Harry James Sound Comes Back to Life at Del Mar Fair

Trumpeter Harry James died in 1983, but his band lives on, providing a dream job for trumpeter Art Depew.

Depew, who played with James for five years during the 1950s, returned 2 1/2 years ago to lead the Harry James Orchestra, a 17-piece swing ensemble which hits the Del Mar Fair’s Grandstand Stage this afternoon at 2.

During his career, James was occasionally criticized for playing music he knew would succeed commercially, at the expense of innovation. But Depew has respected his idol’s work since the late 1930s.

“I first heard him with Benny Goodman, when I was 12 or 13,” Depew recalled, “but I saw him live for the first time at the Hollywood Palladium in 1943. He had a great deal of technique, an awful lot of power and strength, nice tone and vibrato. He was very creative and very advanced.

“Harry was a commercial trumpet player, but he played great jazz too--his solo on ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ with Benny Goodman became the song’s definitive melody. His jazz was so lucid and clear. His solos went from jazz solos to becoming the melodies audiences expected to hear.”

As leader, Depew now plays these solos, and he sings an occasional number. The material consists mostly of such James’ band standards as “Sleepy Lagoon,” “The Mole,” “I’ve Heard That Song Before,” “Cherry,” “Two O’Clock Jump,” “Blues for Sale,” “Don’t Be That Way” and “You Made Me Love You,” James’ “most successful ballad,” according to Depew.

Depew, who considers swing-era big band music “a lot more stimulating than Bruce Springsteen,” said the style is catching on all over again back East, where people in their 20s and 30s are packing dance halls.

Depew, 65, has worked with band leaders including Tommy Dorsey, Bob Crosby, Tex Beneke and Charlie Barnet, but considers his career to be one long training session for his ultimate job.

“I’m absolutely in love with what I’m doing. I have to maintain my abilities, so I practice three or four hours a day to play those solos the way I’ve trained my entire life to play them.”

It’s not surprising that many of James’ original recordings bear some relationship to recordings by the Count Basie Orchestra; James often borrowed Basie band members for his sessions.

For comparison’s sake, you can hear the newest version of Basie’s group, under the direction of saxophonist Frank Foster, tonight at 7:30 and 9:30 at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach.

Basie died in 1984, but his band continues to earn rave notices for the quality of the ensemble work and soloists. Compared with the intricate musical themes played by other big bands, the characteristic Basie sound emphasizes bluesy swing and rhythmic subtlety as much as harmonic complexity.

If you missed Marimba Mike’s multimedia performance downtown at Ruse Performance Gallery earlier this year, you’ve got another chance. Mike, a.k.a. Bryan Jackson, will repeat the exotic original piece “People of the Lake,” an “ethnomusicological journey through time and space,” this Friday night at 8 at Words & Music bookstore in Hillcrest. He also plans to include compositions by Chick Corea, Charles Mingus and others.

A master of many percussion instruments, Mike also plays a variety of unusual African wind instruments and whistles. On “People of the Lake,” he uses tape and electronics to enhance the sound, while images of primitive art and foreign landscapes are projected.

Tickets are $7.50; reservations are recommended (298-4011).

RIFFS: Singer Jimmy Witherspoon opened five nights at Elario’s last night with his hot band: Roy Alexander on Hammond B-3 organ, Terry Evans on guitar and Maurice Simons Jr., on drums. . . .

Hiroshima played two sold-out shows at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay last weekend, and promoter Kenny Weissberg would like to bring the band back in October. Harry Connick Jr., Chet Atkins (with Garrison Keillor), Spyro Gyra, Michael Franks and David Benoit are jazz acts that appear headed for a sellout this summer at Humphrey’s. . . .

Sunday night’s “Le Jazz Club” program on KSDS-FM (88.3) features Meredith D’Ambrosio singing music by George Gershwin, Cole Porter and other popular American composers. . . .

The Horton Grand Hotel’s Palace Bar downtown hosts a rare appearance by a quartet featuring flutist Holly Hofmann, pianist Randy Porter, bassist Bob Magnusson and drummer Tim McMahon this Friday and Saturday nights. . . .

Hot Vazquez plays Friday night and Daniel Jackson’s Real Jazz Band Saturday night at Croce’s downtown. . . .

Mike Wofford holds down the solo piano seat tonight through Saturday at the Beach House restaurant in Pacific Beach. . . .

Keyboard man Rob Mullins, who has played with Diane Schuur, Spike Robinson, Phillip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire) and the Rippingtons, works this Sunday’s brunch cruises aboard The Entertainer, leaving from 1066 N. Harbor Drive downtown at 10 and 12:30. . . .

Fattburger is the star of next Wednesday’s “Jazz Trax Nite” at the Catamaran Resort Hotel in Pacific Beach. . . .

Ragtime and honky-tonk piano man Fred Finn continues in “The Mickey Finn Show,” running through tunes from the Gay ‘90s, Roaring ‘20s, Dixieland, blues and jazz Tuesday through Saturday nights at 8 and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Hahn Cosmopolitan Theatre, 444 4th Ave., downtown. . . .

Trombonist and singer Aubrey Fay and his band kick off summer at the B St. Cafe & Bar downtown tonight through Saturday night. . . .

Guitarist Laurindo Almeida is featured on KPBS-TV’s “Club Date” program Saturday night at 11 and again Monday night at 11:30.