The Brian Setzer Orchestra (sometimes known by its initials BSO) is a swing and jump blues band formed in 1990 by

Stray Cats Stray Cats are an American rockabilly band formed in 1979 by guitarist and vocalist Brian Setzer, double bassist Lee Rocker, and drummer Slim Jim Phantom in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York. The group had numerous hit singles in th ...

frontman

Brian Setzer Brian Robert Setzer (born April 10, 1959) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He found widespread success in the early 1980s with the 1950s-style rockabilly group Stray Cats, and returned to the music scene in the early 1990s with ...

. In 1998, for their breakout album '' The Dirty Boogie'', the group covered

Louis Prima Louis Leo Prima (December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and trumpeter. While rooted in New Orleans jazz, swing music, and jump blues, Prima touched on various genres throughout his career: he forme ...

's "

Jump, Jive an' Wail "Jump, Jive an' Wail" is a 1956 jazz swing song by Louis Prima.Stark, Karl (September 7, 2007). Louis Prima; Jump, Jive An' Wail: The Essential Louis Prima (review). ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''Hillburn, Robert (July 24, 2007). Prima and Smith's ...

", which originally appeared on Prima's 1957 album ''

The Wildest! ''The Wildest!'' is an album by Louis Prima, first released in 1956. It features singer Keely Smith with saxophonist Sam Butera and the Witnesses. Background Louis Prima was a well-known 1930s and 1940s trumpeter and singer who had a moderate se ...

''. The BSO's follow up single, appearing on the album '' Vavoom!'', was "Gettin' in the Mood."

History

Setzer grew up in Long Island, New York. In his youth, he played the

euphonium The euphonium is a medium-sized, 3 or 4-valve, often compensating, conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument that derives its name from the Ancient Greek word ''euphōnos'', meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced" ( ''eu'' means "well" o ...

and other brass instruments in school jazz bands. In the 1970s, he found ways to hear jazz and big band music at the

Village Vanguard The Village Vanguard is a jazz club at Seventh Avenue South in Greenwich Village, New York City. The club was opened on February 22, 1935, by Max Gordon. Originally, the club presented folk music and beat poetry, but it became primarily a jazz ...

, but he was also drawn to blues, rock, punk, and

rockabilly Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the South. As a genre it blends the sound of Western musical styles such as country with that of rhythm and blu ...

. He admired the jump blues of

and Big Joe Turner, but also the rock and roll of

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

Eddie Cochran Ray Edward Cochran (; October 3, 1938 – April 17, 1960) was an American rock and roll musician. Cochran's songs, such as " Twenty Flight Rock", "Summertime Blues", " C'mon Everybody" and " Somethin' Else", captured teenage frustration and desir ...

Gene Vincent Vincent Eugene Craddock (February 11, 1935 – October 12, 1971), known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rockabilly and rock and roll. His 1956 top ten hit with his backing band the Blue Caps, " Be-Bop-a-Lula ...

, and Carl Perkins. During the early 1980s, he led the rockabilly trio

the Stray Cats Stray Cats are an American rockabilly band formed in 1979 by guitarist and vocalist Brian Setzer, double bassist Lee Rocker, and drummer Slim Jim Phantom in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York. The group had numerous hit singles in th ...

and found popular and commercial success. After the band broke up, Setzer worked as a side man and on a solo career. In 1994, he released the debut album of the Brian Setzer Orchestra, which combined his rockabilly style with swing, big band, and jump blues. The orchestra had a hit on the ''Billboard'' singles chart with its cover version of "

" by Louis Prima.

Activities

The BSO often plays during the December holidays covering Christmas songs, and plays the

Rockefeller Center Rockefeller Center is a large complex consisting of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th Street and 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The 14 original Art Deco buildings, commissioned by the Rockefeller family, span th ...

tree-lighting ceremony. Setzer tunes have been used in commercials. The Brian Setzer Orchestra performed 36 concerts on their "Christmas Rocks! 2017" tour which ran from November to December 2017.

Discography

* ''

The Brian Setzer Orchestra The Brian Setzer Orchestra (sometimes known by its initials BSO) is a swing and jump blues band formed in 1990 by Stray Cats frontman Brian Setzer. In 1998, for their breakout album '' The Dirty Boogie'', the group covered Louis Prima's " Jump, ...

'' (1994) * '' Guitar Slinger'' (1996) * '' The Dirty Boogie'' (1998) * '' Vavoom!'' (2000) * ''

Boogie Woogie Christmas ''Boogie Woogie Christmas'' is a 2002 Christmas album recorded by the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Track listing Original #"Jingle Bells" - 2:22 #"Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" - 3:02 #"Winter Wonderland" - 2:40 #" Blue Christmas" - 2:48 #"Santa Clau ...

'' (2002) * ''

Dig That Crazy Christmas ''Dig That Crazy Christmas'' is the second Christmas album by The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Released in 2005 on Surfdog Records, it is a collection of holiday songs performed in big band swing style. Although most of the songs have been previously ...

'' (2005) * ''

Wolfgang's Big Night Out ''Wolfgang's Big Night Out'' is the seventh studio album from the United States, American swing revival band The Brian Setzer Orchestra, released on September 25, 2007, on Surfdog Records. It is a collection of swing versions of classical composi ...

'' (2007) * ''

Songs from Lonely Avenue ''Songs From Lonely Avenue'' is the eighth studio album from the American swing revival band The Brian Setzer Orchestra The Brian Setzer Orchestra (sometimes known by its initials BSO) is a swing and jump blues band formed in 1990 by Stray ...

'' (2009) * '' Rockin' Rudolph'' (2015)

Compilations and live albums

* '' Jumpin' East of Java'' (2001) * '' Best of The Big Band'' (2002) * ''Jump, Jive an' Wail: The Best of the Brian Setzer Orchestra 1994-2000'' (2003) * '' The Ultimate Collection'' (2004) * ''The Best of Collection – Christmas Rocks!'' (2008) * ''Ultimate Christmas Collection'' (2008) * '' Don't Mess With a Big Band (Live!)'' (2010) * ''Christmas Comes Alive!'' (2010) * ''It's Gonna Rock 'Cause That's What I Do'' (2010)

DVDs

* ''Brian Setzer Orchestra live In Japan'' (2001) * ''Brian Setzer Orchestra Live: Christmas Extravaganza'' (2005) * ''One Rockin' Night'' (2007) – recorded in

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple ...

in 1995 * ''Brian Setzer Orchestra Live: Christmas Rocks!'' (2018)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Brian Setzer Orchestra Brian Setzer Brian Setzer Orchestra, The Swing revival ensembles Big bands American jazz ensembles from New York (state) Grammy Award winners