Jazz Focus

These are the twelve sides recorded by, I would argue, the greatest edition of the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra.  In effect a swan song, these were recorded in the fall of 1934 for the brand new Decca label just before the band broke up in November, with Henderson moving on to begin his association with Benny Goodman before reforming his band in 1936.  This group features solos from just about everyone except lead trumpet Russell Smith .  .Irving Randolph and Red Allen on trumpets, Keg Johnson and Claude Jones on trombone, Hilton Jefferson, Russell Procope and for one number Benny Carter on alto sax, Ben Webster on tenor sax, Buster Bailey on clarinet, Fletcher and Horace Henderson on piano, Lawrence Lucie on guitar, Elmer James on bass and Walter Johnson on drums, with arrangements by the Hendersons, Carter, Russ Morgan and Will Hudson.  The first recordings of the Swing Era were these! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

This program is devoted to the recordings made under Clarence Williams' name that featured his fellow New Orleans native, King Oliver.  Made between May and December of 1928, most of these recordings feature the 1920's version of a big band with solos by Oliver, Buster Bailey, Arville Harris, Ed Cuffee and Benny Waters with a cameo by Eddie Lang. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

The first of the jazz albums presented  George Avakian when he was still a college student!  This one was devoted to the white musicians active on the Chicago Jazz scene in the 1920's who were still playing in 1940.  These were players who were teenagers in the 1920's and who haunted places like the Lincoln Gardens to hear the music played by great New Orleans players.  Sessions led by Eddie Condon, Jimmy McPartland and George Wettling and featuring Max Kaminsky, Pee Wee Russell, Bud Freeman, Boyce Brown, Dave Tough and Joe Marsala demonstrate how the style grew. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

Another idea of George Avakian's, this 1940 album celebrates some of the New Orleans jazz pioneers still active at the time in new recordings,  Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Jimmie Noone, Johnny Dodds, Red Allen and Zutty Singleton lead the sessions featuring Wellman Braud, Ed Hall, Natty Dominique, Baby Dodds, Lonnie Johnson and Lil Hardin Armstrong among others. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

From the mind of George Avakian, this series of record dates was made in 1940 (with one exception) and released as an album celebrating the music of Kansas City of the late 1920's and 30's.  Count Basie and Andy Kirk are the featured bands, with small group sessions by Mary Lou Williams, Hot Lips Page, Eddie Durham, Pete Johnson and Joe Turner as well. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

Reuben "River" Reeves . . groomed to be a competitor to Louis Armstrong, Reeves never achieved the notoriety or public exposure he might have. Nevertheless, his recordings in the 1920's with his River Boys (including Omer Simeon, William Barbee and others) were excellent jazz features, while his solos with the Cab Calloway and Fess Williams bands show him to have been an underrated trumpet player of the time. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

Jimmy Rushing in the 1950's. . .these recordings were taken from several albums Mr Five by Five recorded for Columbia in the late 1950's - many have a big band led by Buck Clayton with arrangements by Clayton, Nat Pierce and Jimmy Mundy. Great solos by Coleman Hawkins, Buddy Tate, Clayton, Vic Dickenson, Benny Morton, Dickie Wells, Hilton Jefferson, Claude Hopkins , Ben Webster, Helen Humes, Buster Bailey and Urbie Green. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

. Milton Brown and His Brownies! Western Swing in the 1930's - great jazz by a string group and a superb vocalist!  This group was more jazz than country and featured one of the first electric guitarists to be be recorded - Bob Dunn, as well as an excellent barrelhouse piano player named Fred "Papa" Calhoun. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

  Pee Wee Russell 1938 - two sessions . .the Pee Wee Russell Rhythm Makers with James P. Johnson, Freddie, Greene, Walter Page, Zutty Singleton and Dickie Wells and the Rhythm Cats transcriptions with Bobby Hackett, Brad Gowans and Ernie Caceres  .. . --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

This focus is on two albums recorded by Big Joe Turner in the late 50's for Atlantic.  Coming off his success as a senior rock and roll singer ("Shake Rattle and Roll was 1954), Turner returned to his KC roots to sing blues and standards with two all star groups including Coleman Hawkins, Lawrence Brown, Pete Brown, Pete Johnson, Freddie Green, Walter Page, Ernie Royal and Vic Dickenson. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support