Jazz Focus

Latest Episodes:

Harry James on Varsity 1940 Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

The Harry James Orchestra in 1940 between its contracts with Columbia recorded several sessions for the small Varstiy label - here we have some great jazz sides including work by Vido Musso, Sam Donahue, Dalton Rizzoto, Dave Matthews and Jack Gardner with the best solos from the leader . . also some seldom-heard vocals by Dick Haymes!

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WETF Show - World Dixie . . traditional jazz sessions by Muggsy Spanier and Wild Bill Davison in 1943 and 44 for World Transcriptions Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

Three sessions done for World - two of which were basically copied from or to better known sessions on Commodore with identical bands . . the Davison band has George Brunies, Pee Wee Russell, Gene Schroeder, Eddie Condon, Bob Casey and George Wettling; the second Spanier session has Pee Wee, Condon and Casey with Ernie Caceres, Dick Cary and Joe Grauso and the first Spanier one (done in Chicago) has Warren Smith, Bud Jacobsen, Jack Gardner, Pat Pattison and Frank Rullo

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Erskine Hawkins and His 'Bama State Collegians . . 1936-8 Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

Erskine Hawkins led a great band from 1939-1950, billed as the "Twentieth Century Gabriel" due to his penchant for trumpet histrionics coupled with an excellent band and fine soloists. His first group was almost the same personnel - a group of students form Alabama Teacher's College including Dud Bascomb, Paul Bascomb, Sammy Lowe, Jimmy Mitchelle, Haywood Henry and Avery Parrish. Their first recordings (for Vocalion) showed a very capable band with terrific soloists following in the direction of the Jimmie Lunceford band, especially with the lead alto of Bill Johnson and the Sy Oliver-influenced arrangements of Lowe.

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WETF Show - Howard McGhee on Dial . .with Teddy Edwards, Milt Jackson, James Moody, Dodo Marmarosa, etc. Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

Quartet, Quintet and Sextet sessions from the great bebop trumpet player in 1946 and 47 on both coasts . .great originals and innovative takes on standards with Teddy Edwards and James Moody on tenor saxes, Dodo Marmarosa, Hank Jones and Jimmy Bunn on piano, Milt Jackson on vibes and others . .

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Miff Mole and His Nicksielanders - 1944 with Pee Wee Russell, Bobby Hackett, Eddie Condon, etc. Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

Sessions for Commodore and World Transcriptions of a band led by the trend setting trombonist of the 20's, Miff Mole. Great 1940's dixieland with either Bobby Hackett (Commodore) or Sterling Bose (World) on trumpet, Pee Wee Russell, Ernie Caceres, Gene Schroeder, Eddie Condon, Bob Casey and Joe Grauso

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WETF Show - Jimmy Rushing on Vanguard 1953-57 Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

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

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Frank Chace - Chicago Jazz Revisited! Wild Bill Davison, Dewey Jackson, Dave Remington, Tom Pletcher, Don Ewell, Jim Kweskin Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

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.

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WETF Show - New York Swing 1992-1993 . .John Bunch and Bucky Pizzarelli Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

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.

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Unheard saxophone - Rudy Williams . . recording with the Savoy Sultans, Don Byas, Tadd Dameron and Howard McGhee Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

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).

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WETF show - Midnight in Moscow - Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen for Pye records, 1961-63 Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

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.

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