Jazz Focus
448 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 29 ratingsA focused look at some specific moments in recorded Jazz history Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
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Episodes
Savoy Blues - blues and Jazz on Savoy, 1944-46. . Helen Humes, Joe Turner, Albinia Jones, Cousin Joe
April 23, 2024 13:31 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBFour sessions featuring different singers with first class jazz accompanists doing a blues repertoire. Albinia Jones (with Dizzy Gillespie, Don Byas, Gene Sedric, Leonard Ware and Sammy Price), Helen Humes (with Herbie Fields, Bobby Stark, Prince Robinson and Leonard Feather), Pleasant Joseph (aka Cousin Joe, with Pete Brown, Leonard Hawkins, Ray Abrams) and Joe Turner (with Pete Johnson, Don Byas, Frankie Newton and Leonard Ware). --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/...
WETF Show - British Trad - Bob Wallis and His Storyville Jazzmen
April 23, 2024 13:29 - 57 minutes - 52.3 MBBob Wallis was a good trumpet player who played in Acker Bilk's first groups before founding his own. These 1957-61 recordings sample the first part of his bandleading career featuring Bilk, Keith "Avo" Avison on trombone, Doug Richmond on clarinet, Hugh Rainey on banjo, Dick Heckstall-Smith on soprano sax, a very young, pre-Cream Ginger Baker on drums and others . . all playing in a solid four beat New Orleans style --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-c...
Irving Fazola's Dixielanders - 1944, 45
April 18, 2024 18:01 - 1 hour - 61.7 MBThe legendary New Orleans clarinetist returned home in the early 1940's and led bands there until he died in 1949. This group was a regular eight piece group modeled after the Bob Cats and featuring Whimpy Miller, Julian Lane, Steve Giarratano, Pete Laudeman, Bunny Franks and Charlie Dukes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - Erroll Garner with bands!
April 18, 2024 18:01 - 55 minutes - 51.2 MBGarner was known primarily as a solo pianist or by working in a trio, but early in his career he played as a sideman with several groups (strange, given that he didn't read music). Here we hear him small groups led by Wardell Gray, Don Byas, Charlie Parker and Lucky Thompson (also with Stuff Smith) and a big band led by Georgie Auld (with Dizzy Gillespie, Trummy Young, Al Cohn and Al Killian). --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
Mezz Mezzrow - 1933-37
April 08, 2024 22:32 - 1 hour - 59.4 MBMezzrow was never a great clarinet player, but certainly was a great character and excelled at surrounding himself with very good musicians. These versions of the Mezz Mezzrow Orchestra and Swing band include Teddy Wilson, Willie The Lion Smith, Sonny White, Frankie Newton, Max Kaminsky, Sy Oliver, J.C. Higginbotham, Floyd O'Brien, Bud Freeman, Benny Carter, Johnny Russell, Happy Caldwell, Pops Foster, Wellman Braud and others --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/s...
WETF Show - Pete Brown Quintet/Sextet 1944-5
April 08, 2024 22:31 - 55 minutes - 50.9 MBThe buoyant alto player known for his 1930's recordings is here presented leading bands in the 1940's that go from swing to bop to rhythm and blues . . records for Savoy and World Transcriptions featuring Jonah Jones and Ed Lewis on trumpets, Zed Jackson and Ray Parker on piano, Al Casey and Bill Moore on electric guitar, Dallas Bartley on bass, Ed Nicholson on drums and others. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
Don Byas Quartet - Fall, 1945
April 01, 2024 13:36 - 1 hour - 58.4 MBThe amazingly progressive tenor saxophonist Byas in four quartet sessions featuring slightly different personnel - Erroll Garner, Johnny Guarnieri, Slam Stewart, Al Hall, Eddie Safranski, Sid Catlett, Doc West and J.C. Heard - doing a varied program of standards, blues and originals --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - James P. Johnson Piano Rolls 1917-1927
April 01, 2024 13:35 - 57 minutes - 52.4 MBThe great Harlem stride pianist Johnson recorded many piano rolls for various companies including QRS, Universal and Perfection, creating an early prototype of the stride style. Here he is featured playing his own compositions as well as interpretations of other tunes from Tin Pan Alley and the black theatre, including one duet with his erstwhile student Fats Waller --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - Johnny Windhurst . .jazz cornet
March 25, 2024 13:24 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBJohnny Windhurst was born in 1926 and by the time he was in his late teens was playing with Eddie Condon and Sidney Bechet. Here is a sampling of his work - informed in equal parts by Bobby Hackett and Louis Armstrong. Sidney Bechet's New Orleans Rhythm Kings (with Pops Foster), Eddie Condon and His Band (with Cutty Cutshall, Ed Hall and Gene Schroeder), Barbara Lea and the Billy Taylor Quintet, Walt Gifford's New Yorkers (with Condon, Eddie Hubble, Dick Cary and Bob Mitchell) and his own qu...
Bechet and Bocage - Savoy Cafe, Boston 1945
March 25, 2024 13:22 - 1 hour - 58.5 MBSidney Bechet's New Orleans Rhythm Kings live from the Savoy Cafe in Boston, May 1945. For three weeks following the disastrous run with Bechet and Bunk Johnson, the New Orleans trumpet player Peter Bocage was brought in and he is featured on about six broadcasts, which are sampled here! Also featuring Ray Parker on piano, Pops Foster on bass, George Thompson on drums and on two tunes Brad Gowans on valve trombone --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clar...
Wingy Manone - 1934-35
March 21, 2024 21:07 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBStudio band led by the New Orleans trumpeter Wingy Manone for Vocalion, OKeh and Banner in 1934 and 1935. Using members of the Ben Pollack Orchestra (Matty Matlock, Eddie Miller, Gil Bowers, Nappy Lamare, Harry Goodman, Ray Bauduc) Manone recorded a mix of original jazz tunes and Tin Pan Alley pops with a driving rhythm and outstanding solos. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - Oscar Aleman . .1930's and 40's Jazz from France and Argentina
March 21, 2024 19:42 - 57 minutes - 52.8 MBAlmost unknown guitarist who could have provided some competition to Django Reinhardt in the 1930's . . Born in Argentina, Aleman lived in Paris for most of the 30's, returning home when war clouds gathered. Here are solo recordings of his, his own trio and quintet as well as sideman adventures with Bill Coleman, Garland Wilson, Danny Polo, Una Mae Carlisle, Alix Combelle, Phillipe Brun, Eddie Bruner, Wilson Myers and Tommy Benford --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/...
Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra - 1954-57
March 12, 2024 18:38 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBHodges' studio groups - mostly featuring Ellingtonians - recorded during his period away from the band. Harold "Shorty" Baker, Clark Terry (trumpet), Lawrence Brown (trombone), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinet and tenor sax), Arthur "Babe" Clarke (tenor sax), Harry Carney (baritone sax), Billy Strayhorn, Call Cobbs, Leroy Lovett (piano), Lloyd Trottman, Jimmy Woode (bass), Louis Bellson, Joe Marshall, Sonny Greer (drums) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark...
WETF Show - Miff Mole's Little Molers 1927-28
March 12, 2024 18:34 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBStudio band using the Red Nichols stock company and led by trombonist Mole - one of the unsung heroes of 1920's Jazz. With Nichols on cornet, Art Schutt and Joe Sullivan on piano, Vic Berton, Gene Krupa and Stan King on drums, Eddie Lang, Carl Kress and Dick McDonough on guitar and banjo, Joe Tarto on tuba and reeds played by Jimmy Dorsey, Pee Wee Russell, Fud Livingston and Adrian Rollini. All recorded for OKeh in New York! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sho...
Terry Waldo's Gutbucket Syncopators 1971, 74
March 05, 2024 18:15 - 1 hour - 59.3 MBLive Recordings by the influential trad group with Waldo on piano and vocals, Roy Tate on trumpet, Jim Snyder on trombone, Frank Powers on clarinet and tenor sax, Bob Sundstrom and Bill Moorhead on banjo, Mike Walbridge on tuba and Wayne Jones on drums and vocal . . special guest Edith Wilson on vocals! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - the Dutch Jazz Orchestra plays Billy Strayhorn
March 05, 2024 18:13 - 58 minutes - 53.1 MBThese 1995-2002 sessions for Challenge records feature the crack Dutch big band playing published and unpublished arrangements and compositions by Billy Strayhorn, including a very early version of "Lush Life" (aka "Lonely Again") all featuring tremendous solos by the members of the band --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
Southside Chicago Big Bands 1930s - Reuben Reeves, Frankie Half Pint Jaxon, Richard M. Jones
February 26, 2024 19:15 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBUnusual sessions during the Depression - black big bands active in Chicago in the 1930's (most musicians from the previous decade) playing good jazz! . .Richard M. Jones (with Artie Starks, Preston Jackson, Herschel Evans, Louis Metcalf, Ed Saint, others), Frankie Half Pint Jaxon (with Guy Kelly, Al Wynn, Dalbert Bright, Dave Young, others), and Reuben "River" Reeves (with Gerald Reeves, Franz Jackson, Norval Morton, Tubby Hall, others) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify...
WETF Show - Wingy Manone and Chu Berry
February 26, 2024 19:14 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MBOn the face of it, the New Orleans trumpeter Manone and the great swing tenor sax player Berry were ill-fitted, but these 1938 and 1939 sessions were remarkably successful, featuring jazz standards and some pop tunes as well as Buster Bailey, Gus Fetterer, Buck Scott, Joe Marsala, Conrad Lanoue, Danny Barker, Zeb Julian and Cozy Cole --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
West End Jazz Band plays Coon-Sanders
February 19, 2024 15:46 - 1 hour - 59.7 MBThe Chicago-based West End Jazz Band (featuring Mike and Leah Bezin, Frank Gualtieri, John Otto, Mike Walbridge, Wayne Jones and Mike Albiniak) was especially active in the first fifteen years of the 21st Century and specialized in Hot Dance. Here, they play a series of selections recorded in the 1920's by the Coon Sanders Nighthawks. Terrific arrangements - the six piece band sounds like at least ten! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - Ethel Waters, 1938-1939
February 19, 2024 15:45 - 56 minutes - 51.9 MBGreat recordings made by Ethel Waters in 1938 and 1939 for Bluebird . . accompanied by her husband at the time, Eddie Mallory and His Orchestra which included Mallory, Shirly Clay, Tyree Glenn, Castor McCord, Benny Carter, Garvin Bushell, Reginald Beane, Danny Barker, Milt Hinton and Charles Turner --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
Rhapsody at 100 - Jazz takes on Rhapsody in Blue (Ellington, Mingus, Gershin, Whiteman)
February 15, 2024 21:46 - 1 hour - 61.3 MBRhapsody in Blue is 100 years old as of Febuary, 2024! Here are some historical as well as great jazz performances of the iconic piece - George Gershwin on piano roll and with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, Bert Firman (with Carroll Gibbons), Eddie South, Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, Leroy Smith and Glenn Miller --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - Southside Jazz 2 - Luis Russell, Tiny Parham, Ikey Robinson, Frankie Half Pint Jaxon
February 15, 2024 21:45 - 59 minutes - 54.3 MBSmall group sides from 1926-30 recorded by Southside African-American bands in Chicago . . Luis Russell (with George Mitchell, Kid Ory, Barney Bigard, Albert Nicholas, Johnny St. Cyr), Tiny Parham (with Kid Ory, Junie Cobb, Roy Hobson), Frankie Half Pint Jaxon (with Punch Miller), Banjo Ikey Robinson (with Jabbo Smith), and Lloyd Smith. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
Illinois Stomp - Illinois Jacquet Orchestra 1945
February 08, 2024 02:04 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MBFirst sessions by the Illinois Jacquet Orchestra in 1945 while he was between engagements with Cab Calloway and Count Basie . .eight piece band with his brother Russell on trumpet, Henry Coker or Vic Dickenson on trombone, John Brown on alto, Arthur Dennis on bari, Tom Archia occasionally playing tenor, Sir Charles Thompson on piano, Ulysses Livingston on guitar and Charles Mingus on bass with vocals by Russell and Wynonie Harris . .the focus is on the fleet and inventive tenor playing of th...
WETF Show - Chicago to New York, 1929-34
February 08, 2024 02:02 - 57 minutes - 52.3 MBBands led by two almost forgotten black musicians from Chicago - drummer Harry Dial and pianist/composer/arranger Alex Hill. In Chicago Harry Dial's Bluesicians included Shirley Clay, Lester Boone, Omer Simeon, George Dixon, Cecil Irwin, and Hayes Alvis . . Hill's band in Chicago from 1930 had Bob Shoffner, George Dixon, Cecil Irwin, Darnell Howard, George James, Zinky Cohn and Sid Catlett . . his 1934 New York band had Joe Thomas, Benny Carter, Clyde Bernhardt, Claude Jones, George James, A...
Southside Jazz 1 - Chicago jazz from 1926-1929
January 31, 2024 17:39 - 1 hour - 63 MBGreat unheard jazz from various black groups active in Chicago in the late 1920's - Dave Nelson, Kline Tindall, Vance Dixon, Ernest "Mike" Michall, Cicero Thomas and others producing some exceptionally hot sounds just below the radar . .recordings for Paramount and Gennett. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - Illinois Jacquet Orchestra 1947-50
January 31, 2024 17:38 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBGreat band straddling swing, bop and R&B, all featuring the Texas tenor, Illinois Jacquet with his brother Russell and Joe Newman on trumpets, J.J. Johnson and Henry Coker on trombones, Ray Perry on alto, Leo Parker and Maurice Simon on baritones, John Lewis and Sir Charles Thompson on piano, John Collins on guitar, Al Lucas on bass and Shadow Wilson on drums --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
Rhythm Is His Business - Bud Freeman in the 1930's
January 23, 2024 20:02 - 1 hour - 59.8 MBBud Freeman was one of the most in-demand sidemen on record sessions in the 1930's - here he is featured extensively with Bunny Berigan (with Forrest Crawford, Chick Bullock), Gene Gifford (with Berigan, Matty Matlock, Claude Thornhill, Morey Samuels), Wingy Manone (with Dicky Wells, Teddy Wilson, Matty Matlock, Gil Bowers, Artie Shaw) and Eddie Condon (with Max Kaminsky, Floyd O'Brien, Pee Wee Russell, Joe Sullivan, Alex Hill) - all between 1933 and 1936. --- Support this podcast: https:...
WETF Show - Richard M. Jones . .1927-1929
January 23, 2024 20:01 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MBGreat jazz sides by Richard M. Jones' Jazz Wizards, featuring Shirley Clay, William Franklin, Roy Carew, Omer Simeon, Artie Starks, Johnny St. Cyr, Willie Hightower and others, playing the compositions and arrangements of the New Orleans pianist, composer and talent scout Jones. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
Tennessee Tooters - 1924-25 with Red Nicholas, Miff Mole, Harry Reser
January 17, 2024 03:39 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBGreat studio band playing hot stock arrangements in 1924 and 1925 . . featuring Red Nichols, Mickey Bloom, Miff Mole, Vincent Grande, Charles Panelli, Bennie Krueger, Rube Bloom, Harry Reser, Joe Tarto and others --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - Swing 1946 - Benny Carter, Jonah Jones, Gene "Honeybear" Sedric
January 17, 2024 03:38 - 57 minutes - 53 MBGreat sessions for Charles Delauney's Swing label in New York in 1946 featuring Benny Carter and The Chocolate Dandies (Buck Clayton, Al Grey, Ben Webster, Sonny White, John Simmons and Sid Catlett), Jonah Jones and His Cats (Tyree Glenn, Rudy Powell, Ike Quebec, Dave Rivera, Milt Hinton, Kansas Fields) and Gene Sedric (Lincoln Mills, Freddy Jefferson, Danny Settle, Slick Jones), including two bonus Sedric tracks for Keynote --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sho...
WETF Show - George Lewis with Elmer Talbert 1949-1950
January 08, 2024 21:35 - 57 minutes - 52.4 MBGreat early version of the George Lewis band, featuring the trumpet player the leader always said was his favorite - Elmer "Coo Coo" Talbert. Live and transcription recordings from 1949 to 1950 (when Talbert died) also featuring Jim Robinson, Alton Purnell, Lawrence Marrero, Slow Drag Pavageau and Joe Watkins --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
Benny Carter - 1945, 46
January 08, 2024 21:35 - 1 hour - 60.6 MBBenny Carter led a big band from 1932 until 1947, but none was better than the 1945-46 edition, which split time between New York and Los Angeles. Featured in his regular band are Bumps Myers, Idrees Sulieman, Max Roach, Al Grey, Sonny White and of course Carter himself on alto, trumpet and clarinet, with most of the arrangements being his. The two sessions with his all-star band have some of those musicians plus Trummy Young, Dickie Wells, Emmett Berry, Joe Newman, Don Byas, Flip Phillips a...
WETF Show - Tiny Parham with Punch Miller 1928-9
January 02, 2024 16:50 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBTiny Parham was a well known theater musician, arranger and composer who had a series of recording sessions for Victor in 1928-1930 featuring his compositions and arrangements. This show focuses on two sessions, each of which features the New Orleans trumpeter Punch Miller along with Charles Lawson, Charles Johnson, Dalbert Bright, Mike McKendrick and others. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
Northside Chicago Dance Bands of the 1930s - Frankie Trumbauer, Charles Lavere, Jack Teagarden
December 26, 2023 14:05 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBThree of the few white dance bands in Chicago in the 1930's playing good jazz - Jack and Charlie Teagarden fronting the Charles Lavere band (with Bud Freeman, Rod Cless, Bob Conselman, Dick McPartland), the slightly later Lavere group (with Jabbo Smith, Marty Marsala, Joe Marsala, Joe Masek), and Frankie Trumbauer's short-lived big band featuring mainly himself, but good solos from Joe Harris as well --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - This Is Jazz All Stars 9/47 - Wild Bill Davison, Ed Hall, Ralph Sutton
December 26, 2023 14:03 - 58 minutes - 53.2 MBGreat houseband for Rudi Blesh's radio show "This Is Jazz" in 1947. Selections from two broadcasts of the show and two appearances on the same days by the same band on another program. .. .Wild Bill Davison on cornet, Jimmy Archey on trombone, Ed Hall on clarinet, Ralph Sutton on piano, Danny Barker on guitar, Pops Foster on bass and Baby Dodds on drums. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
George Lewis - 1943 Climax Session
December 18, 2023 19:07 - 1 hour - 60.3 MBPerhaps the first true New Orleans revival session - George Lewis and His Band was essentially the same group that recorded with Bunk Johnson, but with Avery "Kid" Howard bringing a more modern style to the band. Jim Robinson, Lawrence Marrero, Chester Zardis, Edgar Mosely and "Jim Little" (Sidney Brown) round out the group. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - Earl Hines and His Orchestra, 1939-42
December 18, 2023 19:06 - 58 minutes - 53.8 MBExcellent if unapprecciated big band led by the great pianist Earl Hines. Featuring arrangments by Franz Jackson, Budd Johnson and Gerald Valentine, soloists include Johnson, Jackson, tenor sax player Bob Crowder, alto sax Scoops Carey, clarinets Omer Simeon and Leroy Harris and brass players including John "Streamline" Ewing, Harry Jackson, Walter Fuller and Ed Sims. Vocals by Billy Eckstine! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
Preston Jackson - 1920's Chicago with Richard M. Jones, Bertha "Chippie" Hill and Luis Russell
December 11, 2023 15:01 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBThe New Orleans trombone player Preston Jackson was an active participant in Southside jazz bands in the 1920's . .here he is featured with Richard M. Jones Jazz Wizards (Shirley Clay, Artie Starks, Johnny St. Cyr, George Reynolds, Clifford "Snags" Jones), Bertha "Chippie" Hill and his own Uptown Band (featuring Jones' musicians) and also Luis Russell's Heebie Jeebie Stompers with Bob Shoffner, Darnell Howard, Barney Bigard and St. Cyr. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify...
WETF Show - The Small Herds - Bill Harris, Flip Phillips, Sonny Berman
December 11, 2023 15:01 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBSwing to Bop records made by members of Woody Herman's First Herd in 1944-46 . . groups led by Harris (with Conte Candoli, Alvin Burroughs and Phillips), Berman (Harris, Phillips, Serge Chaloff) and Phillips (Neal Hefti, Harris, Aaron Sachs and Bill Shine) with a more or less steady rhythm section of Ralph Burns, Billy Bauer, Chubby Jackson and either Dave Tough or Don Lamond. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - Teddy Wilson solos 1934-41
December 04, 2023 15:35 - 56 minutes - 52 MBTeddy Wilson solo piano performances, from his first (unreleased) session in 1934 through some occasional 1941 tracks for Brunswick, ARC and Columbia. He was known as the "Quintessence of Swing" and these somewhat rare solos demonstrate why! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
Teddy Wilson Trio, Sextet, Octet - 1940-44
December 04, 2023 15:35 - 1 hour - 56.6 MBSmall groups that played regularly at Cafe Society and other New York establishments for about four years, led by the great pianist Teddy Wilson. Columbia and transcription recordings featuring Bill Coleman, Emmett Berry, Benny Morton, Jimmy Hamilton, Edmond Hall, George James, Al Hall, Specs Powell, Sid Catlett, Slam Stewart and others . .also Helen Ward and Lena Horne on vocals! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
Flip Phillips - 1944-45
November 28, 2023 19:20 - 1 hour - 57.9 MBSmall group recordings featuring Woody Herman's First Herd tenor saxophonist - with Earl Hines (Ray Nance, Johnny Hodges, Betty Roche), Red Norvo (Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Teddy Wilson, Slam Stewart) and under his own name with Ralph Burns, Chubby Jackson, Billy Bauer and Don Lamond --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - Archie Semple, British Trad clarinet
November 28, 2023 19:19 - 56 minutes - 51.6 MBThe largely forgotten clarinet player Archie Semple was a mainstay in Alex Welsh's great band in the 1950's and 60's before suffering an emotional and physical breakdown that sadly ended his playing days. Here is a sample of the relatively few tracks he recorded under his own name, featuring Welsh, Dickie Hawdon on trumpet, Roy Crimmins on trombone, Fred Hunt on piano and others, but focusing on the leader's clarinet, reflecting the twin influences of Pee Wee Russell and Edmond Hall --- S...
Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders . .Tommy Ladnier, Kid Ory, Johnny Dodds
November 21, 2023 15:24 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBLovie Austin was a busy pianist/arranger/composer in Chicago in the 1920's - as one of the few women in an almost exclusively male business she carved out a niche for herself, influencing other women performers to come, such as Mary Lou Williams. Her instrumental recordings are here from 1924-26 and feature Tommy Ladnier, Natty Dominique, Kid Ory, Johnny Dodds, Jimmy O'Bryant, W.E Burton, Priscilla Stewart and others, with Austin holding it all together as a player, arranger and composer. -...
WETF Show - Count Basie, January 1956
November 21, 2023 15:24 - 58 minutes - 53.9 MBRecordings made by one of the greatest versions of the Basie band for Verve in January, 1956. Featuring arrangements by Ernie Wilkins, Neal Hefti, Joe Newman, Frank Wess and Frank Foster and solos by the two Franks, Newman, Thad Jones, Bill Hughes, Henry Coker, Benny Powell, Bill Graham, Marshall Royal and the great rhythm section of Basie, Freddie Green, Eddie Jones and Sonny Payne. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
Alex Welsh and His Dixielanders - British Trad in the 1950's
November 14, 2023 18:18 - 1 hour - 65.2 MBTrumpeter Welsh led one of the most musical yet exciting trad bands of the 1950's and 60's - with Roy Crimmins on trombone, Archie Semple on clarinet, Fred Hunt on piano and Lennie Hastings on drums (and several guitars and bassists), the band mined a wide range of jazz repertoire from ragtime to New Orleans and swing, all within a Chicago Jazz/Eddie Condon perspective. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - Count Basie Redux . .1959, 60
November 14, 2023 18:17 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBGreat Roulette recordings by the New Testament Basie Band reinterpreting the tunes from his 1930's and 40's band. Featuring great work by Billy Mitchell, Henry Coker, Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Jimmy Nottingham, Seldon Powell, Frank Foster, Frank Wess, Marshall Royal, Benny Powell and Basie himself! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
Claude Hopkins - 1932-34
November 08, 2023 00:59 - 1 hour - 60.6 MBAlmost forgotten big band that played at the Savoy in NYC at the same time as Chick Webb. Hopkins was among the best stride pianists of the day and a very good arranger as well - his band included Sylvester Lewis and Ovie Alston on trumpets, Fred Norman and Fernando Arbello on trombones, Gene Johnson and Bobby Sands on saxes and most notably Edmond Hall on clarinet and baritone sax. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support
WETF Show - Alex Welsh and his mainstream group in the UK
November 08, 2023 00:58 - 58 minutes - 53.1 MBAlex Welsh was known as a traditional/dixieland trumpet player in the 1950's and mid 1960's. By the late 1960's the band had evolved from a Chicago styled group to a mainstream unit featuring trombonist Roy Williams, reed player Johnny Barnes, pianist Fred Hunt, guitar/banjo player Jim Douglas and drummer Lennie Hastings. Ranging from New Orleans numbers through swing and Gerry Mulligan tunes, this group had a good ten year run. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod...
Everybody Shuffle - Ben Webster and the big bands, 1934-40
October 31, 2023 13:12 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBSeries of recordings by Harlem-based big bands, all featuring Ben Webster's emerging tenor sax. . .Benny Carter, Willie Bryant, Fletcher Henderson, Cab Calloway, Teddy Wilson and Duke Ellington all prized Webster . . recordings also feature Shad Collins, Irving Randolph, Emmett Berry, Jerry Blake, Keg Johnson, Jake Wiley, Glyn Paque, Garvin Bushell, Leroy Maxey, Shorty Baker, Karl George, Joe Nanton, Barney Bigard and Ivy Anderson . . . --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotif...