Jazz Focus

Classic sessions by Muggsy Spanier's Ragtime Band for Bluebird in 1939 - cornetist Spanier, George Brunies on trombone and vocal, Rod Cless on piano, George Zack and Joe Bushkin on piano, Bob Casey on Bass, Don Carter and Al Sidell on drums . . influential trad jazz! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

Small group sides led by the great tenor saxophonist Lester Young after his departure from the Basie band. All were done in the middle 1940's on the West Coast and feature Nat "King" Cole, Joe Albany, Irving Ashby, Frank Lacy, Red Callendar, Henry Tucker, Chico Hamilton, Howard McGhee, Vic Dickenson, Willie Smith and others. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

Connie (later Connee) Boswell was the central member of the Boswell Sisters trio in the 1920's and 30's although she had a series of solo recordings at the same time - here we will hear a few things from the 30's and early 40's (with Ben Pollack, John Scott Trotter and Frank Sigorelli) as well as the results of two Design lps in the middle 1950's featuring her with a large band doing Rodgers and Hart and Irving Berlin tunes as well as jazz album from the same period where she is backed by the Original Memphis Five (Billy Butterfield, Miff Mole, Jimmy Lytell, Signorelli, Gene Ramey and Tony Spargo). --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support

The Chicago cornetist Spanier was known primarily for playing in small groups, but for about two years he led a big band modeled on the example of Bob Crosby's Orchestra. These studio dates for Decca and live airshots from the Arcadia Ballroom feature the leader, trombonist Vernon Brown, clarinetists Irving Fazola and Tony Martell, tenor sax Nick Caiazza, pianist Dave Bowman and drummer Don Carter . .great big band swing centered on New Orleans style! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-clark49/support