"Stompin' at the Savoy" is a 1933 jazz standard composed by Edgar Sampson. It is named after the famed Harlem nightspot the Savoy Ballroom in New York City.
History and composition
Although the song is often credited to Benny Goodman, Chick Webb, Edgar Sampson, and Andy Razaf, it was written and arranged by Sampson, Rex Stewart's alto saxophonist. Sampson wrote the song when he was with Stewart's orchestra at the Empire Ballroom in 1933. It was used as the band's theme song until the band broke up, after which Sampson joined Chick Webb's band, taking the song with him. Webb’s recording rose to number ten on the charts in 1934. Two years later, the piece charted with versions by Ozzie Nelson and Benny Goodman.
Both Webb and Benny Goodman recorded it as an instrumental, Goodman's being the bigger hit. Lyrics were added by lyricist Andy Razaf. Goodman's 1936 version is written in 32-bar song form with four 8-bar phrases arranged AABA. The A sections use a Db6, Ab9, Db6, Ddim, Ebm7, Ab7, Db, Db chord sequence. The B section phrases use a Gb9/G9, Gb9, B13/F#m6, B13, E9/F9, E9, A13, Ab13 chord sequence. The tempo is medium fast.
Since becoming a jazz standard, the song has been recorded hundreds of times.
Various versions
Chick Webb, 1934
Benny Goodman, 1936
Judy Garland, 1936
Charlie Christian, 1941
Django Reinhardt, 1944
Art Tatum, 1941
Glenn Miller and the AAFB, V-Disc, 1944
Esquire All Stars, 1944
Art Tatum, The Art Tatum Solo Masterpieces Volume 5, 1953
Clifford Brown and Max Roach, Brown and Roach Incorporated, 1954
Anita O'Day, Pick Yourself Up with Anita O'Day, 1956
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, 1956
Art Pepper, Modern Art, 1956
Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, Ella and Louis Again, 1957
Jim Hall, 1957
Ahmad Jamal and Cal Tjader, 1958) Henri Salvador, Salvador plays the blues, 1959 Ella Fitzgerald live, on her Ella at the Opera House album, 1960 Sarah Vaughan, 1964 Harry Connick, Jr., When Harry Met Sally..., 1989 The Boston Pops Orchestra under John Williams, 1991 Karrin Allyson, Azure-Té, 1995 Eddie Daniels, Swing Low Sweet Clarinet, 1999 Nikki Yanofsky with Herbie Hancock and will.i.am, 2007 Tony Glausi, My Favorite Tunes, 2020
See also
List of jazz standards (1930s)