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King of Swing, one of the true “immortals of jazz”, Chick Webb needs little introduction. In his short life, he and his orchestra blazed a trail through the legendary Harlem jazz scene, scoring hit after hit. His talent as a drummer was legendary, so much so that Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich idolised Webb. As a bandleader, he introduced the world to one of the greatest singers of all time, Ella Fitzgerald; as a showman, he and his orchestra played to audiences of thousands. His many victories in the famous Battle of the Bands in the 1930s at the Savoy Ballroom are central to the whole jazz mythology. His struggles to overcome both racism and disability have inspired generations of artists, and neither prevented him from becoming a jazz superstar. This finely curated collection of Webb’s work showcases some of the many highlights from his short career as a named bandleader serving as a permanent reminder of the great man’s talents
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