Various Artists Atlantic Jazz Kansas City Atlantic 1986

Various Artists Atlantic Jazz Kansas City Atlantic 1986 CAT# 81701-1

There are numerous KC Jazz comps out there all of which are good, but this one does a tremendous job showcasing Kansas City as a pioneering city in music. The back liner notes do a much better job than me, but it takes all the artists featured here and connects the dots. From Buster Smith showing up from Texas, Basie from Ohio, and McShann coming from Oklahoma, they all met and played together in Kansas City. They also crossed paths with Charlie Parker. And just as soon as they hit upon a Kansas City sound, they took it nationwide.

What you have hear is the Atlantic Records story of Kansas City. The swing that would transform jazz. The same artists who featured a young Charlie Parker before he revolutionized the genre. And the jump blues performed by Big Joe Turner that would eventually lead others to rock n' roll and be heard in soul records. It's not the complete story, but the selections here are all amazing and tell some of the best parts to it.

Jay McShann Jumpin' At the Woodside

Jimmy Witherspoon with Jay McShann and His Band Goin' to Kansas City Blues RCA 1957

Jimmy Witherspoon with Jay McShann and His Band Goin' to Kansas City Blues RCA 1957 LPM-1639

Jimmy Witherspoon was a blues shouter from Arkansas-Jay McShann a piano player from Oklahoma.  McShann settled in Kansas City and founded a band featuring a young Charlie Parker.  In 1944, Witherspoon was hired as the singer for McShann's band (several years post-Parker) and from there, his career blossomed.  After a four years with McShann, Witherspoon left and found brief success as a solo artist.  However, by the 50's, the shouter style had run it's course and Witherspoon was thin on material and interest in his music.

Witherspoon cut this album in 1957 with McShann as somewhat of a reunion and somewhat as an attempt to comeback for both artists.  It's a pretty mellow affair and despite that Witherspoon's shouting was well placed in jazz circles, he tones it down here.  That's not to say it's not a good album or that he doesn't still belt it out (see "Blue Monday Blues"), but just a relaxed feel to the album.  There are some great tunes written by Parker and McShann way back when.  There's also 5 1/2 minute rendition of Joe Turner's Piney Brown Blues which is phenomenal and pays tribute to Witherspoon's idol Joe Turner, as well as making a solid tribute to Kansas City.

Further, you got to love this cover, right?  The Union Station was still a working train depot.  Just a lot to look over and find what's still there and what's changed.