The U.S. Army has more young musicians than anyone can shake a baton at. The best white swing band yet formed in an Army camp set out last week from Fort Dix, N.J. to go on a tour of other camps.
Organizer and leader of the band is Sergeant Herbert Bernfeld, who as Herbie Fields used to play tenor saxophone and clarinet in Raymond Scott's Quintet. Among the band's 14 other members. Tin Pan Alleymen all, are Private Morton Kahn, who led and pounded the piano in Gerry Morton's Society Band; Private Don Matteson, trombonist for Jimmy Dorsey; Private James Morreale, Paul Whiteman trumpeter; Private Sidney Macey, the late Hal Kemp's arranger and trumpeter.
Herbie Fields and his boys have been playing at Fort Dix every night. For dances at the Officers' Club they were glad to pocket what they would once have considered "black" money—$1.43 apiece. On their tour, by special permission of the Second Army Corps Command, they are part of U.S. Motor Camp Shows, sponsored by the Citizens Committee for the Army and Navy, Inc.
In World War I, soldiers liked corny numbers—K-K-K-Katy; Roses of Picardy; There's a Long, Long Trail; etc. Today, according to Herbie Fields, they go for swing. Favorites: Please Take a Letter, Miss Jones; Green Eyes; Daddy; Let's Get Away From It All (sung "Let's Go A.W.O.L.").
* Money paid over in the dark, i.e., below union scale. A musician who habitually plays below scale is called "Joe Below."