Hal McIntyre, who played with
Glenn Miller in the early '40s, broke away to form his own big band, recording 27 titles for Victor in 1942. His orchestra was also captured on many radio broadcasts during the next five years, enough to fill up at least eight LPs.
Ecstasy, which unfortunately does not list performance dates or personnel, is mostly from later in 1942 except for five selections from 1945. The personnel has no major names except for
McIntyre (who is heard on clarinet and alto) and bassist
Ed Safranski. Gloria Van takes two vocals, and
Al Noble has one, but otherwise the soloists are anyone's guess. The
McIntyre big band was excellent, as can be heard on concise versions of such tunes as "The Sheik of Araby," "Push It Off," "Margie," and "Ecstasy," making this an album worth picking up by swing collectors.