1939 Metronome All-Stars: The 1940 Recording Session
This rare scan of page 30 from the March 1940 Metronome Magazine captures 13 candid moments of the 1939 Metronome All-Stars. This is from the second Metronome All-Star recording session held on Feb 7th, 1940. While the first session occurred on 1-12-1939 with a different group, this 1940 date featured the winners of the 1939 reader’s poll.
Below is the historical transcription of the captions and a deeper look at why the 1939 Metronome All-Stars session remains a pivotal moment in Jazz history.
Original Text From This 1939 Metronome All-Stars Scan:
TOP ROW: BEFORE THE DATE: Charlie Spivak and Jack Teagarden reunited while Toots Mondello watches. Krupa, Columbia’s Morty Palitz, and Coca Cola’s Eddie Miller. Ziggy Elman, Charlie Christian, and Benny Carter watch Benny Goodman try a reed.
SECOND ROW: THE ALL-STAR MELODY MEN: Saxists Miller, Mondello, Carter and Barnet with James and Goodman. Trombonists Teagarden and Jenney. trumpeters Spivak, Elman and James.
THIRD ROW: THE ALL-STAR RHYTHM SECTION:Gene Krupa, Charlie Christian, Jess Stacy, Bob Haggart.
FOURTH ROW: MISCELLANEOUS SHOTS: Listening to a play-back: Barnet, Mondello, Carter, Teagarden, Christian, Miller, Spivak; Goodman (seated) near John Hammond’s left foot. The start of King Porter Stomp with James as soloist. Miller, Goodman, Carter on All-Star Strut.
– Photos by Otto Hess.
Historical Context: Camaraderie in the Trenches
While the competition for these chairs was great, you can see the genuine respect between these legends. These photos show the camaraderie behind the professional competitiveness of the era. A standout to look for is Charlie Christian and his iconic Gibson ES-150. This was a pivotal time in music history where the guitar moved from the rhythm section to a lead solo voice.
The Significance of the Feb 7, 1940 Session
The recording session for the 1939 Metronome All-Stars took place at Columbia’s studios in New York City. While the readers voted in 1939, the logistics of gathering superstars like Harry James and Jack Teagarden in one room delayed the date until early 1940. This specific session produced “King Porter Stomp” and “All-Star Strut,” tracks that defined the transition into a more soloist-driven swing sound.
Spotting the Legends: Beyond the Instruments
What makes these Otto Hess photos so vital is their candid nature. Instead of stiff publicity poses, we see the musicians relaxing between takes. Notice the presence of John Hammond, the influential producer who helped integrate jazz and was a driving force behind gathering the 1939 Metronome All-Stars.
Equipment and the All-Star Sound
For gear enthusiasts, the scan provides a rare look at the tools of the trade. Charlie Christian is seen with the “Charlie Christian model” Gibson ES-150 that revolutionized the early electric guitar. Meanwhile, the rock-solid rhythm section of Jess Stacy and Bob Haggart provided the foundation for horn players like Ziggy Elman and Benny Carter to shine.
You can hear these legendary jazz musicians on our live radio stream and explore more in our Swing Era Magazine Scan Archive.