Jazz Focus

Decca recordings from 1939-40 of the eight piece Bob Cats Dixieland ensemble featuring the great clarinetist Fazola along with Eddie Miller on tenor, Warren Smith on trombone, Nappy Lamare on guitar, Bob Haggart on bass, Ray Bauduc on drums and either Joe Sullivan, Floyd Bean or Jess Stacy on piano and Billy Butterfield or Yank Lawson on trumpets

Influential band of white jazz musicians - many from New Orleans - active in Chicago in the early 1920's - Paul Mares (c), George Brunies (tbn), Leon Rappolo (clt), Jack Pettis (ts), Mel Stitzel and Elmer Schoebel (p), Lew Black (bjo), Steve Brown (sb), Frank Snyder and Ben Pollack (d). Premier versions of many jazz standards and classic versions of some!

Not to be confused with the more modern altoist of the same name, this John Handy was known as "Capt. John Handy" due to his no-nonsense nature in rehearsals, apparently. He was usually featured in a traditional, dixieland-New Orleans setting during the revivial period, but here are two very mainstream sessions recorded in England in 1966 featuring members of the Barry Martyn band, including the leader on drums, Pat Hawes and Richard Simmons on piano and Cuff Billett on trumpet and vocals

Practically forgotten but possibly the best US service band in WWII, it was initially led by Artie Shaw in the Pacific Theatre, but when Shaw went home it was taken over by tenor saxophonist Donahue and brought to England for the last few months of the war. These recordings feature this crack unit on VDisc, AFRS transcriptions and a Jubilee broadcast with superb work by the leader, Ralph La Polla on clarinet, John Best on trumpet, Tak Takvorian on trombone and Rocky Collucio on piano.

The Jamaican-born Reece was regarded as one of the foremost trumpeters in the UK in the 1950's before moving to the US later in the decade. Here are sideman appearances in both places - first with the Victor Feldman Orchestra and Ninetet (featuring Jimmy Deuchar, Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Scott, Derek Humble and Phil Seaman) and then with the Duke Jordan Quintet (with Jordan, Stanley Turrentine, Reggie Workman and Art Taylor)

Great Condon-styled dixieland made for the war effort via V-discs in 1944, 45 and 48. In addition to Spanier and Hackett are Cutty Cutshall and Lou McGarity (trombone), Pee Wee Russell and Peanuts Hucko (clarinet), Bud Freeman (tenor), Ernie Caceres (baritone), Charlie Queener, Jess Stacy (piano), Eddie Condon and Hy White (guitar), Bob Casey, Irv Manning (bass), and George Wettling and Morey Feld on drums.

The Scots-born trumpeter Jimmy Deucher was a force on the British jazz scene from the late 1940's until the 1980's, playing in big bands, arranging and composing. Here are two early (1955, 56) sessions for Tempo featuring his arrangements and playing with trombonist Ken Wray, alto and baritone saxophonist Derek Humble, tenor player Tubby Hayes, pianist Victor Feldman and drummer Tony Crosbie.

Great traditional jazz band from the Boston area in the 1970's . . inspired by the two cornet approach of Lu Watters' Yerba Buena Jazz Band, this group had a more varied repertoire, featuring Dave Whitney on trumpet and vocals, Paul Monat on cornet, Bob Connors on trombone, Blair Bettencourt on clarinet and soprano sax, Bob Carroll or Don Bennett on piano, Cal Owen on banjo, Stu Gunn on tuba and Ray Smith on drums

The last sessions by McKinney (led by alto player and arranger Don Redman) leading into his own orchestra - great early swing featuring Ed Inge and Benny Carter on clarinet, Sidney Deparis, Red Allen and Joe Smith on trumpet, Ed Cuffee and Benny Morton on trombones, Prince Robinson and Bob Carroll on tenor sax, Horace Henderson, Todd Rhodes and James P. Johnson on piano, Manzie Johnson and Cuba Austin on drums

Four more or less unrelated sessions featuring high quality and professional traditional jazz as it was being performed on 52nd Street . . George Wettling's Rhythm Kings with Ed Hall, Billy Butterfield and Dave Bowman; Bud Freeman's Gang with Bobby Hackett, Pee Wee Russell, Dave Matthews and Jess Stacy; two sessions by George Brunies' Jazz Band with either Wild Bill Davison or Max Kaminsky, either Tony Parenti or Johnny Mince, Gene Schroeder, Jack Lesberg and Johnny Blowers. And Eddie Condon on every side!