Jazz Focus

An early (1970's) revival band of a group from almost fifty years earlier.  The original MKCP was a crack band from Detroit that was guided by Don Redman and then later Benny Carter, developing a terrific repertoire of hot jazz.  Singer Dave Wilborn (who played banjo as well as sang with the original group) fronted the NMKCP, which was directed by clarinet and saxophone player David Hutson.  Local Detroit and area musicians like Paul Klinger, Tom Saunders, Al Winters, Ted Buckner, Ernest Rogers and Tate Houston provide excellent solos on tunes associated with the original band as well as some others done in the same style.

One of the great Ellington small groups recording in the 1930's - led by the great (yet still underrated) trumpeter Cootie Williams, the various groups include Juan Tizol, Joe Nanton, Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, Otto Hardwick, Duke Ellington, Fred Guy, Hayes Alvis, Billy Taylor and Sonny Greer with most of the arrangements by Ellington.

1966 and 1967 sessions featuring Burrell and Woods in tribute to Charlie Christian and Benny Goodman . .great guitar and alto (and a little clarinet) with Matt Manieri on vibes, Richard Wyands on piano, Ron Carter on bass and Grady Tate on drums

The first recordings of the the classic Barnet band - the leader plays solos on tenor and alto, backed by Bob Burnett on trumpet (one special guest appearance by Charlie Shavers), Don Ruppersburg on trombone, either Don McCook or Skippy Martin on clarinet, Nat Jaffe, Phil Moore or Bill Miller on piano and Cliff Leeman on drums.  Excellent jazz!

Goodman was on a fishing trip to Florida in August, 1959 when he heard a little group led by trombonist Bill Harris and tenor saxophonist Flip Phillips and decided to record with them . . this led to several tours and long engagements with a combination of Harris and Phillips with members of the Red Norvo orchestra, including Norvo himself, trumpeter Jack Sheldon, alto and flutist Jerry Dodgion, pianists Gene DiNovi and Russ Freeman, guitarist Jimmy Wyble, bassist Red Wooten and drummer John Markham.  Using arrangements by Harris, Phillips, Norvo, Al Cohn and Mel Powell, this group sounded like a progressive big band and Goodman's playing was never better!

The bandleader Barnet's greatest influence was Duke Ellington - as an  alto and soprano saxophone player he channeled Johnny Hodges and his trumpet player Bobby Burnet was a devotee of Cootie Williams.  These 1939-42 records (mostly for Bluebird) feature the arrangements of Billy May, who had a unique way of recreating the Ellington sound.  Also heard are Bill Miller on piano, Don McCook on clarinet, Peanuts Holland, Bernie Privin and Roy Eldridge on trumpets and Bus Etri on guitar

After leaving Benny Goodman's band in 1942, Williams put a driving big band together that explored both the new Bebop sounds as well as early rhythm and blues.  These recordings featuring the leader playing at the top of his game, assisted by Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson on vocals and alto, John Jackson and Rupert Cole on alto, Sam The Man Taylor, Edwin Johnson and Lee Pope on tenors, Arnold Jarvis on piano, Gene Redd on vibraphone, Robert Horton and Ed Johnson on trombone and Bob Merrill on vocals.

The band that recorded the soundtrack to the film "Pete Kelly's Blues" was the cream of West Coast Dixieland - Dick Cathcart, Moe Schneider, Matty Matlock, Eddie Miller, Ray Sherman, George Van Eps, Jud De Naut and Nick Fatool.  Almost the same group (with Abe Lincoln, Phil Stephens, Al Hendrikson and Stanley Wrightsman) also recorded as Matty Matlock's Dixie Men . . great jazz!

Great 1955 sessions by one of Condon's best bands (Wild Bill Davison, Bobby Hackett, Cutty Cutshall, Ed Hall, Gene Schroeder, Dick Cary, Walter Page, George Wettling) recording Bix Beiderbecke-related tunes for Columbia . . a few from other sessions featuring Pee Wee Russell, Bob Wilber, Billy Butterfield, Peanuts Hucko, Jack Lesberg, and Leonard Gaskin round out the program.

One of the few true Bebop clarinet players, DeFranco is here featured in his own quintets and sextets recording for Capitol and MGM with Teddy Charles, Jimmy Raney, Kenny Drew, Max Roach and others playing standards and a few originals.