Proto Bebop From the Musicians Strike, Recording Ban, 1942-44

[Teasing the Korean]

Perhaps it is paradoxical to discuss a vacuum of recordings in the discography sub-forum.

Are there any key recordings from this period from radio, V-discs, or jam sessions that help to document the development of bebop and fill gaps in the canon?

Edited December 27, 2013 by Teasing the Korean

[Big Beat Steve]

Well, the lack of Earl Hines big band recordings is one major gap that, alas, looks like it will remain forever.

Apart from that, there must be quite a few non-commercial recordings from that period that might help to document musical happenings during that period but they are scattered all over the place in the way they have been issued later on (will have to search my vinyl).

Apart from airshots and jam sessions, transcriptions might also be a source.

What immediately comes to mind are quite a few live recordings by the Count Basie band from 1943.

Also, remember that not all the record companies sat out the strike to the very end. Studio recording was well under way again by early November, 1943.

Edited December 26, 2013 by Big Beat Steve

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

There's this

Cootie Williams - Original Hit recordings - Phoenix

This is available from Amazon UK as downloads. The original LP just had the 1944 recordings, but I see that 'Floogie boo' is included, which was done for the Elite label (which was renamed Hit later, then Majestic) in '41 or '42 - not sure when. I've only got the LP with the '44 tracks but the original version of 'Round midnight' is on there. It was a VERY transitional band. Cleanhead Vinson and Jaws were in it, as well as Bud Powell. Cleanhead's big hits 'Cherry red blues' and 'Somebody's got to go' are both included as well as a few routine swing numbers and a couple of bop numbers. I've always found this album a delight, as well as interesting, to listen to.

MG

[ghost of miles]

TTK, check out these:

http://www.amazon.com/Young-Bird-1-2-1940-44/dp/B000003HQA/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1388088573&sr=1-3&keywords=young+bird+charlie+parker

http://www.amazon.com/1943-44-Vol-4-Dizzy-Gillespie/dp/tracks/B000003HQH/ref=dp_tracks_all_1#disc_1

[ghost of miles]

Also a few things on this:

http://www.amazon.com/DEVILIN-1934-1945-GOODMAN-HAMPTON-MILLER/dp/B000JJS5MM/ref=pd_sim_sbs_m_3/177-1431354-6517366

...and Allen himself might be able to provide some more suggestions.

[jeffcrom]

Charlie Parker's Complete Birth of the Bebop on Stash is extremely valuable, although the contents are probably duplicated on the CDs mentioned by Ghost in his first post above. The Stash CD has a private Bird session from around 1942, and it has all the material found from the famous 1943 jan session with Gillespie, Oscar Pettiford, and Bird on tenor.

[Big Beat Steve]

Concentrating on the core period of the ban (August, 1942 to October, 1943), here is another one:

The Woody Herman LP "Dance Time Forty-Three" on the (U.K.) First Heard label has several transcriptions by the band from February to June, 1943 which, according to the liner notes, include a few contributions by Dizzy Gillespie to the band's book.

Was going to suggest the "Redcross" sessions featuring Charlie Parker from 1943 too but I see this has already been covered above.

Edited December 27, 2013 by Big Beat Steve

[AllenLowe]

just as an aside, because it may be that it completely skews any attempt to do the above; but Curley Russell told me that he recorded a lot during the ban, and that the companies backdated the recordings.

Edited December 27, 2013 by AllenLowe