Week 36:: H.R.S. Sessions

This week, we pay tribute to a group of individuals who helped make jazz happen without picking up an instrument themselves - the Hot Record Society (H.R.S.). They were a group of jazz fans in the 1930s and 40s who noticed that the style of music they preferred - and many of its most notably musicians - were not being included in the new dance band-focus of the Swing Era. Rather than watch their beloved style of "Hot Jazz" fade away, they created their own recording society. In extreme brief, this is their tale.

One HORRIBLY embarrassing note - the H.R.S. is know, almost without exception, just as the "H.R.S." As a result, I fumbled for the accurate meaning of the acronym, and for the duration of this broadcast referred to them as the "Historical Record Society."

I may not live down the shame, but I hope you can enjoy the music regardless.

Note, all recordings taken from the Mosaic Box set, "The Complete H.R.S. Sessions."

Audio

Playlist

1. Pee Wee Russell & His Rhythmakers - Baby, Won't You Please Come Home
2. Pee Wee Russell & His Ryhthmakers - I've Found a New Baby
3. Sidney Bechet - Sweet Sue, Just You
4. Sidney Bechet - Four or Five Times
5. Sidney Bechet - That's a Plenty
6. Brick Fleagle Orchestra - Brick's Boogie
7. Brick Fleagle Orchestra - The Fried Piper
8. Sandy Williams & His Big Eight - Sumpin' Jumpin' Round Here
9. Buck Clayton & His Big Eight - I Want a Little Girl
10. Joe Thomas & His Baby Six - No Better For Ya
11. Billy Kyle & His Big Eight - Date for Eight
12. Billy Kyle & His Big Eight - H.R.S. Bounce
13. Billy Kyle, et al. - Striding Down the Champs Elysee
14. Brick Fleagle, et al. - Wig Wam Blues
15. Rex Stewart, et al. - Flim Flam

::WSRP:: More Moxy than Roxy, and twice the Pazazz of Chazz!