Top 50 Jazz Blog

Top 50 Jazz Blog

Friday, September 19, 2025

Interracial Jazz Recording (#46) Pollack with Benny Morton, Shirley Clay

Ben Pollack was a drummer and important early bandleader. Many of the great soloists of the late 1920's-Goodman, Teagarden, McPartland-passed through his Chicago band. 

Ben Pollack

Trumpeter Shirley Clay started out playing in Midwestern territory bands. He moved to Chicago and worked in Carroll Dickerson's band, among others. He was a reliable player and good soloist, hooked up with top tier bands and got a lot of studio work. 

Shirley Clay

Benny Morton was one of the most accomplished trombonists of his (swing-era) generation and influenced a younger generation of players with his flexibility and harmonic knowledge. 

Benny Morton

Pollack put together this all-star group, and yields the drum chair to Ray Bauduc. There are several effective solo turns on this nice arrangement of  "Swing Out," a tune by Wingy Manone.

Ben Pollack and His Orchestra: v, dir: Yank Lawson, Charlie Spivak, Shirley Clay, t /Joe Harris, Benny Morton, tb / Matty Matlock, cl /Deane Kincaide, Gil Rodin, as / Eddie Miller, ts / Al Beller, Ray Cohen, vn / Gil Bowers, p / Nappy Lamare, g, v / Harry Goodman, sb / Ray Bauduc, d / Doris Robbins, v. New York, December 28, 1933.

  • Got The Jitters– vNL: Col 2870-D; Deep Jungle- Col 2879-D, DO-5036;
  • Swing Out: Col 2879-D, DO-5036;
  • I’m Full Of The Devil– vBP: Col 2870-D, CQ-1385



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