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4.0 out of 5 stars
The Forefathers of Big Band Jazz, August 15, 2010
This review is from: Put It There: 1928-1929 (Audio CD)
As this disc's well-written, informative liner notes point out McKinney's Cotton Pickers (an abominable name selected by promoters and protested by bandmembers) was one of the most influential and original big bands of the late 1920's (next to Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington and I would argue Charlie Johnson). Achieving national recognition well beyond the band's base in Detroit, the band played innovative jazz charts from former Henderson arranger and big band architect Done Redman as well as the band's hot trumpet soloist John Nesbett. At this time the group also boasted able soloists such as Prince Robinson's heated tenor sax and wailing clarinet, Claude Jone's hard-edged trombone and bouyant stride piano from the band's original pianist [names escapes me now]. The last 7 selections are taken from a session in New York when most of the band could not make it from Detroit, and includes legends such as Coleman Hawkins, Sidney deParis, Benny Carter and Fats Waller. Occasionally the charts come across as a little square and the rhythm section of Cyrus St. Clair's firm tuba and Cuba Austin's assured drumming does acquire something of an assembly line character, but this is fairly typical of the period's style. The music is beautifully recorded to highlight the band's precision and swing that made it popular among musicians at the time as well as fans.
In general Frog Records does a good job selecting obscure music that is both historically important and musically rewarding, presenting it in beautiful sound and including detailed, educational liner notes.
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