Andy Kirk
Andy Kirk was never a major musician (in fact he never really soloed), arranger or personality yet he was a successful big bandleader in the 1930s and '40s. He started playing bass sax and tuba in Denver with George Morrison's band in 1918. In 1925, he moved to Dallas where he played with Terrence Holder's Dark Clouds of Joy. In 1929 he took over leadership of the band (which was renamed Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy) and moved to Kansas City. During 1929-1930, they recorded some excellent hot performances with such players as pianist/arranger Mary Lou Williams, violinist Claude Williams, and trumpeter Edgar "Puddinghead" Battle. Surprisingly, Kirk's Orchestra was off records entirely during 1931-1935, but in 1936 (the year it relocated to New York) it immediately had a pop hit in "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" featuring the high voice of singer Pha Terrell. In future years, such fine soloists as tenor saxophonist Dick Wilson, the early electric guitarist Floyd Smith, Don Byas, Harold "Shorty" Baker, Howard McGhee, (1942-1943), Jimmy Forrest, and even Fats Navarro and (briefly) Charlie Parker would be among Kirk's sidemen. However, Mary Lou Williams was the most important musician in the band, both as a soloist and as an arranger. In 1948, Andy Kirk broke up the band (which had recorded mostly for Decca) and in later years ran a hotel and served as an official in the Musicians' Union. A lone "reunion" date in 1956 featured the classic charts but almost none of the original sidemen.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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The Very Best Of
Jazz - Released by Stardust Records on 1 May 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Presenting Andy Kirk
Jazz - Released by Universal Digital Enterprises on 15 Apr 1936
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Jazz Series 1936 - 1937
Jazz - Released by Complete Jazz Series on 30 Mar 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Complete Jazz Series 1929 - 1931
Jazz - Released by Complete Jazz Series on 30 Mar 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Walkin' & Swingin'
Andy Kirk, The Big Band and Jazz Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Jazz Experience on 25 Aug 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Golden Hits (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Master Tape Records on 18 Jun 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Jazz Series 1940 - 1942
Jazz - Released by Complete Jazz Series on 30 Mar 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Jazz Series 1938
Jazz - Released by Complete Jazz Series on 30 Mar 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Jazz Series 1937 - 1938
Jazz - Released by Complete Jazz Series on 30 Mar 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Instrumentally Speaking
Jazz - Released by andy kirk on 27 Oct 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Jubilee Shows No. 68 & No. 70
Bob Crosby, Andy Kirk, June Richmond
Jazz - Released by Jubilee on 27 Apr 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Jazz Series 1939 - 1940
Jazz - Released by Complete Jazz Series on 30 Mar 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Jazz Series 1943 - 1949
Jazz - Released by Complete Jazz Series on 30 Mar 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wake Up My Soul
Miscellaneous - Released by 1CN Records on 1 Jan 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Mellow Bit Of Rhythm
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Andy Kirk & His Clouds of Joy, Vol. 1 (The Andy Kirk Collection)
Jazz - Released by American Style on 6 Jul 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo