Jazz Focus

Hardly anyone has heard of Teddy Grace, but her handful of records (two CDs worth) from the 1930's demonstrate a singular talent, appreciated by musicians if not the public. Here she is with Bud Freeman's Summa Cum Laude Band, the Bob Crosby Orchestra and small groups featuring Bobby Hackett, Buddy Morrow, Jack Teagarden, Buster Bailey, Charlie Shavers, Billy Kyle, Sonny Lee and Slats Long

The beginnings of the traditional jazz boom in England - New Orleans-styled dixieland by Freddy Mirfield's Garbage Men, Freddy Randall and His Band and George Webb's Dixielanders . .Wally Fawkes, Humphrey Lyttleton, Al Mead, Johnny Dankworth, Bruce Turner . . great hot sounds by young musicians!

Great eight piece band ushering in the era of Jazz nostalgia! With the leader on tenor sax was Max Kaminsky, Pee Wee Russell and trombonist and arranger Brad Gowans setting the style. In the rhythm section were Dave Bowman, Eddie Condon and several bassists and drummers.

Great 1933 sessions by the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra featuring Red Allen, Bobby Stark, Dicky Wells, Hilton Jefferson, Russell Procope, Coleman Hawkins, John Kirby, Horace Henderson and Walter Johnson. Great arrangements by both Hendersons and Will Hudson and some of Hawkins' first ballad performances.

First sides under the great cornetist's name - ranging from straight Condon-styled dixieland through progressive big band sounds in 1939 and 40 to Bix recreations. Also featuring George Brunies, Brad Gowans, Pee Wee Russell, Bernie Billings, Hank Kmen, Dave Bowman and Eddie Condon

From 1934-1940 the Six Swingers recorded several hundred sides for Regal Zonophone and Columbia of popular tunes, blues, jazz and novelties. Led by pianist George Scott Wood, the band at different times featured Max Goldberg, Lew Davis, Ted Heath, Tony Thorpe and others, but the star was reed player Freddy Gardner, whose clarinet, baritone and especially alto solos located him in the forefront of European jazz musicians.

The Benny Goodman Sextet (actually a septet) performed with the big band during the second half of Charlie Christian's tenure with the band in 1940 until he had to leave in the summer of 1941 due to ill health. With Cootie Williams, Georgie Auld, Artie Bernstein and a mix of Count Basie, Kenny Kersey, Milt Raskin and Johnny Guarnieri on piano and Dave Tough, Harry Jaeger and Nick Fatool on drums, the small group had superior jazz talent as well as great arrangements built on the riffs of Christian and his electric guitar.

Great black band active in Paris during the 1930's - this series of recordings for the Pathe label feature Benny Carter (sax, trumpet and arrangements) on the first session and Bill Coleman, Frank "Big Boy" Goudie, George Johnson and Adelaide Hall on the rest. Throughout is magnificent piano playing by Herman Chittison.

Some oddly constructed small groups featured by Goodman on his regular radio broadcasts in 1939. This was the time between when Gene Krupa and his replacement Dave Tough left and Charlie Christian appeared and Goodman was obviously trying different things, including using Leonard Ware and George Rose on electric guitar. Also unique was a duo between Goodman and bass player Artie Bernstein on "Tea For Two."