Kansas City Six

When they had time off from the Count Basie Orchestra in the late 1930s, the Count's rhythm musicians formed a small ensemble called the Kansas City Five. And when legendary tenor saxophonist Lester Young joined the band, it became the Kansas City Six. Commodore Records founder Milt Gabler realized a stripped-down, straightforward recording of such fine musicians as trumpeter Bill Coleman, trombonist Dicky Wells and drummer Jo Jones could produce such potent music as "Three Little Words," "Jo-Jo" and "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans." ~ Ron DePasquale