Pre-Order: Monochrome: The Black & White Recordings 1946-1948 - Jack Mcvea [CD]

One time Lionel Hampton sideman Jack McVea is, without a doubt, one of the key players in the rhythm & blues revolution that got underway at the end of World War II - both as a musician and a band leader. From his homebase in Hollywood, Jack and his 'All Stars' (and later his 'Door Openers') backed many leading talents of the day in concert and in the studio, eventually winning the recording contract with newly formed independent Black & White that led to the recordings featured in this essential new Jasmine compilation. Monochrome the title might be, but the music is extremely colourful throughout and shows how quickly Rhythm And Blues was evolving from it's jazz origins. Jack's 'career hit' 'Open The Door, Richard' is featured here, and remains the best known of many versions of the song that followed in it's wake. Together with as many of his other Black and White records as would fit the finite running time of a CD, it provides a window on a world where exciting things were happening on almost a daily basis in black American music. Jack's active career as a musician spanned seven decades, and Monochrome is just a small part of it. A single CD package of these recordings has been long overdue, and Jasmine is delighted to bring it to you now.