286352.

Broadcast

  • Sun 12 Aug 2012 22:00