Jay McShann
b. 12 January 1909, Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA. After playing in many territory bands in the southwest and midwest, pianist McShann settled in Kansas City in the mid-30s, playing in Buster Smith's band, which also included Charlie Parker, in 1937. The following year, McShann formed his own unit which included Gene Ramey and Gus Johnson as well as Parker. By 1941, with the departure from Kansas City of Harlan Leonard, McShann's became the city's top band, Count Basie having moved on to greater things a few years earlier. The most popular member of the band was singer Walter Brown, who was featured on a handful of hit records, although McShann was himself an above-average blues shouter. In retrospect, the 1941 band is regarded as the most interesting of those McShann led because the saxophone section included the fast-developing and revolutionary talent of Parker. In fact, all McShann's bands had the virtues common to most Kansas City bands, those of lithely swinging, blues-based, exciting jazz. In 1944, McShann folded the band to enter the armed forces, reforming in 1945 on the west coast. Once again he showed himself to have a good ear for singers by hiring Jimmy Witherspoon. During the '50s and '60s, McShann was active, sometimes leading small groups, sometimes working as a solo act, but the jazz world was largely indifferent. By the '70s, however, he had become a popular figure on the international festival circuit, playing piano and singing the blues with flair and vigour. His recording career was also revitalized, and the '70s and '80s saw a steady stream of fine recordings, many of which were in the authentic tradition of the blues.