Jay McShann, from whose Kansas City orchestra altoist
Charlie Parker emerged in 1940, has had a very viable career as a pianist and occasional vocalist in the 65 years since then.
McShann's piano style, while emphasizing the blues, has often sounded at its best on swing standards, hinting at stride piano and boogie-woogie but being in its own uncategorizable style. The two-CD set
Solos & Duets reissues in full three earlier LPs. A Tribute to Fats Waller, nine songs associated with
Waller, and Kansas City Hustle (which has a few basic originals plus "'Round Midnight," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," and "Rockin' Chair") are from the same two-day period in 1978. The 1980 album Tuxedo Junction, featuring a couple of
McShann's bluish originals plus five swing standards, is a duet outing with bassist
Don Thompson. In addition, the "three-fer" adds previously unreleased vocal versions of "Baby Won't You Please Come Home" and "Keep Your Hands Off Her" to the very full program. Throughout this definitive reissue,
Jay McShann is heard in prime form, displaying his own brand of rollicking musical joy. ~ Scott Yanow