Globex Corporation Newsletter

This came up at work on Monday night and there were disagreements. In the past, I've solicited submissions for this type of thing, but in this case, there's no need, because I'm undeniably right...

Who's got the best house band in late night television today? It's a matter of taste, of course, but these are my picks:

1. The Max Weinberg Seven
   Late Night with Conan O'Brien
   Max is good enough to drum with Bruce Springsteen, so right there this outfit has a leg up. Several members played on Springsteen's latest effort. This band can seemingly play in any style and is easily the most versitle of the late night bands.



2. The CBS Orchestra or whatever Paul is calling them these days...
   The Late Show with David Letterman
   Paul Shaffer is a musical genius. His odd musical jokes are a delight nightly. Shaffer and trombonist Tom "Bones" Malone did the bulk of the arrangements for the Blues Brothers band in the 70's & 80's, so this band is always excellently arranged and well prepared. Like The Max Weinberg Seven, this band can play in a wide variety of styles.



3. The Tonight Show Band
   The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
   Putting them third is no slight to this band. This is a great band with the longest institutional tenure (the band changed over when Leno took over the show, but there's been a Tonight Show Band since the 1950's). I haven't actually counted members, but this is probably the biggest of the late night bands. If not the biggest they definitely have the fullest sound.



4. Cleo and the Cle-Tones
   Jimmy Kimmel Live
   Cleo and the Cle-Tones is what happens when a host puts his friends and family members into positions on a nation-wide program that they don't deserve. The band is OK, but they have a lot to live up to given the other entries in this field. Frankly they don't even come close. If Nightline had fielded a house band, and even if Ted Koppel and Sam Donaldson had been in it, they would have kicked this band's ass.

BOJ

Labels: Lists