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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] or send me a message on facebook Soulacious mr Ben