This tune is jumpin’! A real upbeat tune with lots of fine solos. If you haven’t heard of Billy Kyle, you’re not alone. But don’t let that stop you from giving this disc a listen!
Part of the joy of collecting 78s is discovering labels and artists you’d be hard pressed to find any other way. Ever since I learned about the excellent (but short-lived) Variety label, I always am on the lookout for their releases.
A local record store owner who knows I collect 78s let me know a crate had just come in – and I found this one among an otherwise unremarkable collection of postwar pop and country.
Billy Kyle is a pianist who was a prolific sideman in the 1930s, playing with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band and Lucky Millinder. After the war, he had a long gig playing with Louis Armstrong’s All Stars. He worked as a bandleader only a few times – and a handful of sides for the Variety label represent perhaps over half of those sessions.
Charlie Shavers is on point throughout – and Billy Kyle’s piano sounds fantastic. Danny Barker’s rhythm guitar is four-to-the-floor Freddie Green style but later in the tune he gets a short chord melody break.
Nice record all around – Enjoy!
Recorded in New York City on July 23, 1937.
Released as Variety VA 659.
Credits
Charlie Shavers – trumpet
Tab Smith – alto sax
Ronald Haynes – tenor sax
Billy Kyle – piano, leader
Danny Barker – guitar
John Williams – string bass
Fran Marx – drums