Jazz Focus

Latest Episodes:

Portena Jazz Band - trad jazz from Argentina! Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

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

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WETF Show - Territory Bands from Kansas City area - Walter Page, George E. Lee, Chickasaw Syncopators, Jesse Stone Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

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!

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Fletcher Henderson - 1925 with Coleman Hawkins, Buster Bailey, Louis Armstrong, Rex Stewart Jan 12, 2023

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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

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WETF Show - Jay McShann and his Orchestra featuring Charlie Parker Jan 12, 2023

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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.

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Jimmie Noone - 1931-35 . . last of the Apex Club Orchestra recordings Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

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.

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WETF Show - Bennie Moten and His Kansas City Orchestra 1926-27 Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

The early version of the classic Moten orchestra recording for Victor - featuring Lammar Wright, Ed Lewis, Paul Webster, Thamon Hayes, Harlan Leonard, Jack Washington, Woodie Walder, Sam Tall, Leroy Berry, Vernon Page and Willie McWashington with the leader on piano - some great territory jazz that became an early prototype of the Basie band of the 1930's.

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Early Bebop - Milt Jackson, Howard McGhee and Sonny Stitt 1947-48 Dec 28, 2022

Show notes

Two (or possibly four) sessions with the young boppers, probably aimed at the jukebox market. Both sessions feature the vibes of Milt Jackson and piano of Will Davis . . the McGhee date for Savoy features the trumpet playing standards and originals with Jimmy Heath on alto and bari and Percy Heath. The Stitt session features the alto player in Detroit playing a series of very short tracks with Jackson, Davis and a local group but with particularly outstanding saxophone playing!

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WETF Show - Coleman Hawkins in the 1940's for Keynote and Signature Dec 28, 2022

Show notes

Great band sides with Hawkins for Keynote and Signature in 1943 and 44 featuring Bill Coleman, Andy Fitzgerald, Ellis Larkins, Jimmy Shirley, Teddy Wilson, Buck Clayton and Roy Eldridge with superb tenor sax playing from the leader at his peak!

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Harlan Leonard and His Rockets - Kansas City big band in 1940 Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

Harlan Leonard played lead alto sax for Benny Moten from 1924-1931 and then started his own band with Thamon Hayes. By 1939 Leonard had taken it over completely and had developed a group on the tradition of Moten and Basie, but with progressive tendencies demonstrated by the first arrangements of Tadd Dameron and outstanding playing by tenor saxophonist Henry Bridges and particularly trombonist Fred Beckett, who was cited as an important influence by J.J. Johnson later . .

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WETF Show - Doc Cook and His Dreamland Orchestra 1924-28 Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

Great big band resident at the Dreamland Ballroom in Chicago during the 1920's featuring Freddie Keppard, Jimmy Noone, Joe Poston, Johnny St. Cyr, Andrew Hillaire, Fred Garland and others playing some hot but sophisticated dance music from the Jazz Age!

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