Jazz Focus

Four great 1944 sessions for Commodore featuring Muggsy Spanier's Ragtimers - with Miff Mole, Lou McGarity, Pee Wee Russell, Ernie Caceres, Dick Cary, Gene Schroeder, Boomie Richman, Eddie Condon, Bob Casey, Bob Haggart, Joe Grauso and George Wettling . . style-setting Dixieland!

Glenn Miller's first lead alto player Hal McIntyre left that group in 1941 to form his own big band, which owed much more to Ellington's sound.  Tenor saxophonists Dave Matthews, Johnny Hayes and Willie Baker, trombonist Jim Emert, trumpeters Sal La Perche, Bobby Guyer and Joe Weidman and arrangers Matthews, McIntyre, Dan Hurd and Howard Gibbeling all contributed to an immensely talented but underrated band.

Great sides recreating some of Louis' earlier recorded hits - with JC Higginbotham (tbn), Charlie Holmes (alto), Bingie Madison (clt), Joe Garland (tenor), Luis Russell (p), Pops Foster (bass), and Sid Catlett (drums)

Chamber jazz with Louis Armstrong featured with the classic Mills Brothers!

Tenor sax player with Woody Herman and Buddy Rich - Eager became known as a highly original soloist although one who used the sound and light attack of Lester Young.  Here his three sessions under his own name and one by Teddy Reig feature Kai Winding (valve trombone!), Doug Mettome (trumpet), Terry Gibbs (vibraphone), Duke Jordan, Ed Finkel, George Wallington, Marty Napoleon (piano), Curly Russell, Leonard Gaskin, Eddie Safranski, Bob Carter (bass), Max Roach, Stan Levey and Shelly Manne (drums)

Bonano was a somewhat antic trumpet player who nevertheless always fronted excellent bands and usually played well himself.  This selection of recordings from 1951-58 feature the clarinetist Harry Shields (brother of Larry) along with Julian Lane, Bob Havens and Emile Christian on trombone, Stanley Mendelsohn and Armand Hug on piano, Joe Capraro on banjo, Chink Martin on tuba and bass, Johnny Castaing and Monk Hazel on drums and Hazel on mellophone.

Swing/Bop Tenor player Lucky Thompson with a series of small groups - His own all-stars and Freddie Green's Orchestra with Basie musicians (Buck Clayton, Karl George, J.J. Johnson, Rudy Rutherford, Bill Dogett, Shadow Wilson, Rodney Richardson) and under his own name with Dodo Marmarosa, Red Callendar and Jackie Mills.  The last session has a true all-star group with Neal Hefti and Benny Carter!

One of the stranger albums of his career, Louis Armstong's "tribute" to his mentor King Oliver features very few tunes Oliver ever recorded or possibly even played.  Nevertheless, the 1959 sessions feature some of Louis' best late period playing along with Trummy Young, Peanuts Hucko, Billy Kyle, Mort Herbert and Danny Barcelona

1925 sessions featuring Armstrong backing up the Empress of the Blues - Bessie Smith along with Fred Longshaw, Charlie Green and Fletcher Henderson

1959 and 1960 sessions for Audio Fidelity featuring the popular New Orleans band (Frank Assunto, Fred Assunto, Papa Jac Assunto, Jerry Fuller, Stanley Mendelsohn, Lowell Miller, Rich Matteson and others) with the greatest jazz musician of all time - Louis was at a late peak of his abilities and he drives the band to great heights!