Jay McShann
What a Wonderful World

A Follow-Up to Steve's Review

By Dave Glackin
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CD Stock Number: GRV2005-2

  Vinyl Stock Number: GRV1005-1 

  We are really fortunate that the Kansas City of the early 1940's could be recreated in 1999, with such stirring performances and such utterly natural sound. In this new recording by Groove Note, Ying Tan and his colleagues have captured realistic piano and percussion, tuneful acoustic bass, live-sounding guitar and sax, and very natural vocals It's the next best thing to sitting in a club in Kansas City in the early 40's. Ying should be congratulated for having the foresight to record this music.

Jay McShann was 83 years old when this LP was recorded in 1999, and he could still really play and sing his heart out. Charlie Parker played in McShann's band when Parker was a teenager... what a lot of history this guy has seen! For a detailed interview with Jay McShann, please see Living Blues magazine (Issue 149, Jan/Feb 2000).

Good as the 33 rpm LP is, and that is very good indeed, the accompanying 45 rpm disc is better still. It repeats two tracks from the 33 rpm LP, and it contains a bonus track called Until the Real Thing Comes Along with vocals by the inestimable Luqman Hamza. The two records come together as a package.

Groove Note has really hit a home run with this original recording. Please support their efforts, enjoy some astounding blues, buy this record, and transport yourself back to Kansas City in its heyday. As they say, you will not be sorry.

Enjoyment: 100

Sound: 100