Teddy Wilson and Wild Bill Davison

Wild Bill Davison and Teddy Wilson.  It's faint, but the record cover on the left is autographed by Wild Bill Davison himself.  It reads, "To Glenna..."  (My mom; 1926 - ).  Next to his signature is a hand-drawn sketch of a trumpet.  The Davison record is with Papa Bue's Viking Jazzband (sic.).  The Teddy Wilson record on the right is titled "runnin' wild!"  It was recorded live at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, on "4th July 1973."  Credited on this record along with Teddy are: Dave Shepherd (piano), Kenny Baldock (bass), and Johnny Richardson (drums).  Please allow me to relate here what Wiki informed me about Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson (November 24, 1912 – July 31, 1986).  He "was an American jazz pianist whose sophisticated and elegant style was featured on the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.  He is considered one of the most influential jazz pianists of all time."  It is shameful these records don't get played.  This wrap up Jazz Week.

Jazz Week: Bud Freeman & The Mary Lou Williams Quartet featuring Don Byas

The Complete Bud Freeman

And The Mary Lous Williams Quartet featuring Don Byas.  From the back jacket of the Bud Freeman record, (written by Herb Sanford) states, the recording "contains five Freeman originals and Bud's treatment of seven great standards."  I do not know anything about the Mary Lou Williams Quartet, nor Don Byas for that matter, but I do love this record cover.  Apologies dear reader – but since I am pretty far out over my skis in this the jazz arena – so I had to consult Wiki for this bit:  Williams wrote and arranged for such bandleaders as Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, and she was friend, mentor, and teacher to Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie.  I would love to hear (perhaps a comment here) from any jazz expects out there on these artists and/or records during what I am calling, "Jazz Week."

Jazz Week: Art Hodes and Benny Goodman - no apparent connection

I've paired up these two records, by Art Hodes and the other by Benny Goodman, because their respective covers are in matching yellow.  My guess is - these are classic recordings by some all-time greats.  They were in my dad's (1913-2008) jazz record collection, of which I am now caretaker.  He got to see both Art Hodes and Benny Goodman (and many others) perform live.  Wow - click on this post's title for a little gem of Art sitting in with Bud Freeman.  And speaking of Bud - one of his records is coming right up in my next post this week.  I have this feeling that among all the thousands of vinyl records I own and post about (mainly '60's - '80's rock and roll records) this relatively small sub-set of great and unplayed (by me) jazz records (perhaps 50) is a pretty smokin' collection in it's own right.

International Assn. of Jazz Records Collectors

I am not not a jazz record collector (slash expert) but since I own many, no reason not to post some.  Plus, I happen to know an expert - Chuck Sweningsen, of Edina, MN.  Had dinner last night with Chuck - who's in town a bit before the start of the annual convention of the International Assn. of Jazz Record Collectors.  So what other excuse do I need to post some jazz records here?  What a fabulous photo on the inside of this Coltrane record.  McCoy Tyner has credits on it - who I've heard of.  I can't claim to be anything other than the owner of these unplayed records.  So - in some small honor of the real jazz record collectors gathered here in town this forthcoming weekend - I will post the jazz records that have the most striking record covers - which is really what this blog claims to be about.  These next few jazz record posts will be more about the album covers and (sadly) less about the music, as I lack the mental heft, but not the appreciation, of that genre.