1944-1945

After dramatically altering the course of human evolution by making dozens of hot records with the John Kirby Sextet, Charlie Shavers went to work for Harry Lim's amazing Keynote label. The music made on June 8, 1944, is typical of the no-nonsense jam atmosphere that usually prevailed at Keynote. Fronting with Jonah Jones and Budd Johnson, and wonderfully supported by Johnny Guarnieri, Milt Hinton, and J.C. Heard, Shavers sautés his way through each four-minute performance. Edgar Sampson's "Blue Lou" is particularly spicy with its interplay between Hinton and Heard. "I Found a New Baby" is the hottest of all. A V-Disc jam tosses Shavers into the midst of a group of individuals from different stylistic backgrounds. "Rosetta" positively percolates, with exceptionally fine solos from Don Byas' tenor sax and Ernie Caceres' wonderfully soulful clarinet. The mood shifts down to first gear for Linda Keene's session for Black and White Records. Shavers is able to relax and provide easygoing support for this pleasant vocalist. Note the presence of early modern clarinetist Aaron Sachs. A fiery blowing session led by Walter "Foots" Thomas puts listeners back on the fast track with "The Bottle's Empty." This band is fascinating. Ben Webster is at the peak of his powers. Alto saxophonist Milt Yaner turns in a couple of very nice solos, then apparently evaporates from the scene forever. (Who was he?) Billy Taylor and Slam Stewart each show off their best colors. The Classics label has done a wonderful job reissuing material originally brought out on small-time labels. The Vogue Picture Record Company, a division of Detroit's Sav-Way Industries, put out 78-rpm discs with colorful illustrations displayed beneath transparent grooves. Collectors will testify that some of these relics have terrible music on them, but the six titles reissued here are all spectacular early modern jazz. Charlie shares the date with clarinetist Buddy DeFranco, presenting four Shavers originals and two ballads. It's a pleasant surprise to hear Shavers sing "She's Funny That Way," but the sparks really fly during "Dizzy's Dilemma" and "Broadjump." "Musicomania" trots at an easier pace, as does "Serenade to a Pair of Nylons." Fortunately, Classics has included the original illustration displayed on this particular disc: a splendidly rendered pair of stocking-encased "gams" in high heels with a photo of Shavers' rather bemused face superimposed near the pretty left foot. ~ arwulf arwulf|