HARLAN LEONARD AND HIS ROCKETS – 1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 670 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Harlan Leonard first showed up on traditional jazz radar as a member of Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra. He joined in 1923 and served as a vertebra in the backbone of the Moten reed section until 1931. Teaming up with another Moten veteran, Leonard worked with Thamon Hayes' Skyrockets, helping to steer this band until it too dissolved in 1937. Leonard formed his own Rockets in 1938. In 1940 they appeared at the Golden Gate Ballroom in New York, recorded about 23 sides for Bluebird, toured all over the continental United States, and finally disbanded in 1945 while working in California. This band contained a lot of young talent from Kansas City. Hearing all of their records in one package is a gas. Swing had matured. It was obviously ready to lunge forward into big-band modernity. Beginning with what is the only known recording of an electrically amplified guitar solo by Efferge Ware, "Rockin' With the Rockets" is as solid as its name, with a healthy dance tempo and hot solos from reeds and brass. "Hairy Joe Jump" is based on a simple line that might possibly have spawned the famous introduction to Charlie Parker's "Klactoveesedsteen." Bird almost certainly heard this band when he was still in Kansas City. Did he store this fairly flaccid melody in his brain along with hundreds of other "head arrangements," only to pull it out years later and transform it into gold? Who can say? "Contact" is a fine jam tune. The saxophones growl, and William Smith plays fine piano. "Snaky Feeling" has a cool vocal by trumpeter and arranger James Ross. "Skee" is a smoker, solid stuff for the jitterbug crowd. Myra Taylor sings a perky "World On Fire" and Ernie Williams hollers as hot as the band blows on "Ride My Blues Away." With the bouncy "Parade of the Stompers," listeners have arrived at a turning point, for the next session introduces the arrangements of Tadd Dameron, who also composed material for the Rockets. "Rock and Ride" and "400 Swing" are particularly invigorating. Suddenly, Myra Taylor is back at the microphone singing a song about pickles. Based on the 19th century melody "La Sorella," this pop tune would be irritating if the band didn't swing so hard. "Please Don't Squabble" has Ernie Williams sounding a lot like Jimmy Rushing. Tadd Dameron arranged "A la Bridges," a lush tenor saxophone ballad for Henry Bridges, who comes across like a Coleman Hawkins devotee. "Dameron Stomp" and "Take 'Um" are climactic achievements for this exciting, short-lived band. These recordings, existing at the stylistic crossroads of bebop and swing, are essential episodes in both the saga of the Kansas City scene and the rapid evolution of mid-20th century jazz. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist + Credits :

JOE TURNER – 1947-1948 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1094 (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Big Joe Turner went through record companies like some people go through cigarettes, one after another, cutting sides for anybody who waved a dollar in his face. This installment of the Big Joe story focuses on an eight-month period that found him recording for National, Savoy, EmArcy, RPM, and Downbeat, usually in the company of longtime piano-playing partner Pete Johnson. A mixture of live and studio tracks, it's the usual blend of blues and boogie, with Big Joe hammering the notes flat by the sheer strength of his voice alone. Another excellent entry in this series. Cub Koda
Tracklist :
1     Nobody in Mind 2:27
Big Joe Turner
2     Lucille, Lucille 3:00
Joe Turner
3     Rocks in My Bed 2:41
Duke Ellington
4     Careless Love 2:53
W.C. Handy / Martha E. Koenig / Spencer Williams
5     Last Goodbye Blues 3:03
Big Joe Turner
6     Whistle Stop Blues 2:53
Joe Turner
7     Hollwood Bed (Cherry Red Blues) 2:46
Joe Turner
8     Howlin' Winds 2:31
Joe Turner
9     Roll 'Em Pete 0:58
Pete Johnson / Big Joe Turner
10     Kansas City Blues 2:35
Pete Johnson / Big Joe Turner
11     Riding Blues (Jockey Blues) 3:13
Joe Turner
12     Playful Baby 2:15
Wynonie Harris
13     Radar Blues 2:42
14     Trouble Blues 2:35
Joe Turner
15     Wine-O-Baby Boogie 2:32
Joe Turner
16     B & O Blues 2:15
Pete Johnson / Joe Turner
17     Christmas Date Boogie 2:34
Joe Turner
18     Tell Me Pretty Baby (Howdy 'Ya Want Your Rollin' Done) 2:45
Joe Turner
19     Old Piney Brown's Gone 2:37
Joe Turner
20     Baby, Won't You Marry Me 2:37
Joe Turner
Credits :
James Adams - Drums
Harry Babasin - Bass
Robert Brady - Drums
Addison Farmer - Bass
Art Farmer - Guest Artist
Otis Finch - Sax (Tenor)
Charles Grey - Trumpet
Pete Johnson - Composer, Guest Artist, Piano, Primary Artist, Vocals
Barney Kessel - Guitar
Don Lamond - Drums
Ellsworth Liggett - Bass
Robert Moore - Bass
Milburn Newman - Baritone
Ike Perkins - Guitar
Pete Peterson - Sax (Tenor)
Big Joe Turner - Composer, Primary Artist, Vocals