Jay McShann
is pretty much unaccompanied for the first half of this delightful 1977 studio session, almost as if he is reminiscing for an audience of one about the busy days on the 1930s Kansas City music scene. The pianist, equally at home in jazz and blues, sings on quite a few numbers, including the loping
"Ace in the Hole"
(a favorite for any rural joint with gambling as part of the entertainment) and the old chestnut
"How Long Blues."
The CD reissue of the original LP expanded to include other songs from the same session that were issued on an album by
Fessor's Big City Band
, including trombonist
Ole "Fessor" Lindgreen
and tenor saxophonist
Steen Vig
, but make no mistake,
McShann
isn't the sideshow but the star attraction on the group numbers. The full contents of this CD were previously issued as
After Hours
by
Storyville
, so there are no new tracks for those who have that CD. ~ Ken Dryden