Throwback MP3 of the Week: Jay McShann Band ft. Charlie Parker, “Honeysuckle Rose”

This track comes from The First KANU Radio Album. KANU is now better known as Kansas Public Radio, but back in 1974, it was one of the first stations gathered together under the aegis of the then-new National Public Radio banner.

As a matter of fact, the last track on the LP is Susan Stamberg‘s address at the re-dedication ceremony for KANU in October of 1973, and Stamberg explains what NPR is to those listening.

The first track is the one we present to you today. It’s the Jay McShann Band, featuring Charlie Parker, recorded at KFBI in Wichita on December 2, 1940. The session at which they recorded “Honeysuckle Rose,” as well as another several days before, constitute the first-ever recordings of Parker. The track is introduced by KANU’s Dick Wright.

The LP, by the way, was given out as an incentive to get people to pledge during the 1974 pledge drive, also known as the “Campaign for Excellence,” a name which it still goes by today. Also on the LP is a selection from La Boheme, performed by Enrico Caruso, and introduced by Professor Jim Seaver, who — to this very day — still hosts Opera Is My Hobby on KPR.

MP3: Jay McShann Band ft. Charlie Parker, “Honeysuckle Rose”