Band Box Shuffle

• Artist: Bennie Moten
• Rating:
• Release Date: September 26, 2000
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Jazz

Review

While most of Bennie Moten's music has been released, a single and complete volume of his important Victor recordings is still missing. Now there's Hep's Band Box Shuffle, which takes in Moten's prime 1929-1932 stretch for the company via 47 superbly remastered tracks. And mirroring the sterling transfers engineer John R.T. Davies has supplied, the liner notes, written by jazz photographer and historian Frank Driggs, provide a hugely readable and exhaustive account of the group's history. Of course, that history recounts the Moten band's position as one of the best of the many territory bands to emerge in the Southwest during the '20s, which was due in no small part to the presence of Count Basie and many of the other stars who would help him form his own big band in the '30s. Basie's future jump fleetness is especially evident on the ten classic 1932 sides that close this set, notably complex barnstormers like "Toby," "Lafayette," and "Moten Swing." The likes of Ben Webster, Hot Lips Page, and Walter Page all contribute to the fine swing. A good share of the remaining tracks, while often maligned in relation to these later cuts, have worn well, too -- clunky tuba, accordion, and all. ~ Stephen Cook, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Rumba Negro (Spanish Stomp)	Bennie Moten, Count Basie	Bennie Moten	(2:51)
The Jones Law Blues	Count Basie, Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(3:07)
The Jones Law Blues	Bennie Moten, Count Basie	Bennie Moten	(3:14)
Band Box Shuffle	Count Basie, Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(2:33)
Small Black	Count Basie, Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(3:10)
Small Black	Bennie Moten, Count Basie	Bennie Moten	(3:20)
Everyday Blues (Yo Yo Blues)	Bennie Moten, Eddie Durham	Bennie Moten	(3:08)
Boot It	Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(3:12)
Mary Lee	Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(3:14)
Rit-Dit-Ray	Bennie Moten, Count Basie	Bennie Moten	(2:46)
Rit-Dit-Ray	Bennie Moten, Count Basie	Bennie Moten	(2:46)
New Vine Street Blues	Count Basie, Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(2:58)
Sweetheart of Yesterday	Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(2:36)
Won't You Be My Baby?	Bennie Moten, Jimmy Rushing	Bennie Moten	(3:30)
Won't You Be My Baby?	Jimmy Rushing, Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(3:14)
I Wish I Could Be Blue	Eddie Durham, Bennie Moten, Count Basie	Bennie Moten	(3:07)
I Wish I Could Be Blue	Count Basie, Eddie Durham, Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(3:08)
Oh! Eddie	Bennie Moten, Eddie Durham	Bennie Moten	(2:52)
Oh! Eddie	Eddie Durham, Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(2:54)
That Too, Do	Count Basie, Bennie Moten, Eddie Durham	Bennie Moten	(3:11)
That Too, Do	Bennie Moten, Count Basie, Eddie Durham	Bennie Moten	(3:20)
Mack's Rhythm	Bennie Moten, Eddie Durham, Count Basie	Bennie Moten	(2:57)
You Made Me Happy	Eddie Durham, Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(3:15)
Here Comes Marjorie	Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(2:55)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
The Count	Tom Gordon	Bennie Moten	(3:09)
Liza Lee	Sam H. Stept, Bud Green	Bennie Moten	(3:02)
Liza Lee	Bud Green, Sam H. Stept	Bennie Moten	(3:05)
Get Goin' (Get Ready to Love)	Tot Seymour	Bennie Moten	(2:56)
Professor Hot Stuff	Bennie Moten, Eddie Durham, Count Basie	Bennie Moten	(3:21)
When I'm Alone	Bennie Moten, Jimmy Rushing	Bennie Moten	(3:12)
New Moten Stomp	Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(2:51)
As Long as I Love You	Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(3:07)
Somebody Stole My Gal	Leo Wood	Bennie Moten	(3:04)
Now That I Need You	Pinetop Smith, Count Basie, Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(3:02)
Bouncin' Round	Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(3:10)
Ya Got Love	Al Hoffman, Oliver Nelson, Al Goodhart	Bennie Moten	(3:13)
I Wanna Be Around Me Baby All the Time	George W. Meyer, Joe Young	Bennie Moten	(2:54)
Toby	Bennie Moten, Eddie Barefield	Bennie Moten	(3:24)
Moten Swing	Buster Moten, Bennie Moten	Bennie Moten	(3:20)
Blue Moon	Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers	Bennie Moten	(3:21)
Imagination	B. Russell	Bennie Moten	(3:23)
New Orleans	Hoagy Carmichael	Bennie Moten	(2:59)
The Only Girl I Ever Loved	Bobby Ziegler, Ziegler	Bennie Moten	(3:11)
Milenberg Joys	Leon Roppolo, Bennie Moten, Paul Mares, Ferdinand Joseph "Jelly Roll" Morton	Bennie Moten	(2:46)
Lafayette	Eddie Durham, Count Basie	Bennie Moten	(2:46)
Prince of Wails		Bennie Moten	(2:49)
Two Times	Sauberg	Bennie Moten	(3:03)

Credits

Leroy Berry (Guitar), Vernon Page (Overdubs), Willie McWashington (Vocals), Leroy Berry (Banjo), Dee Stewart (Trumpet), Ed Lewis (Trumpet), Thamon Hayes (Trombone), Jack Washington (Sax (Baritone)), Jack Washington (Clarinet), Harlan Leonard (Sax (Soprano)), Jack Washington (Sax (Alto)), Vernon Page (Bass), Willie McWashington (Drums), Woodie Walder (Clarinet), Hot Lips Page (Trumpet), Count Basie (Piano), Booker T. Washington (Trumpet), Woodie Walder (Sax (Tenor)), Buster Moten (Accordion), Jimmy Rushing (Vocals), Eddie Barefield (Clarinet), Joe Keyes (Trumpet), Frank Driggs (Liner Notes), Buster Moten (Piano), Eddie Durham (Guitar), Dan Minor (Trombone), Booker T. Washington (Cornet), Bennie Moten (Director), Eddie Barefield (Sax (Alto)), Ben Webster (Sax (Tenor)), Harlan Leonard (Sax (Alto)), Eddie Durham (Trombone), Ed Lewis (Cornet), Harlan Leonard (Clarinet)