Across the U.S. with Territory Bands in the '20's

These bands spread the gospel of popular music in hotel ballrooms, nightclubs, Elks Clubs and VFW halls across the land. Most ground it out by bus for decades, while the fortunate few got "wires"-radio hookups at their gig-and were able to achieve a national profile. Most of the stars of bands like Count Basie and Jimmy Lunceford began their careers in these bands. So, hats off to these musical evangelists.

Here's the show.

Playlist
Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy “Blue Clarinet Stomp” (Brunswick 1929)

Caroline Cotton Pickers “Dumbell” (Gennett 1922)

Erskine Tate “Static Strut” (Vocalion 1926)

George E. Lee's Novelty Singing Orch “St. James Infirmary” (Brunswick 1928) 

Carroll Dickerson “Symphonic Raps” (Odeon 1928

Ross Deluxe Syncopators “Florida Rhythm” (1927)

Jesse Stone and His Blue Serenaders “Starvation Blues” (Okeh 1927)

The Coon-Sanders Nighthawks “Here Comes My Ball and Chain” (Victor 1928)

Walter Page “Blue Devil Blues” (Vocalion 1929)

Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels “West End Blues” (1929)

George E. Lee And His Orchestra “Ruff Scufflin” (Brunswick 1929)

Alphonso Trent “Black And Blue Rhapsody”  (Gennett 1928)

Benny Moten “Rhumba Negro” (1929)

Snooks Friedman and His Memphis Stompers “Smile Darn Ya, Smile” (Zonophone 1931)

Austin Wylie's Golden Pheasant Orchestra “Looking for a Boy” (Vocalion 1926)

Alphonso Trent “Black And Blue Rhapsody” (Gennett 1928)

Bennie Moten “Band Box Shuffle” (1929)

Maggie and Fats: Binary Stars

After looking at Fats Navarro, Howard McGhee is a reasonable next post.

Magee with Miles looking on

We'll use his nickname: Maggie. He was about 5 years older than Fats and despite also dealing with addiction, lived a lot longer (1918-1987). They were stylistic brothers and their paths crossed often. They both had the power and range to play lead and could masterfully handle bop chord changes. They were the godfathers of the fiery 1950's lineage of the trumpet; more so than Diz or Miles.

Here's Howard early on, 1942, with Andy Kirk & His Clouds of Joy playing "McGhee Special." It's strong playing, in the bravura swing-to-bop vein.

This 1945 track retains some of the R&B/jump/jive strain that Hampton and others were bringing upfront, but infused with Bird and Diz's new harmonic (and to some extent rhythmic) developments.