BERIGAN

tracks 7 to 15... Honky Tonk Train Blues. From Hep records 7. Tea for Two. Bob Zurke and his Orchestra. From the cd Honky Tonk Train Blues. Wilton Hutton, Sterling Bose, Chelsea Quealey, Trumpet. Emmet Milligan, Bob McReynolds, Trombone. Gus Ehrman, James Clifford, Alto, John Gassoway, Tenor. Ernie Caceres Clarinet, Baritone. Noel Kilgen, Guitar, Leonard King Bass. Al Sidell, Drums. January, 18th, 1940. Wildly varying views on this track it seems! Heres some info from a different cd set(The big Band 1923-1952-which some other tracks were taken from) on Zurke, and this track…better than I can put it, since I am strictly a jazz layman. The eccentric piano style of Bob Zurke (1912-1944) was equally influenced by the early boogie woogie pianists and the novelty style of Zez Confrey….One of the bands most striking assets was joie-de-vivre difficult ot capture in the studio, but Tea for Twuo sounds as though it was performed at a wild party, and the enthusiasm is infectious. Probably arranged by Fud Livingston, it is a wonderful showcase for the leaders rambunctiously folling piano. The well constructed tenor solo, sounding much like Bud Freeman or Eddie Miller, is by John Gassoway. Loren Schoenberg continues…To me, Zurke’s last chorus with it’s “kooky” reharmonization, has much in common with Monk’s Classis 1956 recording of this number. On this cd, track I took is off a JSP cd, I can't seem to find a scan of.... 8. Panama. Luis Russell and his Orch. Luis Russell, Piano. Henry Allen, Otis Johnson, Trumpets. J.C. Higginbotham, Trombone. Albert Nocholas, clarinet, SS. Charles Holmes, Alto, SS. Greely Walton, Tenor. Will Johnson, Banjo/guitar. Pops Foster, bass. Paul Barbarin, Drums. David Bee, Arranger. Sept 1930. Pure pedal to the metal Jazz energy! It’s only 1930, but they “get” what swing is. A band that clearly loved playing , and playing together. Having the bass so well recorded sure doesn’t hurt things , does it??? Thank God Luis Russell won $3000 in 1919, and was able to move from Panama to the U.S.! Bunny Berigan and the Rhythmakers. Volume 2, 1938:Devil’s Holiday. (out of print, now going for $47 on amazon) 9. Shanghai Shuffle. Bunny Berigan and Orchestra. Fletcher Henderson arranger. Berigan, Trumpet. Steve Lipkins, Irving Goodman, Trumpets. Nat Lobovsky, Ray Conniff, Trombones. Mike Doty, Joe Dixon, Cl/Alto. Georgie Auld, Clyde Rounds, Tenor. Joe Bushkin, Piano. Dick Wharton, Guitar. Hank Wayland, Bass. Johnny Blowers, Drums. Transcription from June 27th, 1938. The one and only Berigan track! And notice how he doesn’t even solo till the song has been playing for over 2 minutes!!! Also, this tune was one of 20 (20!!!)transcription disc tracks they recorded on that date!!! This cd came out in the early 90’s and not all the tracks are anywhere near this good,(Berigan has without a doubt the worst male singers ever in the history of mankind) but a few are. Some of the players were still alive and when they heard these tracks for the first time, they said they said that “they” sounded like a loose black band playing at midnight…and they are right! Since Mr. Sangrey was talking up the alto player…Joe Dixon(Mainly a clarinetist) ”…I never thought I would be listening to this 54 years later. That [alto sax solo] must be me. Didn’t that sound like Benny Carter? I enjoyed playing alto, but nobody ever wrote it-for me anyway. I was a great admirer of Carter and Hodges. “ And since he mentioned the the sax section….Who better to talk about that, the drummer Johnny Blowers? “Wonderful sax figures. You had a strong ensemble going behind every chorus. They didn’t give Joe Dixon alto solos[on record]but he had a good sound and he played some wonderful sax choruses when we were on the road” 10. San Sue Strut. Casa Loma Orchestra 1929-30 HEP cd. Bobby Jones, Frankie Martinez, Joe Hostetter, Trumpets. Billy Rauch, Pee Wee Hunt, Trombones. Glen Gray, Pat Davis, Altos, Les Arquette, Tenor. Howard Hall, piano. Gene Gifford, Banjo, Guitar, Arranger. Stanley Tennis , Bass, Tony Briglia, Drums. Febuary 11th, 1930 JS put it better than I could, about this track “I can feel the time getting on top of itself all through this one. "Rushing" is the wrong word, it's more like how you feel the first attack of the beat in relation to the duration of it.” To me, I’d describe it as tension slowly building thru the whole track. And it’s quite unlike the other tracks they recorded around this time. Sometimes this band was belittled for their precision, but I thought it was their strong point. Buddy Rich was a big fan of the drunner Tony Briglia, calling him the shit…. (Now out of print, you can still pick this all instrumental 22 track cd for $4.00 on amazon!) 11. Spirit is Willing. Glenn Miller Orchestra. R.D. McMickle, John Best, Billy May, Ran Anthony Trumpets (May and Best solos)Glenn Miller, Howard Gibeling, Frank D’Annolfo, Trombones. Tex Beneke, Al Klink, Ernie Caceres, others Reeds. Jack Lathrop, Guitar, Berman “trigger” Alpert, bass. Maurice Purtill, Drums. Jerry Gray arranger. Feb 19th, 1941 How about that??? You could win a lot of bets with jazz folks on this one. Miller band did good stuff before it was an air force band… 12.Twilight in Turkey. Tommy Dorsey, and his Clambake Seven. Pee Wee Erwin, Trumpet, Tommy Dorsey, Trombone, Johnny Mince, Clarinet, Bud Freeman, Tenor. Howard Smith, Piano. Carmen Mastren, Guitar, Gene Traxler, Bass. Dave Tough, Drums. Dean Kincaide, Arranger. April 15th, 1937 Man, I love this track! Most of the Clambake Seven tracks are Dixieland’s, decent and all that, but this is the by far best track I ever heard from this group. .13. Serenade. Herman Chittison Trio.1944-1945 Herman Chittison, Piano, Jimmy Shirley, guitar. Carlton Powell, Bass. December 8th, 1944. Small image of this cd. Doesn‘t he look like a cool cat though??? I probably found this used, and was quite impressed with his playing….need to get more of his stuff…this cd is out of print, and now about $40 on amazon. ß---great 2 cd set, that’s cheap on amazon! 14.Swing Out. Red Allen and His New York Orch. J.C. Higginbotham Trombone, Albert Nicholas, Clarinet, Charlie Holmes Cl/SS/AS. Luis Russell, Piano. Will Johnson, Banjo. Pop Foster, Bass. Paurl Barbarian Drums. July 17th, 1929. Another tune you can’t help but tap your feet to! Red seems to not get the praise he deserves , if you ask me. He has a lot of fans of course, but still….the man made some great recordings and kept his chops and imagination thru 40 years on record. And JC Higginbotham , a trombonist that just doesn’t get mentioned often enough the other players of his prime era…I seem to recall Coleman Hawkins of all people, was jealous of his talent back in their Fletcher Henderson days. He went out of his way to push his buttons so his solos wouldn’t be as good as they could be…. (available on several cds, including this one) 15. Heckler’s Hop. Roy Eldridge and his Orchestra. Roy Eldridge, Trumpet. Scoops Carey, Joe Eldridge Alto. Dave Young, Tenor. Teddy Cole, Piano. John Collins. Guitar. Track Parham, Bass. Zutty Singleton, drums. January 23rd, 1937. Who needs coffee, when there is music like this! Roy has to be one of the most purely exciting jazzmen ever to record…as others have said, more than just the bridge from Louis to Dizzy. And a few here mentioned the playing of his brother Joe on Alto…. More to follow! Unless I drop dead.

Geez Louise, why did I put so many tracks on each disc???? I like to write, but I ain't a wordsmith like Sangrey!!! Well, here's the first part....as I mentioned before, some cds have no scans on the web, period. 1. Fiddle Dee Dee. Lionel Hampton. Off the Classics sampler cd. ldr- Lionel Hampton; cl, as- Marshall Royal; p- Sir Charles Thompson; vib- Lionel Hampton; g- Irving Ashby; vn- Ray Perry; b- Vernon Alley; d- Lee Young; I only have this track on this classics sampler cd,(Not on amazon that I can see, cd had no bar code, wasn't for sale-got at tower either as a used cd, or perhaps something you got with the purchase of a Classics cd) don't have the moola for the recent Mosaic set...This is the track that was missing!!! I have 2 of the 3 early 90's Hampton small group Bluebird stuff, and it ain’t on either of them. Have the French RCA B&W 2 cd set, not there either. Without that sampler cd, I’d have missed this, and that’s a shame! They must have just listened to a bunch of Reinhart/Grappeli sides before going into the studio, don’t you think??? And excellent ears all those that noticed Ray Perry's Violin was electrified!!! I never did! Some more info.... http://www.fiddlesessions.com/apr06/electric.html 2. Menelik, The Lion of Judah. Rex Stewart and his Orchestra. Rex Stewart Cornet. Lawrence Brown Trombone, Harry Carney, Baritone. Ben Webster, Tenor, Duke Ellington Piano, Jimmy Blanton, Bass, Sonny Greer, Drums. July 3rd, 1941 You will see quite a few samplers on this BFT!!! Grabbed this ASV cd years ago since I saw familiar performers, performing tunes I didn‘t know…. I was very surprised when I heard this track for the first time. was just blown away by the into!! I laughed, but damn did this tune hold my interest! I picture a funky Lion playing this now when I hear the song 3.Turn Left. Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Nate Kazebeir, Johnny Napton, Shorty Solomson, Trumpets, Don Mattison, Sonny Lee, Nat Lobosvsky, trombones., Jimmy Dorsey, Milt Yaner, Altos, Sam Rubinwich, Alto and Baritone, Herbie Haymer, Frazier, Tenor saxes, Joe Lippman, Piano. Guy Smith Guitar, Jack Ryan, Bass. Buddy Schultz, drums. Dec 9th, 1940/ From the OOP Decca Cd, Jimmy Dorsey And Orch, Contrasts. First time I heard this song, it didn’t make much of an impression…it was track 14 out of 20.…perhaps I was suffering the kind of fatigue folks playing both cds from this BFT suffered from! But, I had long commutes to work, so it gave me time to listen to whole cds each way…and then the beauty of this song finally came to the forefront for me. I can’t think of many pre war tunes that start with a bass intro. I tend to like the atypical songs from bands like Dorsey’s. At least I assume it's atypical. Wish there was more of the early 40’s Dorsey available today…his arrangers were getting more and more creative with each passing year….of course, this cd is out of print now…. (Not the cd I got the track from, but this 2 cd set from Jasmine is only 16.98 and has this tune, and a fair bit of his hotter tracks) 4. Back Beat Boogie. Harry James Nov 30th, 1939. Harry James, Claude Bowen, Jack Shaeffer, Jack Palmer, Trumpets Truett Jones, Bruce Squires, Trombones, Dave Matthews, Alto, Drew Page, Clarinet, Claude Lakey, Bill Luther, Tenor. Francis “Jack” Gardner, Piano. Bryan Red Kent, Guitar. Mickey Scrima Drums. Harry could get hairy if he wanted to! I love his non syrupy , non balled playing so much, wish he played with a bit more abandon more often,but his first bands were not that successful, and the tripe payed a lot of bills I guess.….and later on he mainly played everything in a “Jazz” style. Or is that in the Basie style??? Live At The Three Deuces 1947 5. Characteristically B. H. Bill Harris, Trombone, Charlie Ventura, Tenor, Ralph Burns, Piano, Bob Leininger, bass, Dave Tough, Drums. Live, 1947. After listening to a lot of Woody Herman, I wanted to hear more Bill Harris, was I ever glad I took a chance on this cd! (Volume 2 is good, but not quite as good)He and Ventura make a perfect tandem, it’s a shame they couldn’t play with either for a longer period of time. You can imagine they both wanted to be top dog…Dave Tough is on at least 2 tracks here….how many drummers could play with the Clambake Seven and A swing to bop group like this??? And no one guessed Ralph Burns, not even Stereojack! A great remembrance from Bob Brookmeyer on the web, on Harris…. "When I began playing trombone in 1943, the selection of people with distinct personalities that you could slice like bread were legion. Dickie Wells, Vic Dickenson, Trummy Young (what a player!), Jack Teagarden, Lawrence Brown and my hero, Bill Harris. These are only a few—there were many. On hearing Bill, chills went down my back—a physical shiver. The last time we met was 1963, in Las Vegas, where he was playing a 6 a.m. gig with Charlie Teagarden. He and I hung for an hour, then he got on the bandstand, and—at the very first note—sent chills down the back of a jaded, successful and angry 33 year old male child. Now THAT'S communication, personality, ta-dum, ta-dum, whatever. That illustrates the possibility of establishing a living relationship with the generation before me..."grandfathering" I think it has been called. There was someone that I could grow FROM." Bob Brookmeyer (Got this track off of A long of out print cd called The Jazz Age: New York in the Twenties-No scans of it-this timeless cd was the one I couldn't find with the better audio) 6. Anything. Napoleon’s Emperors. Phil Napoleon, Trumpet. Tommny Dorsey, Trombone. Jimmy Dorsey Clarinet, and Alto. Joe Venuti, Violin, Frank Signorelli, Piano. Eddie Lang, Guitar. Joe Tarto Bass. Stan King, Drums. May 14th, 1929 The trumpet sounds a bit dated…but, then again Phil Napoleon pre-dated Louis and Bix…just about everyone! Can’t for the life of me figure out how this song wasn’t recorded more often….Seems far more relaxed than anything else I’ve heard recorded on or around 1929. More later, I promise!!!

Are you talking about a track on this BFT??? Or some other track???? It's track # 22 on disc 2 that I'm talking about - that's a slow train to my ears - I'd like to take a ride with this piece as a soundtrack! Oh, cool! Music is so many things to us, sound, color, imagination, etc.... Oh, cool! Like I said before, I couldn't find anything, except I Hate Alexis Fan Club' Didn't think that was what you meant!

Are you talking about a track on this BFT??? Or some other track???? And google was no help...what's IHAFC ?????

Man, can the injury bug hit fast! first, Hampton, then the closer Raphael Soriano goes on DL with Elbow issues, Glavine tweaks his hamstring,(May go on DL for very first time in his career) now Peter Moylan who looked great in his first chance to close, has a sore elbow!!! If folks don't know about him, he throws sidearm, and hit 96 the other night...perhaps he was "tossing" too hard!!!

PM sent! This will kick my ass!

Hey Mike! Glad you got a chance to listen to it, sorry about the teeth issues, they are no fun, to say the least! You got about the only track not yet guessed, congrats ! Some smart jazz folks here, for sure! And if folks are wondering where the answers are...I have all the info, except the photos of the albums on the web...well, some I have found out, are out of print...and the one thing I forgot was to put titles with the songs....not an issue if you can find the album cover, but if not....no big deal, will finish it up late tonight, or tomorrow morning...

Ok, is that everyone??? Should I get the answers up for disc one now???

JS, better late than never! I was really hoping you'd get a chance to comment, cuz I know you will see and hear things no one else will...Will try not to repeat myself...too much. ANYWAYS... TRACK ONE - Hamp, unmistakably, and Christian, most likely. Been a while since I listened to that old RCA box of Hamp's small group sessions, but if I was a betting man, I'd say that this was on it. Hell, let me go look... Ok, not Christian, but Irving Ashby. And Marshall Royal on clarinet, nice! Ray Perry on violin, I don't know too much about, but he impresses here, as does Vernon Alley's driving bass. Hard to beat this! Cheater! I truly didn't know who was on this track(Since it's on a sampler cd) but, after listening to it a bunch of times recently, I really want to hear more by Ray Perry! TRACK TWO - Rex Stewart, gotta be, probably in an Ellington showcase (those ensemble voices like Lawrence Brown are pretty hard to miss...). Any elements of"contrivance" are far outweighed by the sheer effectiveness of the entire performance. There's a story to be told, and damned if I know how it could be told any better. Well put! A story only they could tell.... TRACK THREE - Seems like I've heard this one before, might even have it somewhere...Also seems like the tempo accelerates a little as it goes on...altoist sounds like Jimmy Dorsey...excellent writing, with execution to do it justice...nice. Yep, Dorsey as you know now... TRACK FOUR - Another one I think I've heard and/or have. Lips Page? Hard not to dig this...you can feel that dance pulse, something I still like to feel somewhere in any music I here, no matter how "abstract" or whatever it gets. It really don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing, somewhere, somehow...Hey, my foot is patting and my ass is shaking - Mission Accomplished! Mission Accomplished indeed! TRACK FIVE - Now this one kills me! Seems like I should've heard about this a long time ago, but no....Bill Harris? Tenor sounds like Lockjaw on the head, but not on the solo...Dodo Marmarosa on piano? Very modern, free-thinking, not unlike him at all, I think, especially on the comp...Tenor...first guess would be Flip Phillips, given the presence(?) of Bill Harris, but I think not, the opening phrasing is a little "prissy" for Flip. I'm thinking more along the lines of Georgie Auld or Charlie Ventura, although towards the end of the solo, he gets back into the Lockjaw Zone. Nice long cut, doesn't sound live, but I guess it could be...V-Disc or airshot maybe...This is really good stuff here, with ideas just coming out open & unforced. If this is part of a concert/broadcast/whatever, and everything played is of this nature, not constrained by time, and full of this type of swing-to-bop-to R&B playing, I would like to know so I could get it! You will know...soon! TRACK SIX - Not really feeling this one, although I can appreciate it, and the tune itself is deceptively "tricky" in spots. Actually, the more I listen to it, the more I like it, although as far as feeling it goes...well, let's just say that if I needed to go there, I could. There is a definite vibe going on, though, a real mood. Eddie Lang on guitar? Right on Lang. I think the Trumpet playing is the most dated part of this tune. Of course, as I think I mentioned before, the guy predates most everyone. TRACK SEVEN - "Tea for Two", and that really sounds like Earl Hines, one of the more amazing musicians this music has produced. What's not to like? So much music in just a little over three minutes! One thing I really have enjoyed is seeing the reactions to some of the songs. Some songs get little reaction....but this one is either loved or hated, and I never would have guessed that! TRACK EIGHT - Flagwaver! That trombonist, hey! Scoring & execution are both on the..."basic" side, but the feel is there, and in a social setting, where this was going to be heard (in its time), that's what puts it over. Good spirit by all, and the trombonist FEELS it Jack! A Trombonist that seems to be overlooked for no good reason! TRACK NINE - Jesus Chirst what a band! Sax section in particular, tighter than a gnat's X%$@>! Tenor/soprano player sure sounds like Charlie Barnet, so this might be his band, he always had a good one, but what I want to know is who the arranger is, and who the lead altoist is, because those two people are the real heroes of this cut (and probably of this band in general!). Them and the rhythm section for not letting the time get on top of itself, which a lot of bands from this time let happen. Glad you like this one!!! I knew you would notice the stuff many of us(Well, me at least) wouldn't on this BFT. Jazztrain derailed my hopes of no one guessing, but hey most have been fooled! The Tenor player is just a little younger than Barnet, but you do feel he listened a lot to him, don't you??? TRACK TEN - See track Eight, and I can feel the time getting on top of itself all through this one. "Rushing" is the wrong word, it's more like how you feel the first attack of the beat in relation to the duration of it. Even if you never literally speed up, it feels rushed because you're getting there before it get there. Even by a microsecond, if you do it systematically, hey, you notice it. But damn, that outchorus, hey, they lay into it, and again, in a social setting, I bet everybody got whatever they wanted. You get it better than I word it! TRACK ELEVEN - Yet another one that sounds familiar...Ellington(ia) of some sort, I think, although the soring is not unlike Sy Oliver, so it might be Lunceford or Dorsey...great pocket, right in there, and the band finds it to their liking. GREAT trumpet breaks...gotta be Cootie, so Duke it (probably) is...Damn, I love Ellington & get all of it I can, but there is just so much of it...Oh well, add another one to the list! Ha! Somewhere Miller is smiling...hopefully smiling down, and not up! TRACK TWELVE - Oh HELL yeah - for the first part. Solo section is a little mundane, but that ensemble stuff...WHOA! No idea who it is, but there's some shrewd musicians involved. I think the one track no one has guessed yet...or have they??? I'll check back....that beginning is just amazing to me...another tune that if I play it one, I have to play it twice... TRACK THIRTEEN - Tatum w/Tiny Grimes? No, I don't think so...Tatum had flashier and more variated runs, and a lighter touch...but still, in that vein. No idea, but it's good playing by all. TRACK FOURTEEN - More WayBack...I always get an image in my mind of the players on these things making the gigs, and it being like so many other gigs in all times, you show up and play what you play for the people, try to get your kicks doing it, sometimes more better than others, but still better than working for a living , and yeah, it's jsut cats playing the pop music of their day for people to whatever to, but now, it's...this! And try as ?I do, I can not put myself in the mindset of playing this type music and having it being workaday, pop, gig music without projecting my feelings from my experience in my time onto it. Which, I think, complicates matters more than they should be complicated. So, yeah, I like it, but I also find it a bit of a trip as well, in a good way, true, but still a trip. I mean, I can't imagine what it would be like wearing those type clothes & playing htis type music and have it being anything other than...not of my lifetime. So I learn, both about myself, and about them, hopefully. Well, I think you more or less described the fact that this was a learning experience for everyone then...You didn't know, what you didn't know...you know??? But interesting to hear them learn more each and every time they recorded(and played live, which we sadly will never get to hear from most of these guys) I also worried about playing too many 20's tracks in a row...but there is also the way the ear adjusts...easier IMO to listen to early stuff, then later, than the other way around. TRACK FIFTEEN - Well hey, you got your Roy Eldridge, and that makes it a keeper right there. Is that Benny Carter? Thosw two from this time I only relaly know with Hawk on board, and that darn sure ain't Hawk...Once again, the time stays within itself, which is something that we take for granted now, but was not a task readily or easily accomplished. It took some time. But anyway, Roy, YEAH! Roy IS the man! Not little Jazz, BIG jazz! TRACK SIXTEEN - Really not feeling this one, and not just because the record itself is a tad off-center... Sorry. The one track I have kind of wished I hadn't put on, but some people have liked it....it's different if nothing else! TRACK SEVENTEEN - Another tight band, always a thing of beauty as long as it swings, which this does. Goodman? That's some interesting, involved writing...one of Eddie Sauter's charts? Yeah, that's it. That guy...wow...the sax soli is just beautiful. This guy knew how to write, not just score, but write for a band...In it's own really quiet way, the Goodman band playing Sauter's charts was pretty avant-garde, those charts...not at all "dance material" in terms of what was going on over the beat, very, very "orchestral", demanding listening, although the beat was still danceable, although certainly not aggressively so. The chart he did on "Perfidia" (w/Helen Forrest's vocal) is still one I listen to regularly, as is "La Rosita". The guy was a master, and this band gave his charts the love they deserved. Say what you will about Goodman, but when he gave it up, he gave it up with full love and props attached, and you can hear that here - this is in no way an easy chart to play, yet the band has every little nuance down pat. that takes time, rehearsal, love, and a helluva good ear and soul. Much love for this one here! Very good ear to figure out it was a Sauter chart! But then again, you already knew that, didn't ya? TRACK EIGHTEEN - Oh hell, I should know this one...Henderson? Yeah, that's Hawk, early in his first prime, just CHARGING through the changes like he owned them, which he did, god do I love me some Coleman Hawkins...hey, this is da' bomb as my kids used to say, hellaceous writing & playing, life at its finest! Lesser known band with some name names....Not Hawkins, but surely a guy who was indebted to him. TRACK NINETEEN - Charlie Shavers? Getting lei-ed? Now this is a trip! FLUENT! Nope! Answer above... TRACK TWENTY - Prototypical Horace Silver! This computer isn't showing the tag, but this is Charles Lavere right? No I'd not have known otherwise. Again, the record is off-center, but oh well about that...I really dig this one, the tune, the playing, and above all the spirit. It's loose, down-home yet cosmopolitan, it's smart, it's hip, it's nasty but not vulgar, hey, you could lead a life like that doncha' know.. Finally, someone likes this track! Excellent taste of course!!! Kudos to those who have, those who are, and those who will. Well hey, a GREAT Disc One, and although I don't know squat about most of the music, I really, really dug it! Thanks, B, and off to Disc Two. Thanks for coming to the party!

Hey Jazztrain, glad you were interested!!! Won't comment on all, since I have overdone that...but will probably still comment more than I should! 1-1: Sounds like Stuff Smith on violin, but with vibes? Doesn't make sense. Wait, that's Hampton on vibes. It's one of his west coast dates on Victor. That means it's Ray Perry on violin and perhaps Marshall Royal on clarinet. Good guitar and piano as well. I think the tune has "Fiddle" in the title. Is this the tune that was either left off or repeated on the left off the Mosaic box? Nice transfer. Will have to get the box. WOW!!! First one to get this one right! Right on all counts! You get gold stars like your friend did as well! 1-3: Clarinet sounds a little like Bigard, but it isn't. Which means it's Woody Herman. Flip on tenor perhaps? Sounds like Woody again on alto as well. Funny, we all can get fooled at times with clarinet players, if we haven't just listened to a bunch of tracks from X, Y or Z. I was just listening to Herman (On Satellite TV I guess) and was thinking how he sounded like Goodman. Of course, this is neather Goodman or Herman! 1-4: Can't place the trumpet or piano. Wild guess: Freddie Slack? Nope 1-5: Piano sounds familiar. Trombone sounds like Bill Harris but isn't. This is too long for a 78. I think I know. How about Earl Swope on trombone? Tristano on piano. Can't remember the tenor sax but he's wailing. Someone like Ray Abrams, perhaps? Should have stayed with the first guess, as you probably know by know! 1-6: I know this but can't place it. It's been haunting me. Eddie Lang is on guitar. Sounds like Jimmy Dorsey on clarinet and Venuti on violin. Is brother Tommy here as well? Maybe Arthur Schutt or Frank Signorelli on piano. What is this??? Argh! Correct on both brothers, Signorelli on piano! 1-7: Tea for Two. Can't recognize the trumpet. Nice piano. Bob Zurke perhaps? 1-8: Panama. What a bass! Has a New Orleans feel. Must be Pops Foster on bass. That could be Red Allen on trumpet. Yep. Luis Russel & His Orchestra. There's Higgy on trombone. Teddy Hill on tenor perhaps. Albert Nicholas on clarinet rather close to the mike. Charlie Holmes on alto. Right on everything but the Tenor player!!! 1-9: I know the tune. Is it "Down South Camp Meeting?" Goodman and Henderson both recorded this tune but it doesn't sound like either. The tenor sounds like Charlie Barnet. Did he record this? The trumpet sounds like Bunny Berigan. Could it be his band? DAMMIT!!!! You are right on the band, and of course the(trumpet) player!!! First one again to guess correctly! I thought no one would get this one. Now you have 2 things to brag on with SJ! Well, you guessed the wrong song 1-11: Erskine Hawkins? Nice trumpet. Two trumpets? One open and the other muted. Very nice. Nope. Answer above, somewheres... 1-12: The tune reminds me of a Raymond Scott composition. Sounds like Bunny on trumpet (or am I being influenced by your avatar?). Good trombonist. I Raymond Scott wrote the tune. Not Bunny. 1-14: Henry Allen and His Orchestra. One of the 1929 Victor sides. "Swing Out" perhaps? Great band. Teddy Hill on tenor? There's Red on trumpet. Higgy on trombone. Pops Foster booming throughout on bass. What drive! Go Red! Charlie Holmes on alto. Nicholas up high on clarinet. Wonderful recording. An old favorite. Yep! Funny, I didn't write down a tenor player! Will check later. 1-15: The alto sounds a little like Don Stovall. That's Roy Eldridge on trumpet! Can't mistake him when he goes up high (or will I live to regret that statement?). Was that his brother Joe on alto? As Billie Holiday sang, no regrets.....That's his bro as well. 1-16: The mood of this changes dramatically after the intro. This has a Bob Crosby like feel in some ways. Is it his band? Not his band 1-17: That's Cootie but not with Duke. It's with Goodman. Can't think of the name of the tune but I think it may be an Eddie Sauter arrangement. There's Benny. Right on all counts! More gold stars for you! 1-18: This could be Henderson. Or the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. Or Don Redman? One of the riffs sounds like "Christmas Night in Harlem." Was that Hawk? Doesn't sound quite like him. How about Buster on clarinet? I'll go with Henderson as a guess. Or a guy who you kept guessing above. 1-19: Mannie Klein with the Hawaiians. Boy could he play. Oh man, know I see why you and SJ are friends!!! Excellent ears there! And he sure could play! 1-20: Coming up empty on this one. Drummer prominent. Krupa? I like the piano. Who is this? Perhaps listening fatigue has set in. Glad someone liked something about this tune! OK. Time's up. Need a break. Back for Disc 2 later. Many thanks again for the selections. Can I peek now? Peek to your heart's content! You got several songs no one else did! Do you listen mainly to older jazz, or all jazz???

From Starks column..... Senior citizen of the week: As John Smoltz closes in on the 3,000-Strikeout Club (a club with only about half as many members as the 3,000-Hit Club, by the way), one scout who attended the Smoltz-Santana duel last Sunday had this glowing review: “If John Smoltz had shoulder problems, he sure didn’t pitch like it. His stuff was better, across the board, than Santana’s. He’s just got so many ways to get you out, and such great movement on all his pitches, it’s testimony to all the benefits of having a fluid delivery. If you’re a kid 11 or 12 years old and you want to learn how to pitch, look at John Smoltz. That’s why he’s still throwing 96 miles an hour and he’s 40 years old.” He really was hitting 96 the other day!!! Amazing, since I saw 94 sometimes 95 tops last year. He just doesn't look like he should be able to whip it up there at that speed, does he???

Apparently it's not Lennie. That pianist remains unidentified (unless it's Dodo ) MG Not Dodo! Love that no one has guessed the pianist for track 5, and love that JS has finally chimed in!!! Wish I didn't have to work on my taxes right now, but I got to work on my Taxes...RIGHT NOW!

Since several of the songs have been guessed now, (and because I have a headache )I'll be a briefer tonight... Glad people aren't vomiting in their mouths after hearing it! Always a good thing! 1 A very nice swing side that sounds as if it might have been recorded in Paris in the thirties. Is that Bechet on soprano sax? Nope, but it sure has that Paris sound, doesn't it??? 2 Funny noises – thought at first it was a didgeridoo, but I couldn’t imagine you having a jazz record with a didgeridoo on it! So it was the trumpet player making those noises? I seem to remember that Miles Davis did something like that on “Quiet nights”. Turns into a large ensemble and swings along very nicely. No idea who it is, except it’s NOT Miles Davis. What do you mean you couldn't imagine me have a jazz record with a didgeridoo on it??? must have, dozens, dozens I tells ya! Not Miles, you are correct! 3 Interesting big band track with a tenor solo by someone I ought to be familiar with. There’s quite a “modern” feeling to this band. A very good alto player. I’m thinking Jimmy Dorsey or Boyd Raeburn; for no really good reason. Checking out the Tenor players bio, I see he was in a few other bands which I didn't realize he was in, so maybe thats why folks are saying they recoginize the sound. Interesting how many people have commented on it. If you have read other folks guesses, you'd know the JD guess is pretty good! 4 Proto R&B! This is a band I want to hear a lot more of! The groove on this is fantastic! I have got to get this! Towards the end, I get a Basie feeling about it, but the pianist isn’t right for Basie. Glad to see someone really like this one! 5 Unexpectedly modern pianist. No idea who. Also a modern trombonist. Great character to the trombone solo. Oh, this is a long one! Must be from the LP era; the scratches (which I don’t mind at all) are coming at 33 1/3. And now there’s a nice tenor player, whom I feel I know. There’s a lot of Jacquet about him. But the rest of the cast seem wrong for a Jacquet session.It does sound a bit like a JATP job, though, especially in the fours. Ah, did you cut this off just before the applause and announcement of the players? Most of the players have been guessed, but not the pianist yet! Cd folks cut off the applause on this one... 9 Very snappy brass section to this. The dancers would have had a hell of a time with this one! Oh, I really enjoyed that one! A bit too long for a 78; from a radio broadcast? Dancers would drop from this one, wouldn't they?? From a Transcription disc 12 European-sounding style with Latin-type drums in the intro. Good grown trumpet player. Can’t say the tenor man moved me much, but I enjoyed the trombonist. The pianist reminds me of some pre-Longhair New Orleans R&B pianists. Interesting description! 13 I recognise this tune. It’s a jazz version of a classical piece. Electrified guitar – nice solo. Oh, it’s Sig Romberg’s “All alone” – is that light opera or what do you call it? Well, I really liked this one; the piano and guitar are so into it together. Late forties European, I’d guess. Interesting everyone picked up on this being a jazzed up classical/light opera piece. I sure didn't know know the music...Not European. 14 Something from the early thirties, I’d guess. Kind of honky pre-Hawk tenor sax. The trumpet and trombone players both sound very assured. Not a honky, a black dude! 16 Intro is oh so funky. Then it isn’t. No solos except brief remarks by trumpet, trombone and clarinet over the funky bits at start & finish. It sounds like someone’s trying to arrange the sections as if they were a New Orleans band improvising all the way through. Very interesting. You put it better than I could! 17 Too MUCH band arrangement for me in this. When the clarinet comes in, it’s fine. Then the reed section bit is really lovely. No idea who this is. It’s a bit long for a 78. A broadcast? Perhaps Artie Shaw? I can see where you are coming from. I see it as a young arranger trying to show off what he could do... 18 A shellac drop? Too much band for me, not enough solo. But what there is of the tenor player is really great! I love the comments on how crappy the sound is on this one! It's from a cd, but those Columbia cds from the early 90's oh man! 19 Beautiful! It’s a Hawaiian band, I guess. Very accomplished. Love it! Glad you do MG! It's a track I play twice every time it's on! 20 A Latin bit coming in here. Not so keen on this one. No one is!

Happy Birthday Weekend! Hope it will be a great one.... Perhaps you should treat yourself and change the photo in your sig!

I guess using the same logic, you need to give credit to Bush for the high values of real estate in the past....

Not a Basie band, but again either the Bandleader or arranger had heard a fair bit of Basie. A nearly unknown band(Except for Stereojack and me!) that put out some very interesting music. hah. i looked at stereojack's answers. i actually have a savitt cd--but just one. I'll be curious if you guessed right, or not! i guess not! my googlification suggested it was helen kane, but your reply to stereojack suggests it's annette hanshaw. googlification! I'll have to remember that one! You have a Savitt cd as well??? Small world! Does it have this track though??? The track on the BFT is off a compilation cd. Hanshaw also did Helen Kane-ish stuff as well....Don't know if this was the reason she did these recordings, but she couldn't record a lot on Columbia, the Gimp didn't want anyone competing with his Ruthie! Here's Annette on one of the better Boop ripoffs.... http://www.redhotjazz.com/songs/hanshaw/Is...ginThat1928.ram

They didn't show those "highlights" on baseball tonight, but some of the pitches that A-Rod was called out on(He struck out 4 times, 3 looking for those that don't know) were terrible....

You should talk to a lawyer about this, seriously.

Sigh...this will be fun.... (Too many emoticons so, that will make this even more fun!) 1. This has got to Jabbo Smith! What an exciting player. This track gets the second disc off to a very nice start. He sure is, isn't he??? Sometimes I hear him in the late 20's and think at that moment he was as good as Armstrong! 2. “Old Joe’s Hittin’ the Jug” – Stuff Smith, with Jonah Jones on trumpet, and, I think, Cozy Cole on drums. LOVE Stuff!! Here’s a band I’d love to have seen live, had I been born 30 years sooner. Ha, you guessed the wrong drummer! Of course, seeing the name, it's a guy I've never heard of.... Right of course on tune, Stuff and Jonah. Your desire to have seen them live makes sense. If they could swing like mad on a studio track, what were they like when they had a few drinks and let their hair down???? 3. “Gin For Christmas” in rechanneled stereo! Even with the crappy mastering, it’s hard to contain the excitement. Of course, it’s Hamp at the drums, and Ziggy Elman on trumpet, can’t remember who else. A classic side! Right you are! Robert Parker IMHO, has done some decent stuff...this ain't even close to decent! But, I opened my Hampton cd knowing I had to put this track on this BFT, and it's missing! Crap, I said! Then I remembered a Big Band Christmas cd from Parker had this very un-Christmassy tune on it...I think Lionel brought out the very best in Ziggy. They worked so well together. Oh, and did you all see who SJ said was on drums??? Yep! I'm sure some know this fact, but I didn't know of it til I bought the Hampton cd in the mid 90's. He also played a funky hunt in peck style on the piano(Or perhaps better described as as playing the vibes on the keys) that some don't like, but I enjoy... 4. The Rhythmmakers – “Who Stole The Lock”. Red Allen sings & plays trumpet, Pee Wee is delightful, can’t remember the tenor (Bud?) or the trombone (great trills!). A classic session. Right on the first two, not Bud. It trills me every time I hear the trombonist. From what I read, one of the very few pure jazz sessions recorded in 1932.... 5. “You Can’t Cheat a Cheater”. I think you’re throwing us a curve here, my man. That’s Tommy Dorsey on trumpet, with Eddie Lang, and the pianist (Artie Schutt?) doubling on harmonium. I’ve always marveled at how Tommy’s personality was so different when he played trumpet. On trombone, he plays with great beauty and control, and on trumpet he’s a wild man! Then again, maybe this is Phil Napoleon on trumpet – they both recorded this tune. I’ll stick to my first guess. I tried to throw you a split-fingered pitch, with Vaseline on my fingertips, but you still hit the ball out of the ballpark! Even knew it was Schutt on Harmonium! I love his trumpet as well. So much energy, he obviously owed a debt to Louis, but this was recorded in 1928! Who else, black or white, could have played such a hot solo then???? 6. Tram, Bix & Lang – another curve. Bix is on piano until the very end. Hanging curve to you! ; ) Kind of surprised the bad reaction to Tram's playing though. Not a lot of C-melody sax to be heard though.... 7. I think this is Dick McDonough, a marvelous guitarist who died young. Beautiful playing, and a lovely tune. X Good guess, but not him. 8. George Barnes – “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”. I found this Okeh 78 some years ago, on which the billing was The Georgie Barnes Trio. Can’t remember who the sidemen are, but Barnes (barely out of his teens when he cut this) sounds great! How, I mean, no way you could, I...I...are you an ??? Folks, the liner notes for this track mentioned the sides from this session were so rare, they weren't even mentioned in most discographies!!! Hats off to you for buying the 78 in the first place, and remembering it still! Give yourself 10 gold stars! I figured no one, not Brownie, Lon, no one would get this unless they happened to find the same cd I had. 9. Red Norvo – “Dance of the Octopus”. This was considered pretty avant garde back in 1933. If I recall correctly, Benny Goodman’s playing the bass clarinet. A delightful side. Correct on all points! 10. That’s Tiny Grimes on guitar, I’m pretty sure. I think this may be a Blue Note date, with Ike Quebec on tenor. Or is it John Hardee? Tiny on Guitar, and your second guess on Tenor. 11. This sounds familiar, but I can’t place it. Really nice late 1920’s Harlem jazz – maybe Charlie Johnson? X Ha! See that everyone??? He missed one! Not Charlie Johnson, but right on the money era-wise, and there are some very name folks in the band.... 12. Harlan Leonard – “A La Bridges”, featuring the legendary Henry Bridges on tenor, and Fred Beckett on trombone. A beautiful side by a great Kansas City band. Nice selection! Got them all right!!! Amazing!!! 13. This is a little busy, and slightly pretentious - possibly Boyd Raeburn? Nevertheless, I give them an A for effort. X Not him. Not something I could listen to all the time, just didn't want folks to think I was too much of a fuddy duddy! 14. Another swing-to-bop attempt from the mid-40’s. Can’t name the band, although I think the alto bears a strong resemblance to Jimmy Dorsey. Haven’t heard anything quite this forward-looking from JD, but I guess anything’s possible. Anything IS possible! 15. This has to be Chick Webb – “Liza”. Probably Taft Jordan on trumpet, and the great Chick Webb in one of his rare solos. A great band , a great drummer. Yes to everything you said above! 16. A strong Basie feel here, but I really have no idea who this band is. The band plays with spirit, but the chart is rather mundane. X Not Basie. Yea, I don't have to spill the beans yet! I will have something to talk about come answer time! 17. I seem to recall this title – “Swinging In the Groove” – Jan Savitt. Strong trumpet and tenor, can’t remember their names. Nice boogie woogie piano. Cutty Cutshall on trombone? Another one no mere mortal could get! Even the Trombonist for God's sake! Satan, is that you???? I really like his band, but am more familiar with his shuffle Rhythm(Which can get old after listening to a whole cd of it) than this style. 18. A nice track, dubbed from a less-than-mint 78. I like the sound of the sax section a lot, very mellow. Damn, I know this band, but can’t come up with a name. Hilton Jefferson on alto? X Yeah, crap "remaster" Another tune I have a better version of, but you don't think I could find it, do you??? Not Hilton Jefferson 19. Very fine trumpet player. Good playing all around. Nothing is coming to mind here, although I like the band’s feel, especially when they kick it up a notch in the final chorus. Sudden ending! X Very sudden ending, it's true! 20. Recalling Venuti-Lang here, although this sounds like it may from a little later, mid-30’s I’d guess, with the “jump” rhythm. Maybe a western swing outfit? It recalls them for a darn good reason! A bit earlier, 1931, which makes it's goofiness all the more interesting to me! 21. Nice quasi-country guitar in the first chorus, fine muted trumpet. Clarinet opens with the famous “High Society” quote. No ideas on this one. X If had known this one... Drummer is a guy you know 22. Bob Crosby? A nice slow-boogie feel. The reeds with the clarinet lead are very nice. I’m a big fan of the 30’s Crosby band, I would suspect that this was made in the early 40’s. Fine trombone solo. Not Crosby, it is from 1940 if that helps(I hope it doesn't! ) 23. A nice segue – this follows the previous track with a similar rhythm. I think this is John Kirby’s “Twilight In Turkey”. Didn’t figure it out until I recognized Charlie Shavers, then Billy Kyle and Buster Bailey. Not a typical Kirby performance, but excellent nonetheless. /Right group, but a different tune... 24. The Boswell Sisters!!! MUCH LOVE for the Boswells, and for Connee after the sisters retired. Is that Dick McDonough on guitar? The arrangement is a tad precious, but these babes sure swing! Jimmy Dorsey again? Bunny on trumpet? Right you are! My favorite vocal group. Correct on McDonough, and Dorsey, but it's not Berigan on Trumpet. 25. The singer is a little deadpan, slightly reminiscent of Annette Hanshaw, but I don’t think this is her. The trumpet soars on this – Jack Purvis? /You were wrong to doubt yourself! Not Purvis. 26. “Shake That Thing”. Acoustically recorded. Can’t pin this band down, but I like them. Can this be the California Ramblers? It can be! Glad you enjoyed it! And all kidding aside, I am very impressed by your knowledge! Much more jazz knowledge than my brain possesses. You got 19 out of 26 correct!!!

elated, in fact. ) i liked disc 2 better than disc 1, though i still don't recognise most of it. i foresee a trip to amoeba records once you post the answers. Anything to help the economy. Hope some of this is still in print! 1. awesome. no idea who this is. sounds a little like some of the hrs sessions. new orleans style trumpet. upon re-listening: it sounds like jabbo. it's not a track of his i have, though, so it must be post-1929. Right, it's Jabbo! Good ears! It's not post 1929, it's early 1929. It's off a 2 cd set of his I have... 2. is that stuff smith? actually, yes, that is stuff. and now i can find it online: stuff and jonah, "old joe's hittin' the jug". i like it. aside: i put this on in the car this morning, and two measures in, my girlfriend says "that's jonah jones." yes, she's awesome. yes, she's taken. sorry. ) Right again! Your gal said Jonah Jones??? And you haven't married her yet??? Good, then I can still take her away from you! 3. live basie? oops! no, because there's a guitar break! and that piano is not basie. late 1940's? there are a lot of notes in those sax solos and i can hear a lot of hitting of the open high-hat, i think. wish i could figure out what is being yelled at 2:16. trumpet player is good. if you told me this was the tommy dorsey orchestra, i'd believe you. Not live Basie. Nor Dorsey. Man, I wish I had found the better (audio wise) version! 4. i love this stuff. it's from here: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&a...10:3pfyxzl5ldje 3 out of 4, pretty good! I'd love to hear what a trombone player thought of this solo.... 5. tempo changes would drive dancers mad. trumpeter has listened to a lot of louis (that's of course as useless as my earlier comment that some guy sounded like he was influenced by tram!). Oh yeah, he loved Louis for sure. I love the tempo changes that you see in some old jazz. You just never know when someone will hit the accelerator. Boswell sisters were better than anyone else, IMHO at doing this. I hope Thom Keith will give it one more listen when he finds out who the trumpeter is...I bet he clicked off before they threw off the chains 6. sweet (as in, not hot) sax. honky tonk piano. boring guitar. trumpet out of nowhere! lullaby ending. weird. Funny reactions to this so far. I see the all knowing one guessed it. So, you now know that at least this guy wasn't influenced by Tram! 7. No guesses from Alex, well...no correct ones! 8. i like the chuggachugga rhythm guitar. i wish the alto (?) would go a little wilder. i wish all of it was a little rawer, actually. electric guitar sounds awfully clean. i have, again, no idea who these guys are. i know django went electric for a little while at some point. i've never heard those sides, but i imagine they sound something like this. Not Django....rare track to say the least. Tenor, not alto. No ones heard these sides either.... 9. opening horn made me go: "duke?", but i quickly recanted. are those vibes or a marimba? what on earth is going on? oh. 1:31. someone found a beat. annoying vibe/xylophone/marimba is back. i don't like it. i feel like i'm in the rain forest with a bunch of fellow explorers who sing out of tune. Yep Marimba! "i feel like i'm in the rain forest with a bunch of fellow explorers who sing out of tune" So, it's safe to say you want a cd of all the alternates, right???? 10. hawk? any electric guitar, i automatically think it's christian. so i'll just say christian. Nope, and nope.... 11. this is really fun. mid to late 20's again? Late 20's 12. man, i really am terrible at identifying bands. dorsey, perhaps, but i have no good reason for saying that. it's too sweet for my taste. Not Dorsey. 14. but this is! late 1940's? again with my inability to identify a band. the riff hits at the very beginning (0:03 and 0:06ish) remind me of lunceford, but the rest of the track sure doesn't, and it goes all modern crazy 20 seconds in. at times just a little too modern for my taste. 15. aaaaah, there's chick! this time it really is him. "liza". love this. (what a great intro--right up there with "will git it".) Correct. No messing around here, right to the action by one of the best drummers ever. 16. yeeeeeah. another great track. basie, i bet. sounds like they're quoting "swingin' on nothing". Not Basie, believe it or not. A very underrated band. Heck, I didn't even know of this band till I got this compilation set! 17. and another winner. what is this? i need to get this. what a great bounce! love those reed riffs and the way the trumpet breaks in at 0:32 or so. the bouncy rhythm reminds me of basie again, but it clearly isn't. some other kansas city band, perhaps? Not a Basie band, but again either the Bandleader or arranger had heard a fair bit of Basie. A nearly unknown band(Except for Stereojack and me!) that put out some very interesting music. 18. the pianist reminds me of morton because of those little ragtime figures. it's someone who learned to play early. the rest of the band sounds more modern, though. the four beats to the bar ("and no cheatin'!") rhythm suggests it's at least 1930, probably closer to '35. kinda fun. One of my all time favorite tracks, for some reason.... 19. cool. more for the "to buy if i don't actually already have it somewhere" list. mckinney's cotton pickers, or one of the other territory bands, if i had to guess. Not a territory band, but a band that was more like an all star band, with no true identity since folks came and went all the time.... 20. ick. ) i'm fine with the fiddle, but the clarinet trill and the other squeakiness kills it for me. I love it, just cuz it's weird...and some famous folk there.... 21. is that "honeysuckle rose" being quoted there? i like this, but i can't identify anyone on it. i like the piano player. sounds like a condon jam session, but the guitar player isn't condon. (for one, he's soloing. for another, well, he doesn't sound like condon.) Someone fairly well known is here, but on an instrument I have never heard him on, except for this track. 22. latin influenced swing is not my thing. Sounds sorta like a title for a song! 23. with a beginning like that, i have to think of duke--again. Nope. 24. boswell sisters? or is it the king sisters? ah, i looked it up. cool. i like it. I'm assuming you guessed correctly! 25. it doesn't sound like connie (who of course i have to think of because of that last track), and the recording is really early. i don't really know the early female vocalists. so who is it? reminds me of a hollywoody thing--like a cross between ginger rogers and betty boop. oh. wow. lyrics & google led me to it online. that's wild. it pretty much is betty boop. I'll be curious if you guessed right, or not! 26. this is really early. 1918-1921ish? odjb? morton's peppers? no piano. hmm, not morton, then. could be odjb. also reminds me of jim europe, noble sissle, etc., but it sounds like a small group, and i don't know that they recorded in a small group. Early for sure, not quite as early as you are guessing though, 1926. Scratchy recording makes it older sounding... You're quite welcome! It's great fun seeing folks guess correctly, and incorrectly! Will sleep, then pat Stereojack on the head in the A.M....His ego must be hard to contain at this point!

Hey guys....just a quick note to say I am trying to work on taxes, HAD to mow the lawn after a ton of rain, and have a stomach virus...which has little to do with why I ain't answering Disc 2 guesses! I mentioned on the other thread that a track I thought was on this set (A Bunny Berigan/Bud Freeman track) isn't...and my order is off, and I just want to double check a few tracks on cds to make sure I haven't transposed some answers....later this evening/early morning most likely... Besides, know it all stereojack is about 80% right once again!

It's not Earl Hines, but I will be interested in hearing if you have this exact track on that set, or if Earl Hines recorded this track, and the band I put on the set ripped Hines off! Holy shit! Stereojack NAILED this one! Yes, this is the track from the Reader's Digest box I was referring to. If you ever find that "flabbergasted" emoticon, let me know! Way to go, Jack! How'd you know this one? For that matter, Berigan, how the heck do YOU know about it? Zurke was the pianist in Bob Crosby's band in the late 30's. This is a band I've known and enjoyed for decades. I recognized Zurke's style. I do have the recordings he made with his own band as well, but I don't know them well enough to recognize the track. Pity he didn't live long enough to enjoy much of a career: dead at 34 in 1944. Based on his piano playing on this track, he has a very nice, distinctive sound. Yes Al, crying shame he died so young...ironic in that he filled in for Joe Sullivan, who was often too sick to play with Crosby(Sullivan was supposed to be their main piano man) With Stereojack talking up Bob Crosby, I put on a cd I haven't heard in awhile. Hindsight is always 20/20, but I kinda wish I had put the track, Call me a Taxi on the BFT, a track Zurke co-wrote. Not quite as ornate piano work, but still very interesting, with a very good Eddie Miller solo. From the liner notes on this ASV Crosby cd... "Bob Zurke's piano style seemed to suit the band to near-perfection and his individual style was greatly admired by Jelly Roll Morton. His Technique was so prodigious that at times the hands seemed to operate apparently independent of each other, but the knots were always untied at the right time, be in in the blues or boogie woogie" Al, because of my fondness of Crosby tracks, when I saw a Bob Zurke cd, I knew I'd better grab it, since I didn't imagine it would be in print a long time...well, I was wrong, it still is 7 years later, but glad I grabbed it, though his stuff with Crosby is a bit more consistent.

Well, you are 1/3 right! First part is correct. It's not Earl Hines, but I will be interested in hearing if you have this exact track on that set, or if Earl Hines recorded this track, and the band I put on the set ripped Hines off! Victory is yours!!!! I had a feeling you might get this one, after checking your BFT tracks. Check out the guesses above, if you haven't already! Miller could rock, every once in awhile, with the right arranger, and Miller not telling folks to tone it down(How that one trumpet solo was allowed to stand, it beyond me, but very glad it did!) Thanks! I can't wait to find out which track he's on either! I actually meant to have him on one more track on this BFT, have the notes I wrote and everything , but alas, no track!

gee, I had heard he died a few years back! Oh well, happy Birthday anyway!

Are ya happy Alex, and Thom Keith???