The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street

The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street was a half-hour music show featuring the jazz greats of the early 1940s. Among those who appeared on the show were Bobby Hacket, Jelly Roll Morton, and Benny Carter. Dinah Shore and Lena Horne made frequent appearances as singers.

The show is a hoot to listen to. With its tongue planted deeply in its cheek, it mimics almost to the point of parody the oh-so-serious classical and opera shows: The announcer (there were several over the years) speaks in hushed, reverential tones of the music and musicians, frequently referring to the musical guests as "Professor" or "Doctor."

It is a shame that so few of the episodes remain.

For more information, see Wikipedia.

Series description provided by Frank Bell.