The Shadow of Prez

It's safe to say that, at some point, anyone interested in playing jazz has to listen to Lester Young, even now, so many years after his death in 1959. He, along with Coleman Hawkins, were _the_ foundational tenor sax players, although their influence extended well beyond the saxophone.

On this show, I feature Prez himself and tunes by some of his more overt acolytes-Stan Getz, Paul Quinichette, Warne Marsh, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Alan Eager and Brew Moore.

Check out the playlist below and listen to the show here. [The tunes listed under "Stan Getz" often also feature the other players mentioned above].

Count Basie “Lady Be Good”  (Decca 1939)

Billie Hoilday “This Year's Kisses”  (1937)

Lester Young “Just You - Just Me”  (Mercury 1943)

Stan Getz “And the Angels Swing” (Classic 1946)

Stan Getz “Running Water” (Classic 1946)

Paul Quinichette “Galoshes” (Mercury 1951)

Paul Quinichette “Birdland Jump”  (Mainstream 1951)

Stan Getz “I Got Rhythm” from Groovin High (Crown 1947)

Stan Getz “Battle of the Saxes”  (Classic 1947)

Stan Getz “Stan Getz Along”  (Classic 1947)

Gerry Mulligan “Red Door” (Pacific Jazz)

Gerry Mulligan “Four and One More”  (Pacific Jazz 1956)

Stan Getz “Ligia”  (Columbia 1976)

Count Basie “Jumpin' At The Woodside” SINGLE (Decca 1939)

 

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)