Jazz Focus

Show - Adrian Rollini and the big bands

Rollini playing bass sax in both solo and bass line with a variety of late 1920's big bands - Ted Wallace (the California Ramblers), Fred Elizalde, The Dorsey Brothers, Ben Selvin, Rube Bloom, Cornell Smelser . .with the Dorsey Brothers, Jack Teagarden, Benny Goodman, Stan King, Babe Russin, Chelsea Quealy, Bobby Davis and many others

Red Nichols - jazz sides, 1929, 30

Focus on the jazzier records done by the prolific cornetist Red Nichols, who by the late 1920's was concentrating on more commercial music.  Sides released as by the Louisiana Rhythm Kings (Jack Teagarden, Glenn Miller, Miff Mole, Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Pee Wee Russell, Fud Livingston, Joe Sullivan, Gene Krupa) and on radio transcriptions (Miller, Goodman, Charlie Teagarden, Sullivan, Adrian Rollini, Bud Freeman), these are some of the best "hot jazz" recorded by white bands of the period.

Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra - live at the Village Vanguard 1967 and 68

Two dates featuring the classic band - featuring the leaders along with Richard Williams and Snooky Young on trumpet, Bob Brookmeyer and Garnett Brown on trombones, Eddie Daniels on clarinet and tenor sax, Joe Farrell on tenor and flute, Jerome Richardson on soprano, alto and flute, Jerry Dodgion on alto, Pepper Adams on bar, Hank Jones and Roland Hanna on piano, and Richard Davis on bass . . the stars are the arrangements by Jones (and two by Brookmeyer)

Charlie Parker - Swing! 1940, 44

Two sessions firmly based in the Swing Era featuring the great bebop alto player Charlie Parker - first are the "Wichita Transcriptions" of 1940, featuring members of the Jay McShann band, including Parker, Bob Mabane and William Scott on tenors, Orville Minor and Bob Anderson on trumpets, McShann on piano, Gene Ramey on bass and Gus Johnson on drums. Second is the January 28, 1944 concert at Philharmonic Auditorium in Los Angeles featuring Parker and Willie Smith on altos, Lester Young and Charlie Ventura on tenors, Howard McGhee, Dizzy Gillespie and Al Killian on trumpets, Arnold Ross or Mel Powell on piano, Billy Hadnott on bass and Lee Young on drums.

Dixieland on the Jump Label - featuring Rosy McHargue

Rosy McHargue had a career as a clarinet and sax player stretching back to the 1920's, but he spend almost ten years with Ted Weems band, playing and arranging.  By the middle 1940's he lived in the Los Angeles area and was playing up and down the coast with a dixieland band that took its cue from the Original Dixieland Jazz Band (his first great influence).  Before he became a national act through his recordings for Capitol, McHargue did sessions for many small labels, including Jump.  Here, his band has Bob Higgins on cornet, Moe Schneider on trombone, Earl Sturgis on piano, Ray Leatherwood on bass and George Defebaugh on drums.  Also included are earlier sides with Joe Rushton on bass sax, Brad Gowans on valve trombone, Nick Cochrane on cornet, Marvin Ash on piano and Graham Stevenson on drums.  Two tunes he did with Pete Dailey's Chicagoans for Jump are also included

Red Nichols and His Five Pennies - 1948, 49

Terrific little band at the beginning of its seventeen year life . . Red Nichols on cornet and arrangements, King Jackson on trombone, Reuell Lynch, Matty Matlock and Rosey McHargue on clarinets, Don Lodice on tenor sax, Bobby Hammack on piano, Joe Rushton on bass sax and Rollie Culver on drums - recording for Jump and Lang-Worth.

Tab Smith - United Recordings 1951-57

Smith played lead alto and jazz for the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, Count Basie, Lucky Millinder, Frankie Newton and on many recording dates during the 1930's and 40's.  After a short retirement in the late 40's he was lured into United's recording studios and had several hits in a sort of combination Swing/Bop/R&B style - his sidemen included organist Sam Malone, pianist Teddy Brannon, trumpeter Sonny Cohn and drummer Walter Johnson, but the focus was on Tab, who played alto and tenor sax in the classic swing style on ballads, blues and originals.

Show - BritBop . . great bebop sides from England

Brit Bop II - WETF Show featuring the music of Ronnie Scott and his groups, 1946-55.  Featuring Jimmy Deuchar, Derek Humble, Benny Green, Spike Robinson, Vic Lewis, Ralph Sharon, Dave Goldberg, Tony Crosbie, Jack Parnell, Ken Wray and other British bebop luminaries .

Show - James P Johnson and the blues

WETF Show - James P Johnson and the blues singers . . Stride legend backing Ethel Waters, Rosa Henderson, Clara Smith and Bessie Smith in the 1920's and early 30's
 

Show- Benny Morton

Prolific and consistent trombonist whose career began in the 1920's with Fletcher Henderson here featured in his own small groups and with other swing stars like Harry Carney, Edmund Hall and others