Jazz Focus

Earl Hines' very few solo recordings during this period - Blue Note, Victor and Bluebird as well as a trio with Al Casey and Oscar Pettiford and a Keynote session led by Charlie Shavers with Tab Smith.

The early recordings by the Charlie Barnet Orchestra (and Glen Island Casino Orchestra and California Ramblers) . . before he hit it big, good records featuring the leader, Kermit Simmons, Chris Griffin (trumpet), Don Morres (clarinet), Bill Miller and Red Norvo (piano) and others . . transitional swing!

Great early bop sessions led by the innovative drummer including Fats Navarro, Kenny Dorham, Benny Bailey and Howard McGhee on trumpets, Julius Watkins on french horn, Sonny Stitt, John Brown, Jimmy Heath and Hubert Fol on altos, Jimmy Powell, Billy Mitchell and Ray Abrams on tenors, Eddie De Verteuil and Cecil Payne on baris, John Lewis and Bud Powell on piano, John Collins on guitar and Al Hall, Curly Russell and Al McKibbon on basses . . 1946-49

Great small groups using Woody Herman's musicians (Conte Candoli, Bill Harris, Flip Phillips, Billy Bauer, Tony Aless, Arnold Fishkind, Dave Tough, Shelly Manne, Mel Zelnick, Frank Socolow and Emmett Carls) and some guests including Howard McGhee and Denzil Best. These sides are on the cusp of Bebop, done for Keynote, Prestige and Esquire in 1945, 47, 48 and 49.

A wide range of 1930's swing groups featuring the great trumpet player Jonah Jones . . groups led by Adrian Rollini, Dick Porter (with Edgar Sampson, Clyde Hart and Joe Marsala), Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson (Benny Goodman, Benny Carter, Ben Webster, Harry Carney, Johnny Hodges) and Lil Armstrong (Don Stovall). Jones' consistency and authority marks him as one of the foremost trumpet players of the era

Perry Bradford was the epitome of a hustling musician in the 1910's and 20's - largely responsible for bringing the first black singer (Mamie Smith) into the studio to record blues, he also had a series of recordings under his own name, featuring his own compositions and singing. Featured are Louis Armstrong, Louis Metcalf, Bubber Miley, Gus Aiken, Bud Aiken, Jimmy Harrison, Don Redman, Buster Bailey, Bob Fuller, Garvin Bushell, Willie "The Lion" Smith and James P. Johnson among others.

Selections from two great LPs featuring Brookmeyer playing valve trombone with a rhythm section (including future composer John Williams on piano!) and a blended group using some of Jimmy Giuffre's musicians - Jimmy Raney, Jim Hall, Bill Crow and Osie Johnson

Great but under-recorded big bands from Harlem of the late 1920's - Leroy Smith's band, Joe Steele, Lloyd Scott's group later taken over by his brother Cecil, Wooding's Grand Central Redcaps. Early solos by Dickie Wells, Bill Coleman, Cecil Scott, Ward Pinkett, Wilbur DeParis, Jimmy Archey, Charlie Holmes, Don Frye and Joe Steele!

Great studio recordings all featuring Lester Young on tenor sax, Dickie Wells on trombone and Jo Jones on drums, with either Buck Clayton or Bill Coleman on trumpets, Count Basie, Joe Bushkin, Ellis Larkins, Rodney Richardson, Freddie Green, Walter Page, and John Simmons. Recordings for Vocalion, Commodore, Signature and Keynote.

Great stride piano as well as some ragtime and swing from a very young Sutton, recording in 1949 and 1950 for Down Home, Circle and Commodore . .mostly solos, some with Art Trappier on drums