HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Bennie Moten's Kansas City Jazz

Birth of Jazz: Ben Moten

Bennie Moten

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, on 13 November 1894, pianist and bandleader, Ben Moten (not to be confused with the clarinetist of the same period, nor the later bassist), first pursued the New Orleans traditional style until he came into his own upon familiarization with the Chicago sound as well, distinguishing his own Kansas City limb from what was happening in those other centers of jazz which were New Orleans, Chicago and New York City at the time. The West Coast was more a land of popular hotel dance music corresponding to this period, jazz hardly nonexistent but on rein as an acknowledging afterthought in sweet but concise little footnotes to the main chapter that was popular dance. Between the pleasant in California and the wild in New York, Moten's in the middle was a pretty nice sound. One reason for Moten's significance in jazz history is that His Kansas City Orchestra was the big band operation out of which major bandleader, Count Basie, developed his own style of swing.

Moten first recorded with his Kansas City Orchestra in September 1923 for Okeh Records, backing vocalist, Ada Brown, on 'Ill-Natured Blues', 'Evil Mama Blues' and 'Break O'Day Blues'. Those were also Brown's initial recordings. Moten's best-known title is 'South' which first went down on 29 November 1924 toward Okeh 8194. He began laying tracks for Victor in December of 1926, two of those being 'Thick Lip Stomp' and 'Harmony Blues'. His version of 'South' on 9 September 1928 toward Victor V38021 was his most popular release dubbed into numerous reissues as late as the forties when it yet sold well.

'Ill-Natured Blues' Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra backing Ada Brown

Recorded September 1923 in St. Louis Matrix 8456-A Okeh 8123

First recording both Brown and Moten

Cornet: Lammar Wright Trombone: Thamon Hayes Clarinet: Woodie Walder

Piano: Bennie Moten Banjo: Sam Tall Drums: Willie Hall

Composition: Paul Banks

'Evil Mama Blues' Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra backing Ada Brown

Recorded September 1923 in St. Louis Matrix 8458-A Okeh 8101

Second recording both Brown and Moten

Cornet: Lammar Wright Trombone: Thamon Hayes Clarinet: Woodie Walder

Piano: Bennie Moten Banjo: Sam Tall Drums: Willie Hall

Composition: Ruth Wise

'Thick Lip Stomp' Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra

Recorded 13 Dec 1926 in Chicago

Matrix 37232-1 issued on Victor 20406 Matrix 37232-2 issued on HMV DLP1057

Session personnel:

Cornet: Lammar Wright Trombone: Thamon Hayes

Clarinet: Harlan Leonard / Woody Walder

Alto sax: Harlan Leonard / Laforet Dent

Tenor sax: Woody Walder Baritone sax: Laforet Dent

Piano: Bennie Moten Banjo: Sam Tall Tuba: Vernon Page Drums: Willie Hall

Composition: Bennie Moten

'Ding Dong Blues' Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra

Recorded 12 June 1927 in Chicago

Matrix 38673-1 issued on HMV DLP1057

Matrix 38673-2 issued on Victor 21199

Matrix 38673-3 issued on RCA LPM10122

Composition: Bennie Moten

'Moten Stomp' Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra

Recorded 12 June 1927 in Chicago

Matrix 38674-1 issued on Victor 20955

Composition: Bennie Moten / Thamon Hayes

'South' Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra

Recorded 7 Sep 1928 in Camden NJ

Matrix 38674-1 issued on Victor 20955

Trumpet: Ed Lewis / Booker T. Washington Trombone: Thamon Hayes

Clarinet: Harlan Leonard / Woody Walder

Alto sax: Harlan Leonard / Jack Washington

Tenor sax: Woody Walder Baritone sax: Jack Washington Piano: Bennie Moten

Banjo: Leroy Berry Tuba: Vernon Page Drums: Willie McWashington

Composition: Bennie Moten / Thamon Hayes

In 1929 Moten recruited into his band what would become major names in jazz: Count Basie, Hot Lips Page, Walter Page and Jimmy Rushing.

'Rumba Negro' aka 'Spanish Stomp' Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra

Recorded 23 Oct 1929 in Chicago

Matrix 57301-1 issued on Victor 23037 / HMV B4845

Cornet: Ed Lewis / Booker T. Washington Trombone: Thamon Hayes

Clarinet: Harlan Leonard / Jack Washington / Woody Walder

Soprano sax: Harlan Leonard Alto sax: Harlan Leonard / Jack Washington

Tenor sax: Woody Walder Baritone sax: Jack Washington Piano: Count Basie

Piano / accordion: Ira Buster Moten (related to Moten though uncertain how)

Banjo: Leroy Berry Tuba: Vernon Page Drums: Willie McWashington

Composition: Bennie Moten / Count Basie

'The Jones Law Blues' aka 'The Jones Law Stomp' Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra

Recorded 23 Oct 1929 in Chicago

Matrix 57302-2 issued on Victor 23357

Matrix 57302-3 issued on RCA 741108

Cornet: Ed Lewis / Booker T. Washington Trombone: Thamon Hayes

Clarinet: Harlan Leonard / Jack Washington / Woody Walder

Soprano sax: Harlan Leonard Alto sax: Harlan Leonard / Jack Washington

Tenor sax: Woody Walder Baritone sax: Jack Washington Piano: Count Basie

Piano / accordion: Ira Buster Moten (related to Moten though uncertain how)

Banjo: Leroy Berry Tuba: Vernon Page Drums: Willie McWashington

Composition: Bennie Moten / Count Basie

Moten's Kansas City Orchestra recorded for the last time in December 1932 with Moten as bandleader but not pianist on titles like 'Toby' and 'Two Times'. Also contributing to this session was the obscure Sterling Russell Trio consisting of Sterling Russell, Hamilton Stewart and Clifton Armstrong on 'Imagination' and 'The Only Girl I Ever Loved'. These could be that vocal group's only recordings, appearing nowhere else in any discography of which I know. Ditto obscure vocalist, Josephine Garrison, who sings 'Two Times'. She also goes unmentioned in all sources except Discogs which includes her on 'Imagination' with the Sterling Russell Trio. A listen to the track below sounds like she might be included on what would be one of only two recordings known to be made by her so far as I've found.