James Dapogny’s Chicago Jazz Band: On the Road

A classic jazz scholar, music educator, and the author of a definitive collection of Jelly Roll Morton piano transcriptions, pianist/arranger Dapogny also has other interests in music, among them the revival of largely forgotten but deserving tunes from the ’20s and ’30s. As on his two previous, equally recommended Discovery CDs, for this recording Dapogny uses his regular band, with cornetist Jon-Erik Kellso, clarinetist/altoman Kim Cusack, tenorman/bass sexist Russ Whitman, trombonist Chris Smith, and on guitar, bass, and drums, respectively, Rod McDonald, Mike Karoub, and Wayne Jones. For the 15 long-forgotten period tunes and one original chosen for this release Dapogny fashioned well-crafted, swinging charts in styles ranging from the 1932 Dorsey Brothers band with Berigan through the Matlock/ Haggart-molded Bob Cats of the late ’30s. Credits go all around, with especial plaudits to the ensemble voicings and the solo work of the front line.

Originally Published May 1, 1997