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Come to my house and chances are you will hear one of many types of music playing on my stereo: Modern Jazz, ol‘ skool (70’s & 80’s), a little Rock here and there, Classical, and probably my favorite to listen to when I am on the computer–ol‘ skool vocal Jazz/ Big Band (1920’s – 1950’s). To me there is nothing like the sound of live brass. Ever since the days when my Pop would listen to Earth, Wind, and Fire while cruising through the streets of North Philly with me sitting in the back seat, I have always loved hearing powerful brass.

Like many people in my age bracket, I was “formally” introduced to the music of Cab Calloway via the movie “The Blues Brothers” (One of those movies I will watch in its entirety just about everytime it is aired). I remember hearing family members occasionally singing some of his music, but it is nothing like hearing it from Calloway himself. Couple his catchy tunes with the powerful brass in his orchestra and you’ve got yourself some great music. Read more about him here.Probably one of the greatest things I like about Calloway was his ability to sing about anything and make it into a catchy tune. Below is one of my favorites from him:

A Chicken Ain’t Nothin’ But a Bird 

Chicken!

Nice fried chicken!

Barbecued chicken!

Won’t you send it down the line.

Say!

Everyone’s talking ’bout chicken;

Chicken’s a popular bird;

Anywhere you go, you’re bound to find,

A chicken ain’t nothin’ but a bird.

Some folks call it a fowl,

That’s the story I heard,

But let ‘em call it this and let ‘em call it that,

A chicken ain’t nothin’ but a bird.

You can boil it, roast it, broil it,

Cook it in a pan or a pot,

Eat it with potatoes, rice or tomatoes,

But chicken’s still what you got, boy!

It was a dish for old Caesar,

Also King Henry the Third,

But Columbus was smart, said ‘You can’t fool me,

A chicken ain’t nothin’ but a bird.’

You can boil it, roast it, broil it,

Cook it in a pan or a pot,

Eat it with potatoes, rice or tomatoes,

A chicken’s still what you got, boy!

It was a dish for old Caesar,

Also King Henry the Third,

But Columbus was smart, said ‘You can’t fool me,

A chicken ain’t nothin’ but a bird.’

Here is a link to more of his lyrics.