Kansas City Six

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Kansas City Six was the name for a studio sextet of swing with musicians from Count Basie's orchestra , usually without Basie himself.

The name Kansas City Five was chosen for a quintet and the name Kansas City Seven for a septet . The most important recordings - produced by Milt Gabler for Commodore - come from the Kansas City Six with trumpeter Buck Clayton , tenor saxophonist and clarinetist Lester Young , Eddie Durham (electric guitar and trombone), Freddie Green (rhythm guitar), Walter Page (bass) and drummer Jo Jones .

On September 27, 1938, “Countless Blues”, “Them There Eyes”, “Pagin 'The Devil”, “Want A Little Girl” and “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” were written in New York. Guitarist Leonard Ware also took part in a performance at Carnegie Hall in December '38 . On December 24, 1939, at the Spiritual To Swing concerts with Charlie Christian, "Good Morning Blues", "Way Down Yonder ..." and "Pagin 'The Devil" were created. Count Basie , who otherwise did not play for contractual reasons, appeared in "Destination KC" with the Kansas City Seven and in "Lester Leaps Again" with the Kansas City Five . On March 28, 1944 Gabler produced one last session at the time of Lester Young's return to the basie band; it emerged as Kansas City Six the tracks " I Got Rhythm ", "Four O'Clock Drag", " Three Little Words " and "Jo-Jo" by Joe Bushkin , who led the session and provided the arrangements; this time Lester Young played with Bill Coleman , Dicky Wells , John Simmons , Bushkin and Jo Jones. The last recording date was on May 7, 1945 for "I'm In The Mood For Love" and "Sugar Hips".

Discography (date of recording in brackets)

Kansas City Six (September 28, 1938):

Count Basie's Kansas City Seven (September 5, 1939):

  • Dickie's Dream
  • Lester Leaps In
  • Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
  • Good morning blues
  • Pagin 'The Devil

Kansas City Seven (March 22, 1944):

  • After Theater Jump
  • Six Cats And A Prince
  • Lester Leaps Aagain
  • Destination KC

Kansas City Six (March 28, 1944):

  • Three Little Words
  • Yo-yo
  • I got rhythm
  • Four O'Clock Drag

Freddie Green & His Kansas City Seven (May 7, 1945):

  • I'm In The Mood For Love (with Sylvia Sims)
  • Sugar Hips

Discographic notes

  • Commodore Classics in Swing - Lester Young with the Kansas City Six 1938–1944 ( Commodore Records / Warner, ed. 1991)

Web links