Mckinney'S Cotton Pickers
William McKinney was a drummer who by 1923 had retired from playing in favor of conducting and managing a big band. In 1926 his outfit became known as McKinney's Cotton Pickers, and the following year they scored a major coup by hiring arranger/altoist/vocalist Don Redman away from Fletcher Henderson. As the band's musical director, Redman put together an outfit that competed successfully with Henderson and the up-and-coming Duke Ellington. The lineup of musicians by the time they started recording in 1928 included Langston Curl, Claude Jones, George Thomas, and Dave Wilborn, but it was the advanced arrangements, the tight ensembles, and the high musicianship of the orchestra on the whole that was most impressive. There were a few special all-star sessions with such players as Joe Smith, Sidney DeParis, Coleman Hawkins, Fats Waller, and Lonnie Johnson making appearances, and James P. Johnson sat in on one date. Among the more rewarding recordings overall were "Four or Five Times," "It's Tight like That," "It's a Precious Little Thing Called Love," and four future standards that Redman introduced: "Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You," "Baby Won't You Please Come Home," "I Want a Little Girl," and "Cherry."
It was a major blow in 1931 when Don Redman departed to form his own band. Benny Carter took over as musical director, but despite the presence of such fine players as Doc Cheatham, Hilton Jefferson, and holdovers Quentin Jackson, Rex Stewart, and Prince Robinson, there would only be one final recording session. The Depression eventually did the band in and after much turnover in 1934, the classic group broke up. McKinney organized later versions of the Cotton Pickers but without making an impression.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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Mckinney's Cotton Pickers "Never Swat a Fly"
Mckinney'S Cotton Pickers, Don Redman
Jazz - Released by Retrospective on 10 jun. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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McKinney's Cotton Pickers 1930-1931 Don Redman and His Orchestra 1939-1940 (HD Remastered)
Mckinney'S Cotton Pickers, Don Redman
Vocale jazz - Released by Reborn recordings on 15 apr. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
1929-1930 (HD Remastered)
Vocale jazz - Released by Reborn recordings on 15 apr. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
1928-1929 (HD Remastered)
Vocale jazz - Released by Reborn recordings on 15 apr. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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McKinney's Cotton Pickers - Greatest Jazz Hits
Jazz - Released by Flat Five Records on 29 mei 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classic Jazz, 1929-30 (Hq Remastered 2023)
Jazz - Released by Vintage Recordings on 16 okt. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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That's Why The Moon Was Smiling
Jazz - Released by The Moon Was Smiling on 1 mei 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classic Jazz, 1928-29 (Hq Remastered 2023)
Jazz - Released by Vintage Recordings on 16 okt. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Guitar Town Music
Jazz - Released by GTM restart rec. on 14 jun. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Listen This Music
Jazz - Released by Archive Catapult on 20 jan. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In That Golden Summer Time
Jazz - Released by golden times on 18 jul. 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Selling That Stuff
Jazz - Released by Record Classics on 7 nov. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo