Decca Records Jazz Heritage Series DL 79243
Jan Savitt and His Top Hatters emerged as one of the country's leading orchestras during the late 1930s. Savitt, who was classically trained, had no background in jazz, but his use of a musical device called ''shuffle rhythm'' allowed his group to swing with the best of them. This device, which featured a piano playing double time, gave the orchestra a relatively fresh sound in comparison to many of the dedicated swing outfits and earned them engagements at some of the country's top spots. The Top Hatters were also quite capable of producing wonderful ballads, making them an all-around favorite with listening audiences.
