After Hours

Jay McShann gets a mention in any jazz history, though often his name appears as the leader of the band in which, from 1939-1942, Charlie Parker reached musical maturity. At first it seems somewhat slighting to Jay McShann. this oblique reference that so often occurs in a portrait of Parker, until one realises that it must have been a pretty good band, and quite a leader, to hold such brilliant and innovative musician for so long. When Parker joined him. Jay was thirty and very experienced. McShann was close to seventy when he re-visited Europe and as can be heard on this CD, recorded in the studio, he was not only ‘quite a leader’ but he was also an exciting solo pianist besides being a powerful singer. These tracks are all remarkably fresh and timeless recordings of Kansas City blues and jazz!