Mildred Bailey with the John Kirby Sextet and Red Norvo 1939

Charlie Parker Quintet at the Hi Hat

Charlie Parker was a frequent visitor to Boston in the early 1950's, often playing long engagements at the Hi-Hat club.  Here is a sampling of well-recorded radio broadcasts of his groups featuring Herb Pomeroy, Joe Gordon and Herbie Williams on trumpet, Dean Earls, Rollins Griffith and Dick Twardzick on piano, Charles Mingus, Jimmy Woode and Bernie Griggs on bass, Baggy Grant, Marquis Foster, George Salerno and Roy Haynes on drums and guest Jay Migliori on tenor sax

Show - Shorty Rogers and His Giants 1951, 53, 55

The trumpeter/composer/arranger Shorty Rogers did much work for Woody Herman and Stan Kenton in the 1940's - the 1950's found him working in the studios around Los Angeles, playing with the Lighthouse All-Stars on Hermosa Beach and leading record date.  These feature an eight or nine piece band in the style if not the sound of Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool sessions.   With Rogers, Milt Bernhardt on trombone, Art Pepper or Bud Shank on alto, Jimmy Giuffre on baritone and tenor, Hampton Hawes on piano, Shelly Manne on drums and John Graas on french horn, the solo contributions are every bit as good as the arrangements.

Mildred Bailey with the John Kirby Sextet and Red Norvo 1939

The ultra-musical jazz singer Bailey and her husband, xylophonist and bandleader Red Norvo recorded several sessions with the just-organized John Kirby Sextet in 1939 and the musical results were superb . . featuring Bailey and Norvo with Charlie Shavers, Buster Bailey, Russell Procope, Billy Kyle, O'Neil Spencer and Cozy Cole

Charlie Ventura Quartet for Verve - mid 1950's

The versatile reedman (here playing alto, tenor, baritone and bass saxes) featured with A+ rhythm sections including Hank Jones, Dave McKenna, Marty Napoleon (piano), Chubby Jackson (sb) and Jo Jones and Buddy Rich on drums.  Well-arranged and played standards and a few originals!

Ken Peplowski - 1980's Recordings

The late, great Ken Peplowski is here remembered on some of his early recording sessions with an astonishing range of styles and personnel.  Trad with Marty Grosz, Peter Ecklund and Terry Waldo; swing with Howard Alden and Dan Barrett, a funny baseball themed session with Dick Miller's National Pass Time Orchestra and two bonuses - one with Leon Redbone and one with Benny Goodman's last big band.  Great alto and tenor as well as clarinet!