Bernard Berkhout Swing Orchestra live on Dutch Television - Let's Dance!

recorded live from the TV studios in Hilversum. Broadcasted and recorded on January 19, 2012

Bernard Berkhout - clarinet
Wim Lammen - alto saxophone (1.)
Bert Brandsma - alto saxophone (2. + solo)
Erik van der Weijden - tenor saxophone
Hans Goemans - tenor saxophone
Nanouck Brassers - trumpet
Koos van der Hout - trumpet
Michael Varekamp - trumpet
Markus Glas - trombone
Lex van Wel - trombone
Mark van der Feen - piano
Hans Voogt - guitar
Noah Nicoll - bass
Dolf Helge - drums

The band also has a regular singer : Mirjam van Dam.

Let's Dance was signature tune of the Benny Goodman big band in the 1930's and '40's. Benny started getting famous while playing in a radio show with the same name, Let's Dance.
Benny got a contract allowing him to order 8 new arrangements per week for this show, so Fletcher Henderson got very busy working for Goodman.
To a large extent, Fletcher transcribed his own earlier records, but had to make 4 saxophone parts, since Fletcher's own band usually had only 3, before that time at least.
Pieces like Down South Camp Meeting and Wrappin' It Up, became million sellers when recorded by Goodman.
Fletchers recordings are less well in tune, more sloppy, but definitly have a better swinging rhythm section and on average, better soloists. Benny Goodman was a great soloist, and people like the then very young Harry James could play, but Fletcher's band had soloists like Coleman Hawkins or Ben Webster.
What was great about Benny's band was the ensemble precision. Try the live recording in Carnegy Hall, january 1938. There was no band at that time that could compete with Benny's trumpet section at that time, it was unbeatable. Also the lead alto playing of Hymie Schertzer was excellent. He was not an improvising soloist, but had lots of good taste and a lovely sound and ensemble precision.