Vinyl Vault: Jay McShann, Buddy Tate, “Crazy Legs & Friday Strut”

Next time on the Vinyl Vault, we’ll be swinging the blues with Kansas City piano man Jay McShann (1916 – 2006) and tenor sax man Buddy Tate (1913 – 2001). McShann led an influential band in Kansas City from 1936 to 1944, which included, at times, Charlie Parker, Ben Webster, Al Hibbler, Paul Quinichette, Gus Johnson, and more. During his long career, McShann recorded nearly 50 albums under his own name and dozens more with others.

Buddy Tate hailed from Texas and played with Count Basie’s band throughout most of the 1940s. Later, he worked extensively in New York City and did stints with Benny Goodman and Paul Quinichette. His musical associates also included Harry “Sweets” Edison, Lionel Hampton, and Claude Williams.

On July 1, 1976, McShann and Tate got together in Toronto and recorded “Crazy Legs & Friday Strut,” released on Sackville Records in 1977. The album features just the two of them, but that doesn’t stop them from swinging hard with a heavy blues influence. We’ll hear an Ellington medley as well as one original by each player.

Join Geoff Anderson on Tuesday, October 14, at 8:30 p.m. for the next Vinyl Vault on KUVO JAZZ.