Al Hirt

By 1965, trumpeter Al Hirt was a commercial success, although from the jazz standpoint most of his output for RCA was becoming increasingly forgettable. Although he was joined by the Gerald Wilson Orchestra for nine of the 13 selections on this live LP, all of the selections (other than a six-minute rendition of "Carnival of Venice") are quite brief, with several under two minutes. Hirt shows off his technique on a variety of showy devices, but every note sounds planned in advance, whether it be "Bye Bye Blues", "Down By the Riverside" or a remake of his hit "Java".

You probably know Al Hirt as the great New Orleans Dixieland trumpet player. But here's another side of Al Hirt. This is - one of Al Hirt's grooviest records – and a set that definitely lives up to the "soul" in the title! The album's always in demand for the excellent sample cut "Harlem Hendoo", but it certainly isn't a one tracker – thanks to composer Paul Griffin and arranger Teacho Wiltshire, as Hirt gets un-characteristically funky on tunes like "Honey Pot", "Mess Around", "Girl", and "Love Ya' Baby".

"They're Playing Our Song" is an album by Al Hirt released by RCA Victor in 1965. The album was produced by Jim Foglesong. It was recorded at Webster Hall in Manhattan, New York City. The album landed on the Billboard Top LPs chart, reaching #39 in 1966. It's a wonderful collection of classics from the American trumpeter, absorbing the listener in realms of nostalgia and memory.

Alois Maxwell "Al" Hirt was an American trumpeter and bandleader. He is best remembered for his million-selling recordings of "Java" and for the theme song to "The Green Hornet". This 1966's complilation includes "The Green Hornet Theme" as well many other TV theme songs, among them, "Batman", "The Monkees", and "Get Smart".

You probably know Al Hirt as the great New Orleans Dixieland trumpet player. He was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in November 2009. He received 21 Grammy nominations during his lifetime, including winning the Grammy award in 1964 for his version of "Java". "Unforgettable" is his 1968's album released for RCA/Victor label.

Alois Maxwell "Al" Hirt (November 7, 1922 – April 27, 1999) was an American trumpeter and bandleader. He is best remembered for his million-selling recordings of "Java" and the accompanying album Honey in the Horn (1963), and for the theme song to The Green Hornet. His nicknames included "Jumbo" and "The Round Mound of Sound". Colin Escott, an author of musician biographies, wrote that RCA Victor Records, for which Hirt had recorded most of his best-selling recordings and for which he had spent much of his professional recording career, had dubbed him with another moniker: "The King." Hirt was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in November 2009.

Alois Maxwell "Al" Hirt (November 7, 1922 – April 27, 1999) was an American trumpeter and bandleader. He is best remembered for his million-selling recordings of "Java" and the accompanying album Honey in the Horn (1963), and for the theme music to The Green Hornet.

A virtuoso on the trumpet, Al Hirt was often "overqualified" for the Dixieland and pop music that he performed. He studied classical trumpet at the Cincinnati Conservatory (1940-1943) and was influenced by the playing of Harry James. He freelanced in swing bands (including both Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, and Ray McKinley) before returning to New Orleans in the late '40s and becoming involved in the Dixieland movement. He teamed up with clarinetist Pete Fountain on an occasional basis from 1955 on, and became famous by the end of the decade. An outstanding technician with a wide range, along with a propensity for playing far too many notes, Hirt had some instrumental pop hits in the 1960s. He also recorded swing and country music, but mostly stuck to Dixieland in his live performances. He remained a household name throughout his career, although one often feels that he could have done so much more with his talent. Hirt's early Audiofidelity recordings (1958-1960) and collaborations with Fountain are the most rewarding of his long career; he died at his home in New Orleans on April 27, 1999. ~ Scott Yanow