the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy

Series produced by Guy Rathbun

Caption: Joe "King" Oliver
Joe "King" Oliver 

A weekly program of Music and Stories for "The Jazz Age."

Across the spectrum of pop and jazz from the late teens to the early 1930s, this weekly series from the Club McKenzie invites you the share in the talents and tales of the musicians and performers that created an unforgettable era.


626 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
The Brunies Brothers
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: George Brunies
Half a dozen brothers and sisters, mother, father, and a cousin made up the core of the Brunies family. They were all good musicians. Many of them ...

Bought by Troy Public Radio and KCBX


  • Added: Apr 03, 2014
  • Length: 58:58
  • Purchases: 2
The First Lady of Radio
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Vaughn De Leath
She was known as “The First Lady of Radio.” Vaughn De Leath’s recording career began in 1921, which lead to hundreds of titles over the next decade...

Bought by Radio New Zealand and KCBX


  • Added: Mar 25, 2014
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 2
Wild Oats
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: 1920s Jazz Group
If jazz can be tied to any season, metaphorically speaking, it would be spring.

Bought by KCBX


  • Added: Mar 19, 2014
  • Length: 58:56
  • Purchases: 1
Connie's Hot Chocolates
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Fats Waller
Connie’s Hot Chocolates opened at the Hudson Theater, 44th Street east of Broadway, on June 20, 1929. It was a slice of Harlem nightlife.

Bought by KZYX and KCBX


  • Added: Mar 13, 2014
  • Length: 58:58
  • Purchases: 2
Eddie's Scrapbook
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Eddie Condon
Eddie Condon is one of the liked musicians during the early years of jazz. A Chicago style guitarist, is probably best remembered for his wit, humo...

Bought by WDCB and KCBX


  • Added: Mar 03, 2014
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Ferdinand's Catalogue
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Jelly Roll Morton
Fredinand Joseph LaMothe Morton was there when it all began. Although it may be a dubious title to say he created jazz, it is true that he was one ...

Bought by KCBX


  • Added: Feb 24, 2014
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Rarities
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Three Jazz Wizards
Here is a sampling of some of the bands of the 1920s; most didn’t make it beyond their geographical boarders. By no means does that lesson their ta...

Bought by KCBX


  • Added: Feb 15, 2014
  • Length: 58:57
  • Purchases: 1
Hot Club: Reinhardt & Grappelli
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Reinhardt & Grappelli
You could not find two more opposite musicians forming a partnership: Stephane Grappelli and Django Rienhardt. In the early ‘30s they created the h...

Bought by KMUW and KCBX


  • Added: Feb 07, 2014
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 2
The Dixie Stompers: Fletcher Henderson
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Fletcher Henderson
The Dixie Stompers were formed for one purpose: to record for a less expensive label for those who couldn’t afford to buy the 75-cent discs.

Bought by KCBX


  • Added: Jan 31, 2014
  • Length: 58:56
  • Purchases: 1
Belgian Jazz
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Charles Remue's New Stompers
When you think of America’s original art form – jazz – the last place you’ll probably think of is Belgium. Yet, they too were swept up in the craze...

Bought by KCBX


  • Added: Jan 26, 2014
  • Length: 58:56
  • Purchases: 1
Gems of Gennett
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Gennett Records label
The Starr Piano Company opened the doors to their new recording studio in Richmond, Indiana in 1916. The first few years they waxed the standard fa...

Bought by KCBX


  • Added: Jan 16, 2014
  • Length: 58:57
  • Purchases: 1
Mamie Smith
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Mamie Smith
She billed herself as “The Queen of the Blues.” But, technically, she wasn’t a blues singer.

Bought by KCBX


  • Added: Jan 12, 2014
  • Length: 58:57
  • Purchases: 1
Big T
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Jack Teagarden
Very few musicians had the artful phrasing that Weldon Leo “Jack” Teagarden had. Whether he was playing trombone, or singing, he seemed to adopt so...

Bought by KMUW and KCBX


  • Added: Jan 02, 2014
  • Length: 58:58
  • Purchases: 2
The Professor
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Fess Wiliams
Stanley “Fess” Williams earned his nickname from his six years teaching music. Although he taught early elements of jazz, you can believe he also i...

Bought by KCBX


  • Added: Dec 25, 2013
  • Length: 58:58
  • Purchases: 1
The Origins of RCA-Victor
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Victor ODJB 78 RPM
The Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was one of the first major record labels, and arguably the best. They became a revolutionary force in the mu...

Bought by Radio New Zealand and KCBX


  • Added: Dec 18, 2013
  • Length: 58:57
  • Purchases: 2
Benny Before Big Band
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Benny Goodman
This program is devoted to Benny Goodman’s earliest years in the recording business. His inventive style is heard with the Ben Pollack Orchestra, H...

Bought by KCBX


  • Added: Dec 12, 2013
  • Length: 58:58
  • Purchases: 1
Jimmy Blythe - The Enigma
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Alley Rat by Jimmy Blythe
Pianist and composer James Louis Blythe is lost in obscurity today, but during his all too brief career, he was considered among the very best. Bly...

Bought by KCBX


  • Added: Dec 05, 2013
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Georgia Stomps
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Piece image
It’s an understatement to say that Georgia was not known as a mecca for early jazz; nevertheless, there are several quality musicians from the Atla...

Bought by KCBX


  • Added: Dec 02, 2013
  • Length: 58:57
  • Purchases: 1
Sizzlin' Strings - Hot Violins
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Eddie South
This program is devoted to the pioneers of jazz violin including Stephane Grappelli, Eddie South, Joe Venuti, Stuff Smith, Clifford Hayes, and many...

Bought by KMUW, WNCU, and KCBX


  • Added: Nov 20, 2013
  • Length: 58:57
  • Purchases: 3
Uptown-Downtown
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Caption: Apollo Club
Featuring those top-notch musicians and band leaders who were successful in New York City and Harlem in 1933.

Bought by KCBX


  • Added: Nov 13, 2013
  • Length: 58:58
  • Purchases: 1

Playlists That Feature This Series: