The Raymond Scott Big Band is a lost chapter between Scott’s 1937-39 quintet and his electronic music of the 1960s. The CBS Band, the first interracial radio symphony, debuted in 1942 and featured jazz superstars such as Ben Webster, Cozy Cole, and Charlie Shavers. Scott’s complicated passages can be navigated by the device. However, unlike the quintet, they also performed spontaneous jazz.
Hemi Demi Semi Quaver: Buried Treasures of the Raymond Scott Big Band collects 26 thrilling recordings, most of which are previously unheard radio broadcasts recorded by the bandleader himself. This package includes images from Scott’s archives as well as copious prose by Scott grantee/guitarist Skip Heller, who produced this for Real Gone Music alongside Scott’s son Stavorno. Real Gone Music or Amazon has it on CD.
“This talented group can rock as hard as Benny Goodman or Artie Shaw, but with more levity.” Hemi Demi Semi Quaver is a lovely collection of 26 vibrant pieces of music from this noisy trio. Anything new Raymond Scott is welcome, and nothing warms up your tired circuitry like a cup of espresso.” — Jon M. Young, author of “The Great Takeover”