Jazz Focus

Three blues-based sessions by the great Kansas City vocalist accompanied by his swing era brethren - Emmett Berry, Pat Jenkins, Lawrence Brown, Vic Dickenson, Henderson Chambers, Rudy Powell, Ben Richardson, Sammy Price, Pete Johnson, Clarence Johnson, Freddie Green, Roy Gaines, Walter Page, Aaron Bell, Marlowe Morris, Jo Jones

Almost forgotten Frank Chace was a Chicago-styled clarinet player who sounded like Pee Wee Russell, but was not just an imitator.  Here he brings his sound and unique approach to bands including Wild Bill Davison, Eddie Hubble, George Wein, Yank Lawson, Eddie Miller, Dave Remington, Sid Dawson, Don Ewell, Dewey Jackson, Tom Pletcher, Hal Smith, Jimmy Archey, Johnny Frigo, Ted Butterman and Jim Kweskin from 1951-1987.

New York Swing was a quartet of some of the most experienced and professional rhythm players in New York in the 1990's . .pianist John Bunch, guitarist Bucky Pizarelli, bassist Jay Leonhard and either Dennis Mackrel or Joe Cocuzzo on drums . . from their albums devoted to the music of Jerome Kern, Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hart.

Rudy Williams was a journeyman sax player who stylistically crossed between swing and bebop.  The son of legendary/notorious bandleader Fess Williams and the cousin of Charles Mingus, Williams is here heard on alto sax with a pickup group put together by Baron Timme Rosenkrantz in 1939 (with Don Byas, Tyree Glenn, Rex Stewart, Russell Procope, Billy Kyle, Walter Page and Jo Jones), the Savoy Sultans (his regular band from 1937-1941 or so), a Don Byas group (with Charlie Shavers and Clyde Hart), Tadd Dameron's Sextet (with Fats Navarro, Allan Eager, Kenny Clarke and Curly Russell), Bennie Green's Sextet (on baritone, with Teddy Brannon and Lockjaw Davis) and the Howard McGhee Korean All-Stars (on tenor, with J.J. Johnson and Skeeter Best).

Early recordings by the classic Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen British Trad group - Ball on trumpet, John Bennett on trombone Dave Jones on clarinet, Ron Weatherburn on piano, Paddy Lightfoot on banjo and guitar, Vic Pitts on bass and Ron Bowden on drums with Ball and Lightfoot handling the vocals.  Recorded in the early 1960's for Pye, these sides were charted successes before coming out on LP a bit  later.

Great Argentinian trad band from the late 1960's and early 70's . . retranslating rather than recreating the music of some of the hot dance bands of the 1920's - Henderson, Ellington, Luis Russell and lesser known gems from Clarence Williams, Joe Candullo and the Missourians

Great regional bands of the late 1920's from the Southwest and Midwest featuring up and coming players like Julia Lee, Budd Johnson, Jimmy Crawford, Buster Smith, Hot Lips Page, Jimmy Rushing, Jack Washington and Walter Page with several well known local groups who were fortunate enough to make records!

The 1925 version of the Henderson band from the last recordings with Louis Armstrong to the first one with Rex Stewart - well played and crisp stock arrangements with great solos

The last great Kansas City big band from 1940-43 featuring Charlie Parker as its main soloist, although pianist McShann was one of the best of his generation.  Live broadcasts and studio sessions for Decca show this important transitional group which also has Orville Minor, Paul Quinichette, John Sparrow and John Jackson soloing as well as singer Walter Brown.

The great New Orleans clarinetist Jimmie Noone had prolific life in the recording studio with his band, variously called the Apex Club, El Rado or Nest Orchestra,   the two reed front line was unique, as was the focus on sophisticated pop songs of the day in addition to jazz and blues.  In these last four sessions (1931, 33, 34, and 35) Noone is paired with saxophonist and vocalist Eddie Pollack and occasionally trumpeter Jimmy Cobb along with either Zinky Cohn or Earl Hines on piano, John Henley on guitar, either Quinn Wilson or John Lindsay on bass and Benny Jackson on drums.