“Justrite” – Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra (1928)

Some excellent Kansas City jazz from Bennie Moten on Victor.

September 6-7 1928 saw Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra in the Victor studios in Camden, New Jersey for an epic two day session that yielded eleven released sides – including “South” – the last song to be recorded on the 7th and the band’s most popular and enduring hit. “South” stayed in print in the RCA Victor catalog until the late 1950s and was also released on 45pm.

Here, we have the first song recorded on Sept 6th: “Justrite”, with songwriting credits split between Moten and cornetist Ed Lewis.

I’m not sure if my ears are full of stuffing, but a few other versions of this tune out there (like the version on Spotify) sound a tad sharp. This one sounds in tune to my ears when I play along with it – but you’ll have to tell me what you think. If I’m wrong please let me know and I’ll schedule a cerumenectomy post haste. ^_^

The tune starts off with an insistent tension, but soon falls into a driving groove with some nice ensemble playing before Ed Lewis finally hits a solo around the minute mark. He is followed by what sound like a vocal effect similar to Cliff Edwards’ “Effin’”. A baritone sax solo follows, then a banjo solo. A second distant-sounding cornet takes us back to a rousing conclusion.

Recorded in Camden, New Jersey on September 6, 1928.
Released as Victor 21739.

Credits
Bennie Moten – piano, director
Ed Lewis, Booker Washington – cornet
Thamon Hayes – trombone
Harlan Leonard – clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
Jack Washington – clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax
Woody Walder – clarinet, tenor sax
Leroy Berry – banjo
Vernon Page – tuba
Willie McWashington – drums