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)

Lookin' At The Roane Brothers

Inspired by a nice posting by Andrew Sammut on his blog, I took a look at trumpet players Kenneth and Eddie Roane on my 7-11-13 program. Check out the show for biographical info and music by these two excellent trumpet players.

Here's the program.

Fess Williams “Hot Town” (Victor 1927)
Lloyd Scott and His Orchestra “HARLEM SHUFFLE” (Victor 1927)
Lloyd Scott and His Orchestra “Happy Hour” (Victor 1927)
Lloyd Scott and His Orchestra “Symphonic Scronch” (Victor 1927)
Fess Williams “Friction” (1929)
Eddie Cole “Honey Hush” (Decca 1936)
Eddie Cole “Thunder” (Decca 1936)
Sidney Bechet “Meringue” (1939)
Sidney Bechet “Rose Rhumba” (1939)
Louis Jordan “Is You Is or Is Ain't My Baby?” SINGLE (Decca 1943)
Louis Jordan “I Like Em Fat Like That” SINGLE (Decca)
Louis Jordan “You Can't Do That No More” SINGLE (Decca 1943)
Fess Williams “Variety Stomp” SINGLE (Brunswick 1927)

Jazz Tribute to the Boston Red Sox

The Splendid Splinter

All hail the 2013 World Champion Red Sox. There's not a lot of tunes in the jazz repertoire that refer specifically to the Grand Old Game, but on my 10/31/13 program I did what I could to honor the Beards of Beantown.

Here's the Audio.

Bob Dorough “Right on My Way Home” from Right on My Way Home (Blue Note 1997)

Abbott and Costello “Who's On First”

Either/Orchestra “Unnatural Pastime” from Calculus Of Desire (Accurate 1992)

Miles Davis “Two Bass Hit” from "Round Midnight (Columbia 1957)

Jim Hall “You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To” from Concierto (CTI 1975)

Dr. John “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”

Joe Gordon “It Could Happen To You” from West Coast Days (Fresh Sounds 1960)

Dave Frischberg “Van Lingle Mungo” from Van Lingle Mungp SINGLE (Concord 1969)

Dizzy Gillespie “One Bass Hit” SINGLE (1947)

Count Basie “Swinging the Blues” SINGLE (Decca 1936)

Lambert, Hendricks and Ross “Swingin till the Girls Come Home” Hi-Flying (Columbia 1962)

Duke Ellington “It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing” (1943)

King Pleasure “Red Top (Sox)” SINGLE (1952)

Since the WZBC archive goes from hour to hour, there's a rather sudden cut off after Red Top, so you won't hear my fascinating out-tro.