Memphis Jazz Box
# Memphis Jazz Box

"The Memphis Jazz Box" is a 3-CD box set by Memphis jazz artists, first released by Ice House Records in March 2004 and then re-released to the public in 2008. Volume one and two have a combined 24 tracks from a wide variety of artists who were currently working in Memphis during the time the set was produced. The third CD is the Jazz Orchestra of the Delta Big Band Reflections of Cole Porter recorded in 2003 for Summit Records.

## Background

The Memphis tradition of jazz music dates back many years to the time of W.C.Handy, Jimmie Lunceford, and Phineas Newborn. Memphis is a city with a long musical heritage that is an integral part of the American sound consisting of work songs, spirituals, blues, jazz, gospel, and rock and roll. Through this tradition, Memphis is a music city that serves to foster musical talent that is unique. There is a wide range a music on the CD set that represents the current flavor of what Memphis music is; from the traditional sounds to Joyce Cobb and W.C. Handy to the contemporary sounds of fusion with the band Voodoo Village. This box set of three CD was produced commercially to promote the city and the jazz music generated from the Mid-south region. This was the second such boxed set produced by Ice House Records and the Chamber of Commerce. The first set, produced in 2001, featured "Best Of. . ." tracks from Sun, Stax, and Hi Records.

## Track listing

All tracks are written by noted.

## Recording sessions

* DISC ONE - The New Memphis Jazz Collection, volume one

    Recorded completed in several studios in Memphis to include Ardent Studios, Young Avenue Sound, Sam Phillips Recording Services
* DISC TWO - The New Memphis Jazz Collection, volume two

    Recorded completed in several studios in Memphis to include Ardent Studios, Young Avenue Sound, Sam Phillips Recording Services
* DISC THREE - Big Band Reflections of Cole Porter, Jazz Orchestra of the Delta

    Please refer to the Recording sessions section on that Wikipedia/CD page.

## Personnel

### Musicians

* DISC ONE - The New Memphis Jazz Collection, volume one
* 1. Lets Get Lost

    Kelley Hurt, vocals/arranger
    Doug Garrison, percussion/drums
    Chris Parker, piano/arranger
    Jonathan Wires, bass
* 2. The Protagonist

    Jack Cooper, alto saxophone/composer
    Alvie Givhan, piano
    Tim Goodwin, bass
    Don Patterson, drums
* 3. Garment District

    Pat Register, saxophone
    Kurt Clayton, keyboards
    Niko Lyras, keyboards
    Ernest Williams, keyboards
    Dave Smith, bass
    Edward Cleveland, drums
* 4. Bags

    The University of Memphis Southern Comfort Jazz Orchestra
    Dr. Jack Cooper - director
* 5. Family Money

    Hope Clayburn, flute/saxophone
    Hope Clayburn's 2nd Booty Battalion
* 6. Beale Street Blues

    Joyce Cobb, vocals
    Tom Link, clarinet
    Tim Goodwin, bass
* 7. I've Got You Under My Skin

    T.J. Graham, vocals
    Footprints, (band)
* 8. Rhythm Is Our Business

    The New Memphis Hepcats
* 9. Andrea

    Herman Green, saxophone
    The Green Machine
* 10. One Kind Word

    Charlie Wood, vocals/keyboard/organ
    Tom Clary, trumpet and horn arrangements
    Scott Thompson, trumpet and flugelhorn
    Fred Ford, alto sax
    Tom Clary, trumpet and horn arrangements
    Jim Spake, tenor sax
    Joey Moore, bass
    David Forrester, drums
    Steve Wenger, guitar
* 11. Corcovado

    Holly Shelton, vocals
    Rene Koopman, piano
    Tim Goodwin, bass
    Tom Lenardo, drums
* 12. Reed Between The Lines

    Carl Wolfe, saxophone
    Carl Wolfe Quartet, band
* 13. Reekin' With Love

    Di Anne Price, vocals
    Jim Spake, tenor saxophone
    Tim Goodwin, bass
    Tom Lenardo, drums
* DISC TWO - The New Memphis Jazz Collection, volume two
* 1. Gentle Rain

    Teresa Pate, vocals
    Teresa Pate band
* 2. 2nd & Beale

    Freeworld
* 3. Crazy She Calls Me

    Gary Johns, vocals
    Gene Rush, piano
    Errol Thomas, bass
    Tom Lenardo, drums
* 4. El Gato De La Noche

    The Memphis Jazz Orchestra
* 5. I Got It Bad...

    Gene Rush
    Tim Goodwin, bass
    Renardo Ward, drums
* 6. Waltz for Debbie

    The University of Memphis Jazz Singers, Tim Goodwin - director
* 7. School Girl Crush

    Candice Ivory Band
* 8. Voodoo Village

    Pat Register, saxophone
    Kurt Clayton, keyboards
    Niko Lyras, keyboards
    Ernest Williams, keyboards
    Dave Smith, bass
    Edward Cleveland, drums
* 9. Out of This World

    Kelley Hurt, vocals/arranger
    Doug Garrison, percussion/drums
    Chris Parker, piano/arranger
    Jonathan Wires, bass
* 10. River of Jive

    Charlie Wood, vocals/keyboard/organ
    Tom Clary, trumpet and horn arrangements
    Scott Thompson, trumpet and flugelhorn
    Fred Ford, alto sax
    Tom Clary, trumpet and horn arrangements
    Jim Spake, tenor sax
    Joey Moore, bass
    David Forrester, drums
    Steve Wenger, guitar
* 11. Local Edition

    Jack Cooper, alto saxophone/composer
    Alvie Givhan, piano
    Tim Goodwin, bass
    Don Patterson, drums

Di Anne Price passed in March 2013.

Charlie Wood is married to Jacqui Dankworth and has moved to London since the release of this CD set. He still retains a CD contract with Archer Records in Memphis, TN.

* DISC THREE - Big Band Reflections of Cole Porter, Jazz Orchestra of the Delta

    Please refer to the Personnel Section on that Wikipedia/CD page.

### Production

* Producer: John Threadgill
* Co-producer: Jack Cooper
* Manufactured: John Phillips, Select-O-Hits,
* Mastered: L. Nix, Ardent Studios, Memphis, TN.
* Graghic design & concept: Blake Franklin, Street Level Graphics, Memphis, TN.
* Liner notes: Jack Cooper
* Discs 1 and 2 - All tracks compiled by Jack Cooper
* Disc 3 - All tracks composed or arranged and produced by Jack Cooper

## Promotion

The CD release party was held in AutoZone Park on March 18, 2004, at 5:30 pm., in the upper club room convention/party level: it was promoted well and The Commercial Appeal as well as the Memphis Business Journal. The box was conceived through cooperation of the nonprofit Mid-south Jazz Foundation, the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce, the Shelby County/Memphis Music Commission, the University of Memphis School of Music, and Select-O-Hits. Numerous artists from the CD set performed at the event, it was well attended and sponsored by the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce. Interviews were done on WKNO-FM 91.1 and WUMR with the producer of the set, the tracks from the set have had extensive play on WUMR radio which is the jazz radio station for the Mid-South region. It has also had airplay on other jazz radio stations around the country.

## Reception

Professional ratings :

| Review scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| The Commercial Appeal | |
| DISC 3 - L.A. Jazz Scene | (very positive) |
| DISC 3 - Jazz Journal International | (very positive) |

* All Discs

"A new collection, The Memphis Jazz Box, states with classy pride the case for the Bluff City's jazz heritage, notably those currently working on the local scene...The box stands as a fine effort, a nice cross-section..."

Bill Ellis, Commercial Appeal

* Disc #3

"...the result is a cohesive ensemble that understands (the) musical direction so well that they reproduce precisely what (the arranger) has intended...Balance and phrasing, suitable textures, and mellow harmonic ties follow with glamorous effects."

Jim Santella, L.A. Jazz Scene

"...(the arranger) is to be congratulated on the way he orchestrated some of (Porter's) best known songs, maintaining interest, despite the familiarity with the material."

Gordon Jack, Jazz Journal International

