09 Aug
Jumpin The Blues by Jay McShann and his Orchestra
- Written by Donna Kimura
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Fifty selections from Jay McShann and his Orchestra have been assembled in the two-disc collection "Jumpin’ The Blues" from England's Proper Records.Dating between 1941 and 1952, the recordings showcase pianist McShann and his band’s swinging style that incorporated blues and jazz. The group regularly played clubs and dancehalls in the Midwest and South during the early 1940s. Despite his own solid playing and songwriting, McShann is often better known for the artists around him. Most significantly, his orchestra featured a young Charlie Parker. Singer Jimmy Witherspoon was also part of McShann’s band a few years later.The CD opens with the historic recordings of "Moten Swing" and "Honeysuckle Rose" from a 1940 radio broadcast. These selections are notable because they are among the earliest recordings of Parker, whose enormous talents could be heard during an outstanding solo on "Honeysuckle Rose."Other highlights includes McShann’s hit "Confessin’ The Blues," and the instrumental "Sepian Bounce," with solos by McShann and Parker.McShann worked with a number of musicians during his career, and this set provides a sweeping account of his career and the artists who were part of his orchestra and combos, including vocalists Witherspoon and Walter Brown.As the title indicates, the selections are weighted heavily on boogie-woogie and blues numbers. There are other McShann compilations available, but this is one of the most extensive.
Additional Info
- Artist / Group Name: Jay McShann and his Orchestra
- CD Title: Jumpin The Blues
- Genre: Blues
- Year Released: 2003
- Record Label: Proper Records
- Tracks: Disc One: Moten Swing, Honeysuckle Rose, Swingmatism, Hootie Blues, Dexter Blues, Vine Street Boogie, Confessin’ The Blues, Hold ‘em Hootie, One Woman’s Man, ‘Fore Day Rider, So You Won’t Jump, New Confessin’ The Blues, Red River Blues, Baby Heart Blues, Cryin’ Won’t Make Me Stay, Hootie’s Ignorant Oil, Cherokee, Lonely Boy Blues, Get Me On Your Mind, The Jumpin’ Blues, Sepian Bounce, Wrong Neighbourhood, Hometown Blues, Come On Over To My House, Walking Blues Disc Two: Hard Working Man Blues, When I’ve Been Drinking, Merry-Go-Round Blues, Bad Tale Boogie, McShann’s Boogie Blues, Garfield Avenue Boogie, Shipyard Woman Blues, Crown Prince Blues, Ernestine, Roll On Katy, Voodoo Woman, I Want A Little Girl, Have You Every Loved A Woman?, Gone With The Blues, Bar Fly Blues, Please Stop Playing These Blues, Boy, All Me Geets Are Gone, Money’s Getting Cheaper, Ain’t Nobody’s Business, Hot Biscuits, Geronimo, You Didn’t Tell Me, Got You Begging, The Duke And The Brute, Reach
- Musicians: Jay McShann (piano), Orville Minor (trumpet), Bernard “Buddy” Anderson (trumpet), Charlie Parker (saxophone), Bob Mabane (saxophone) Gene Ramey (bass), Gus Johnson (drums), Bob Gould (trombone, violin), Walter Brown (vocals), Jimmy Witherspoon (vocals), Al Hibbler (vocals) and many others
- Label Website: -
- Rating: Four Stars
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