Jazz Focus

The great baritone saxophonist Leo Parker - one of the two bebop bari players (with Cecil Payne) . .a short, but telling career.  Here he is with guitarist Bill Jennings in 1954 and on his two Blue Note LPs recorded in 1961, six months before he died.  Also featuring Dave Burns, John Burks, Bill Swindell, Johnny Acea, Yusef Salim, Stan Connover, Purnell Rice and others --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

Ellington and others . . The 1929-31 version of Duke Ellington's Cotton Club band in their recordings of non-Ellington tunes!  Cootie Williams, Joe Nanton, Bigard, Hodges, Carney, etc . . great playing on little-issued recordings of the period still sounding distinctive. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

Thomas Morris was one of the first call trumpet players in Harlem Jazz circles in the early 1920's.  These are sides he recorded with his Seven Hot Babies and related groups for Victor in 1926 and 1927 .  .some great playing by little known musicians including Ward Pinkett, Charlie Irvis, Geechie Fields, Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton, Ernest Elliott, Bob Fuller, Happy Caldwell, Mike Jackson, Lee Blair, Buddy Christian, Bill Benford and Wellman Braud --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

Benny Goodman on the side . . 1929-31 sideman recordings before he became the King Of Swing . .with Jack Pettis and His Pets, Rube Bloom and His Bayou Boys, The Charleston Chasers and the Venuti-Lang All Star Orchestra (with Jack Teagarden, Charlie Teagarden, Mannie Klein, Tommy Dorsey, Bill Moore, Dick McDonough, Adrian Rollini, Frank Signorelli and Eva Taylor) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

Nat Gonella - the first popular British jazz artist, here on the first records under his own name.  Very Louis Armstrong-inspired playing and singing with small groups including the under-recorded pianist Garland Wilson, the tenor saxophonist Don Barrigo and many players from the Roy Fox Orchestra of the period (1931-34) before Gonella went out on his own with his Georgians. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

Mainstream - more Vanguard sides featuring the Vic Dickenson Septet (with Ruby Braff, Shad Collins, Edmund Hall, Sir Charles Thompson, Steve Jordan, Walter Page, Les Erskine and Jo Jones) and the Mel Powell Septet (with Braff, Hall and Henderson Chambers) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

New Music of Reginald Foresythe - original music by a true original.  The black British pianist who was known as the composer of Earl Hines' them "Deep Forest" and things like "Dodging a Divorcee" and "Serenade to a Wealthy Widow" and his very unusual arrangements for woodwinds and rhythm.  His last date in the US featured soon to be swing stars Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Toots Mondello, Hymie Schertzer and Johnny MInce! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

Mel Powell on Vanguard . .great trio, quartet and quintet sessions from 1954 and 1955 featuring Ruby Braff, Paul Quinichette, Skeeter Best, Bobby Donaldson and Oscar Pettiford with the great Mel Powell on piano --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

WETF Show - Black and White keys . . recordings featuring pianists recorded for the Black and White label in the early and mid 1940's. ..Nat Jaffe, Cliff Jackson, Dick Cary and Gene Schroeder assisted by George Wettling, Joe Grauso and Bob Casey  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

Ben Webster in the 1940's - matchless tenor sax player guesting with several groups from 1944-46 . . Tony Scott (with Dizzy Gillespie, Trummy Young), Benny Carter (Buck Clayton, Sid Catlett and Al Grey), Al Hall (Dick Vance, Clyde Hart) and Teddy Wilson (Buck Clayton). --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support