BILLY KYLE – 1937-1938 (1996) The Classics Chronological Series – 919 | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Pianist Billy Kyle spent most of his career as a sideman (most notably with John Kirby's Sextet and the Louis Armstrong All-Stars) and led relatively few sessions, all of which were formerly rare. That fact makes this CD reissue a major event for small-group swing collectors. Kyle's eight selections from 1937 with his "Swing Club Band" (which hints at times at the Kirby group) include two vocals apiece by the Palmer Brothers and Leon Lafell, but are most notable for the playing of trumpeter Charlie Shavers and altoist Tab Smith on the instrumentals. In addition, Kyle is prominent with the Spencer Trio (a group with clarinetist Buster Bailey and drummer O'Neil Spencer), Timme Rosenkrantz's Barrelhouse Barons (which include cornetist Rex Stewart, trombonist Tyree Glenn, tenorman Don Byas, and singer Inez Cavanaugh), and with Jack Sneed & His Sneezers. Sneed was a jazz-influenced calypso singer who was wise enough to use a backup quartet (which included Shavers) taken from the Kirby sextet. Overall, an excellent set of rarities. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Billy Kyle And His Swing Club Band–    Sundays Are Reserved 2:54
 Billy Kyle
Vocals – The Palmer Brothers
2    Billy Kyle And His Swing Club Band–    Havin' A Ball 2:39
 Billy Kyle
3    Billy Kyle And His Swing Club Band–    Big Boy Blue 2:51
 Dan Howell / Jack Lawrence / Peter Tinturin
Vocals – The Palmer Brothers
4    Billy Kyle And His Swing Club Band–    Margie 2:37
 Con Conrad / Benny Davis / J. Russel Robinson
5    Billy Kyle And His Swing Club Band–    Can I Forget You? 2:42
 Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
Vocals – Leon LaFell
6    Billy Kyle And His Swing Club Band–    All You Want To Do Is Dance 2:27
 Johnny Burke / Arthur Johnston
Vocals – Leon LaFell
7    Billy Kyle And His Swing Club Band–    Handle My Heart With Care 2:37
Billy Kyle
8    Billy Kyle And His Swing Club Band–    Girl Of My Dreams 2:29
 Sunny Clapp
9    Spencer Trio–    John Henry 3:05
Traditional
Vocals – O'Neil Spencer
10    Spencer Trio–    Lorna Doone Shortbread 2:55
 Buster Bailey
11    Spencer Trio–    Afternoon In Africa 2:50
 Buster Bailey
12    Spencer Trio–    Baby Won't You Please Come Home 2:31
 Charles Warfield / Clarence Williams
Vocals – O'Neil Spencer
13    Timme Rosenkrantz And His Barrelhouse Barons–    A Wee Bit Of Swing 2:33
 Leo Mathiesen / Timme Rosenkrantz
14    Timme Rosenkrantz And His Barrelhouse Barons–    Is This To Be My Souvenir? 3:10
 Leo Mathiesen
Vocals – Inez Cavanaugh
15    Timme Rosenkrantz And His Barrelhouse Barons–    When Day Is Done 2:17
 Buddy DeSylva / Robert Katscher
Vocals – Inez Cavanaugh
16    Timme Rosenkrantz And His Barrelhouse Barons–    The Song Is Ended 2:15
 Irving Berlin
17    Jack Sneed And His Sneezers–    The Numbers Man  2:29
 Jack Sneed
18    Jack Sneed And His Sneezers–    Sly Mangoose 2:42
 Jack Sneed
19    Jack Sneed And His Sneezers–    West Indian Blues 2:55
 Jack Sneed
20    Jack Sneed And His Sneezers–    Big Joe Louis 2:50
 Jack Sneed
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Rudy Williams (tracks: 13 to 16), Russell Procope (tracks: 13 to 16), Tab Smith (tracks: 1 to 8)
Bass – John Kirby (tracks: 17 to 20), John Williams (tracks: 1 to 8), Walter Page (tracks: 13 to 16)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Eddie Williams (tracks: 1 to 4)
Cornet – Rex Stewart (tracks: 13 to 16)
Drums – Fran Marx (tracks: 5 to 8), Jo Jones (tracks: 13 to 16), O'Neil Spencer (tracks: 1 to 4, 9 to 12, 17 to 20)
Guitar – Brick Fleagle (tracks: 13 to 16), Danny Barker (tracks: 1 to 8)
Piano – Billy Kyle
Tenor Saxophone – Don Byas (tracks: 13 to 16), Harold Arnold (tracks: 1 to 4), Ronald Haynes (tracks: 5 to 8)
Trombone – Tyree Glenn (tracks: 13 to 16)
Trumpet – Billy Hicks (tracks: 13 to 16), Charlie Shavers (tracks: 1 to 8, 17 to 20)