Journey Through The Penguin Jazz Guide

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Charlie Christian - The Genius of the Electric Guitar

 

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Bud Freeman - The Chronological Classics 1939-1940

Tenor saxophonist and bandleader leading a strong Dixieland-style band here (Jack Teagarden, Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Condon appear)

 

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Artie Shaw - Chronological Classics 1939

Hoping over the next day or two I can get to the 1940s

 

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John Kirby Sextet - Biggest Little Band in the Land

Bassist and bandleader

 

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Artie Shaw - Chronological Classics 1939

Hoping over the next day or two I can get to the 1940s

That would be a big jump (and jive) for you.

 

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The Essential Sydney Bechet

 

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Claude Thornhill - Snowfall Vol. 1



Pianist/bandleader

 

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Duke Ellington - Fargo, North Dakota, November 7, 1940 (Deluxe Golden Anniversary Edition)



Was quite surprised Spotify didn’t have this important recording of Ellington’s band (released 1978) arguably at its peak with the Ben Webster-Jimmy Blanton band. Happily I have a copy, but c’mon Spotify!!

And though this in 1940, this is the last Penguin entry in the “1930s” - onward to the ‘40s

 

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Hot Lips Page - The Chronological Classics 1940-1944

And I'm back after a 2 week break from this series to delve into 1940s jazz

 

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Rex Stewart and the Ellingtonians

After playing with Fletcher Henderson, Stewart played cornet for Duke Ellington for 11 years and recording some outside sessions with severe "Ellingtonians"

 

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Complete Aladdin Recordings of Lester Young

Cool, essential stuff

 

[axolotl]

^ Only a week after President's Day. Good timing.

 

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Lucky Millinder - Chronological Classics 1943-1947

Alabama bandleader (interestingly didn't play an instrument or sing) who played as much rhythm-and-blues as jazz

 

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George Lewis and his New Orleans Stompers

 

[Ojai Sam]

Lucky Millinder - Chronological Classics 1943-1947

Alabama bandleader (interestingly didn't play an instrument or sing) who played as much rhythm-and-blues as jazz

This is an interesting time period to observe the cross-fertilization of jazz and r&b. Folks like Louis Jordan, Nat Cole and Lucky led the way.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Claude Thornhill - Snowfall Vol. 1

View attachment 11493

Pianist/bandleader

Claude is largely forgotten but his rich, colorful orchestral arrangements foreshadowed Stan Kenton and Gil Evans.

 

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The Stuff Smith Trio

Covering some artists lately that are new to me and Smith is one of them - "Stuff" (born Hezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith) was a jazz violinist of the swing era. Enjoyable album

 

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Mildred Bailey - The Chronological Classics 1943-1945

Got a kick out of the jazzy "Scrap Your Fat" - no not an early diet jingle but a song to emphasize the importance of saving your cooking fat for the war effort

"Oh mama won't you scrap your fat
For victory
[repeat chorus]

A pound of fat makes a lot of powder
Take it to your corner store
Then say to the grocer,
"What do you know sir?
I still have plenty more
[repeat chorus]

Suzy gave up singin'in a local dive
To volunteer her service in the salvage drive
She answered when they asked her, "Can you gather fat?"
"How can you look at me and ask a question like that?

Suzy's great in helpin' in her country's defense
And when I say she's great I mean she's really immense
She wants to do her part to help the fighting boys
So now the lady's makin' with the avoirdupois"

Apparently Perry Como also did a version
Kudos to the lyricist for dropping the word "avoirdupois" in the lyrics

 

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Count Basie - The Jubilee Alternatives (recorded 1943-1944)

This was a new set to me - delighted Penguin steered me this way though. Recordings intended for Armed Forces Radio's "Jubilee Shows"
This was also at the time of the Musician's Union ban so few artists got to record at this era - union members could not record for major labels like Columbia (where Basie recorded). So represents a period when less material was out there (allowances were made for V-Discs, armed forces radio, concerts)- but boy do these recordings swing. Vibrant stuff including such greats as Lester Young, Illinois Jacquet, Buddy Rich

 

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Art Hodes - The Jazz Record Story

Per Allmusic.com: "One of the last great traditional jazz and blues pianists, with a rollicking style honed in the late '30s on New York's 52nd Street."

Although very rarely ever mentioned in the jazz history books, Art Hodes had one of the very first record companies to be owned by a jazz artist. His Jazz label came out with 22 selections from five recording sessions during the 1940-1947 period, all featuring Hodes in a variety of settings