Mr. Haydn Gets Hip

When most people think of swing bands, they think of big bands, but my favorite swing band is a small one. It was the (sadly) short-lived John Kirby Sextet, which was more like a chamber ensemble than a swing band. They quoted from all kinds of music—classical, Dixieland, even klezmer—while maintaining an agile interplay between musicians. While the band was short-lived, You don’t need to know the original to appreciate hearing them play “Mr. Haydn Gets Hip.” Enjoy!