The Jive Bombers, from Sand Point Naval Air Station, Seattle, Washington, trained at Great Lakes Naval Station near Chicago like most African-American Navy musicians during World War II. This 24-piece band arrived at Sand Point Naval Air Station in December 1942. They played for weekly bond rallies in Victory Square in downtown Seattle, participated in parades and played at other Navy functions. Several Navy musicians stayed in Seattle after the war and were active in the lively jazz scene that flourished there. David Keller’s excellent book  “The Blue Note” credits Musicians’ Union Local 493, the Black musicians’ union, as being the “cradle of Seattle’s early jazz scene.” Also like the other Black Navy bands of World War II their chief and bandmaster was white.

The Jive Bombers was the name given to the jazz orchestra formed out of the larger band, which is identified by the Navy only as “Naval Air Station Band.” Little is known about specific engagements they played. Paul deBarros notes only that they “played USO shows with traveling stars, including Jack Benny.” They played a dance for the Carrier Service Unit Operations sailors on December 13, 1943 at the Jungle Inn near Sand Point.

Seattle during World War II had a lively jazz scene. It was a mix of Sand Point Navy musicians, Army musicians from the 29th Special Services band at Fort Lawton, and some of the smartly trained musicians coming out of Garfield High School. “Big band musicians like Cab Calloway always made it a point to hit clubs such as the Black and Tan when in Seattle for camaraderie and jams.” Because the Army and Navy bands both allowed their players ample evening free time, the jams were frequent and late. Among the many stars who played Seattle during the war were Lucky Millinder, Noble Sissle, Jimmy Lunceford, Fletcher Henderson, Fatha Hines, Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Waller and the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.

The Jive Bombers, a “dynamic, Louis Jordan-inspired combo,” were regulars at the Washington Social Club, where they were known for their jive vocals performed in unison and jump tunes in the manner of Jordan. They played a half-hour version of “Flyin’ Home” that featured floor-walking solos by band members during which customers stuffed dollar bills into their horns.
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[This article is excerpted from one written by Alex Albright that can be found at alexalbight.works]