Jimmy Witherspoon
Goin' To Kansas City Blues

Various Artists
The Jazz Piano

Woody Herman
Woody's Winners
Mosaic Singles

Ever get one of those spam emails that reads "Meet Exciting Singles in Your Area."? Well, Mosaic could easily use that advertisement with these three eligible reissues. All three are must haves to any music collection.

"Goin' To Kansas City Blues" is one of The Spoon's first releases (from 1957), and it captures the grit, sauce and swagger of that Midwest swing mecca like Arthur Bryant's Rib Joint. Simple four-to-the-beat blues are given that extra snap with pianist Jay McShann at the piano. Songs like "Confessin' the Blues" and "Blue Monday" in the hands of Witherspoon's moaning baritone epitomize all that is irresistible about the heart and soul of jazz. Only Joe Turner's "Boss of the Blues" is on a par with this cornerstone of blues. Undeniably essential.

Pittsburgh had jazz festivals?!? Recorded "live" in 65 at the Jazz Piano Workshop during a festival in the city of steel, "The Jazz Piano" features some of the most important masters of the 88s supported by non other than Monk's rhythm section of Ben Riley and Larry Gales. Giants like Duke Ellington, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Earl Hines and Mary Lou Williams give a history of jazz piano that is joyously infectious. Hines and Ellington join together for a sparkling duet on "House of Lords"; Smith goes through a medley of Depression Era standards that feels like an old fashioned rent party. Listening to Hines makes one wonder why no one ever tried to emulate his style. It is as timeless as it is enthralling. A must for ivory fans.

If you think Herman had shot his last bullet with the 3rd Herd, wait until you hear this 65 band. With a trumpet section comprised of Bobby Shew, Don Rader and a stratospheric Bill Chase, Nat Pierce on piano, and Sal Nistico on tenor, Herman roars through incessant swingers like "Northwest Passage" with a vengeance. Always up on the latest style, Herman bops through a couple of Horace Silver tunes and grooves through Hancock's "Watermelon Man." Woody knew how to lead a band, and this edition put out one of the most exciting live discs ever on this one. Whew! As always, these are limited edition sets, and available through www.mosaicrecords.com.


-George W. Harris