1927-29

Bennie Moten | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 13, 1994)
• Label: Jazz Chronological Classics
• ASIN: B000001NJM
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,410,044 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The New Tulsa BLues

2. Baby Dear

3. 12th Street Rag

4. Pass Out Lightly (There Ain't Nothin' To It)

5. Ding-Dong Blues

6. Moten Stomp

7. Justrite

8. Slow Motion

9. Tough Breaks

10. It's Hard To Laugh Or Smile

11. Sad Man Blues

12. Kansas City Breakdown

13. Trouble In Mind

14. Hot Water Blues

15. Get Low-Down Blues

16. She's No Trouble (Sweetheart)

17. South

18. Terrific Stomp

19. Let's Get It

20. Kansas City Squabble

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than 5, January 10, 2003

By 

J. C Clark "eanna" (Overland Park, KS United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1927-29 (Audio CD)

In the early days of Jazz and the early days of recording (both industries growing together) there was a lot of rivalry between cities and bands to establish pre-eminence. Kansas City had a sound, and Bennie Moten was its premier exponent. He is, in my opinion, the finest musician Kansas CIty ever produced. Listen and decide for yourself. There is nothing but rollicking good-humor, brilliant playing, and swashbuckling composition on this collection.

Many pre-1930 collections show their age. This does not. Though a little hollow, the sound quality for recordings this old is amazing. You hear musicians who enjoyed their work (or if they didn't they faked it amazingly!), played with conviction, and at times, astonishing verve. This recording was made as ragtime was fading and the sweet low-down music (as it is called on the CD) is coming in, and we hear the best of both worlds.

Bennie died young, and what a loss. Not alcohol, not a jealous husband, not wild-living, but a tonsillectomy! This shows what could have been! He gathered a super group, gave them great material, arranged it wonderfully, and made the Kansas City sound. Soon after, a talented young pianist named William Basie joined the band and after Bennie's death, took this group to great heights. But the sound is here--young, raw, and energized. Great stuff! And thank you Classics Records for a comprehensive collection that sounds so good!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Kansas City Sound, January 21, 2000

By 

"blindmowin" - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1927-29 (Audio CD)

You may all be familar with Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Joe King Oliver and such, Bennie Moten is the Kansas City Sound. His recordings are the type of songs you will humm while bouncing down the street. Many great artists got there sound while playing in Motens band, people like Count Basie. The recordings are clean, the rythm section (drums, banjo, and tuba) is sharp and clear. The horn arrangements are very imaginative. You will play these sides over and over again.