title: Memphis Jazz Box
text: # 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
  
  