Jazz Focus

Oscar Peterson and the tenor saxes . . a selection from Verve/Clef/Mercury albums of the mid to late 1950's featuring the Peterson trio and quartet (including Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Buddy Rich, Ray Brown, Ed Thigpen and Alvin Stoller) backing up Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Stitt, Ben Webster, Lester Young, Flip Philips and Stan Getz
 
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A series of the great trumpeter's recordings with Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Gene Krupa and Charlie Barnet - featuring all those leaders along with Dodo Marmarosa, Vernon Brown, Jon Walton and others

Connie, Martha and Vet Boswell were raised in New Orleans and evolved a highly complex style of trio singing based on the Jazz of the 1920's and 30's . . they were each accomplished musicians (Martha plays piano on many of these tracks) and discerning in their choice of sidemen - Bunny Berigan, Mannie Klein, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Art Schutt, Bobby Sherwood, Dick McDonough, Eddie Lang, Joe Venuti, Joe Tarto and Stan King are all featured, but the main interest is the singing!

The great New Orleans clarinetist heard here in the most elemental from possible - in a duo with pianist Tiny Parham, trios with Jimmy Blythe on piano and W.E. Burton on drums, Lil Armstrong on piano and Bud Scott on guitar and either Armstrong or Charlie Alexander on piano and Bill Johnson on drums.

When Nichols came out of his temporary retirement during the WWII years, he put together a much more modern group than he had before or after.  This sextet featured the very late swing and even Bebop influenced arrangements of Heinie Beau as well as his superb clarinet playing.  He is matched the the tenor player Herbie Haymer and a rhythm section that isn't completely known but may include Thurman Teague on bass and Rollie Culver on drums . . recorded for McGregor Transcriptions in Los Angeles

WETF Show The Willies - 1940's and 50's small group sessions by the remarkable alto saxist Willie Smith - known for his years playing lead for Lunceford and Harry James, Smith was a stylist on alto and a good arranger as well.  He is presented here with his own groups as well as ones led by Nat King Cole, Billie Holliday, Al Casey, Corky Corcoran, Gene Krupa and Shorty Sherock and featuring those notables as well as Charlie Shavers, Billy May, Les Paul, Murray McEachern, Harry Edison, Teddy Wilson, Allan Reuss and Israel Crosby

Just You, Just Eddie Heywood . . the fine pianist leading his 1940's sextet on recordings made for Commodore, VDisc and Decca and featuring Doc Cheatham, Dick Vance, Henry Parr Jones, Vic Dickenson, Henry Coker, Lem Davis, Marshall Royal, Al Lucas, Jack Parker and others, with a guest appearance by Bing Crosby

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!

52nd Street All Stars - the great clarinetist Tony Scott put together an album for Coral in 1958 celebrating the 52nd Street scene from the 1930's and 40's  - featuring Bebop players like Red Rodney, George Wallington and Roy Haynes, transitional players like Al Cohn, Mundell Lowe and Tommy Flannagan and Swing stars like Coleman Hawkins, Pee Wee Russell, J.C. Higginbotham, Emmett Berry and Al Casey

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.