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
-
The Ultimate Jazz Archive 4 (1 Of 4)
Jazz - Released by Carinco AG on 16 feb. 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Jazz Series 1929 - 1930
Jazz - Released by Complete Jazz Series on 27 apr. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
McKinney's Cotton Pickers Selected Hits Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 12 jun. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Jazz Series 1928 - 1929
Jazz - Released by Complete Jazz Series on 27 apr. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mckinney's cotton pickers (1929-1930)
Jazz - Released by EPM on 22 feb. 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
McKinney's Cotton Pickers Selected Favorites, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 21 mrt. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
McKinney's Cotton Pickers' Zonky
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 25 jun. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Just at the Turn of the Tide
Jazz - Released by turn of the tide on 27 apr. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rocky Road / Never Swat a Fly
Jazz - Released by DIZZY on 11 mrt. 1930
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
McKinney's Cotton Pickers Selected Favorites, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 21 mrt. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
McKinney's Cotton Pickers Selected Hits Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 12 jun. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Figures / McKinney's Cotton Pickers (1928-1929)
Jazz - Released by Collector Records Greece on 16 sep. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
McKinney's Cotton Pickers, Vol. 1 & 2
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
McKinney's Cotton Pickers
Blues - Released by Roots on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
McKinney's Cotton Pickers, Vol. 4
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
McKinney's Cotton Pickers, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Four or Five Times - Treasury Of Jazz No. 36 (Recordings of 1928 & 1929)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Classics on 10 dec. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Band Don Redman Built
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -