A well filled and re-mastered double CD presenting an overview of black music Kansas City style. Given the level of political and social corruption in Kansas City in the first half of the 20th century it is remarkable that so much of artistic value emerged.
Many of the musicians and performers whose work is collected here from Lester Young and Count Basie to Jimmy Rushing and Jay McShann went on to international prominence and earned a place in the jazz hall of fame.
Disc: 1
1 Toby – Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra
2 The Blue Room – Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra
3 New Orleans – Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra
4 Prince Of Wails – Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra
5 Two Times – Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra
6 Walkin’ and Swingin’ – Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy
7 Git – Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy
8 Froggy Bottom – Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy
9 Christopher Columbus – Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy
10 Shoe Shine Boy – Count Basie
11 Evenin’ – Count Basie
12 Boogie Woogie – Count Basie
13 Oh, Lady Be Good! – Count Basie
14 Swingin For Joy – Mary Lou Williams
15 Clean Pickin’ – Mary Lou Williams
16 Harmony Blues – Mary Lou Williams
17 Baby Dear – Mary Lou Williams
18 Lafayette – Hot Lips Page
19 South – Hot Lips Page
20 Evil Man’s Blues – Hot Lips Page
21 Do It If You Wanna – Hot Lips Page
22 I Want a Little Girl – Eddie Durham and his Band
23 Moten Swing – Eddie Durham and his Band
24 I Don’t Want To Set the World on Fire – Bon Bon and his Buddies
25 Sweet Mama, Papa’s Getting Mad – Bon Bon and his Buddies
26 Rockin’ With the Rockets – Harlan Leonard and his Rockets
Disc: 2
1 Contact – Harlan Leonard and his Rockets
2 A La Bridges – Harlan Leonard and his Rockets
3 Pete’s Lonesome Blues – Pete Johnson
4 Mr. Drums Meets Mr. Piano – Pete Johnson and J.C. Heard
5 J.C from K.C – Pete Johnson
6 Pete’s House Warmin – Pete Johnson
7 Skid Row Boogie – Pete Johnson
8 Half Tight Boogie – Pete Johnson
9 Piney Brown Blues – Joe Turner
10 Rebecca – Joe Turner
11 It’s The Same Old Story – Joe Turner
12 Johnson and Turner Blues – Joe Turner
13 Watch That Jive – Joe Turner
14 My Baby’s Business – Jimmy Rushing
15 Jimmy’s Round The Clock Blues – Jimmy Rushing
16 Fore Day Rider – Jay McShann
17 Hootie’s Ignorant Oil – Jay McShann
18 On The Sunny Side Of The Street – Jay McShann
19 Merry Go Round Blues – Jay McShann
20 Bad Tale Boogie – Jay McShann
21 Come On Over to My House – Jay McShann with Julia Lee
22 Trouble in Mind – Jay McShann with Julia Lee
23 Snatch and Grab It – Julia Lee and her Boy Friends
24 When You’re Smiling – Julia Lee and her Boy Friends
25 I Didn’t Like It the First Time – Julia Lee and her Boy Friends
26 Sit Down and Drink It Over – Julia Lee and her Boy Friends