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Small Chamber Jazz

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:44 pm
by Jerry_Jelinek
I'm in the thinking stages of doing a 'small chamber jazz' radio show.

The term I don't think is widely used. The groups which fit this genre would be:

Johny Kirby:
Benny Goodman Trio, Quartet, Sextet:
Gene Krupa Trio (40s), small groups in 50s with Charlie Shavers
Artie Shaw Gramercy Five
Teddy Wilson Small Groups
Jonah Jones

The style is really the defining portion. It has to be small group in a swinging style. My father uses the term 'polite jazz'.

I'm not interested in putting dixieland groups into this. Even the classic Louis Armstrong stuff from 1950s might be on the fringe on the genre I'm thinking of.

Do you have other suggestions for groups which fit this style I'm searching for?

Thanks for any help you can provide

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:55 pm
by mousethief
Count Basie and the All-American Rhythm Section
Nat King Cole Trio (depends on selection)
Noble Sissle's Swingsters
Cootie Williams' Rug Cutters
Rex's 52nd Street Stompers

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 2:35 pm
by Swifty

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 2:50 pm
by Swifty
I've also got this Small Groups compilation on the Laserlight label that's good. I think I put the Sonny Dunham "Blues in F" on my Yehoodi set way back when. (Sound clips here)

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 2:56 pm
by Jerry_Jelinek
Thanks Ryan for the suggestion. The Harry James Cottontail is unreal. That DEFINATELY fits my idea.

Also I just recalled Chick Webb had a small group that was very much in the Kirby style. I'll use some of that.

Also some of the Nat Cole trio stuff would fit. Probably extended that to the modern Soprano Summit stuff with Bob Wilber and Kenny Davern.

Keep the ideas flowing.

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 4:42 pm
by Campus Five
Other notable small groups:

Cootie Williams Sextet from 1941-1944
Illinois Jacquet sides from 1944-1947
Lionel Hampton small group stuff from 1936-1940
Arnold Ross Quintet featuring Benny Carter - "Bye Bye Blues" is a favorite
Hot Lips Page 1944-1946 has some good stuff on it.

If vocals are an option check out Peggy Lee - "Travlin' Light" on Columbia.

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 4:56 pm
by JohnDyer
What about:
Slim and Slam (Groove Juice Special)
Slim Gaillard (Laughing In Rhythm)
Slim Gaillard (Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere)
Slam Stewart (Definitive Black And Blue Sessions)

All of my Slim and Slam stuff is small combo. IMHO most of it "swings"

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 5:03 pm
by CafeSavoy
Oscar Peterson, Teddy Wilson, Hazel Scott, and Eddie Heywood might have some 40's small group recordings you could use.

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 5:33 pm
by Bob the Builder
Cats and the Fiddle
Charlie Christian did a tiny bit of sessions out side the Goodman group,
Fats Waller,
Mills Brothers,
Tiny Grimes
Wille 'The Loin' Smith

Not sure if they all fit into you idea, but just suggestions.

Brian

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 6:48 pm
by trev
The Goodman/Basie All Star Octet (is an octet too large?)

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 7:57 pm
by russell
What about some of the Duke Ellington small group material. I have a CD at home but can't reference the name at present.

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 8:03 pm
by mousethief
russell wrote:What about some of the Duke Ellington small group material. I have a CD at home but can't reference the name at present.
Probably Ellington: Small Groups or one of the Duke's Men sets?

Kalman

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 11:16 pm
by Campus Five
Oh, almost forgot

Big Sid Catlett - led a quartet with Ben Webster. Look for the tune "Just a Riff."

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 1:35 am
by lindyholic
The Duke's Men, both Volumes 1 and 2 are the awesome. Use them.

Harrison

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 6:10 am
by Yakov
the original Kansas City 5, 6, 7

Can someone direct me to the Lionel Hampton 30's small groups? I can't find it.