Harlan Leonard & His Rockets - Bluebird B-10883 (1940)

Growing up in Kansas City, clarinetist Harlan Leonard cut his teeth in the local bands of George E. Lee and Bennie Moten.

Although he recorded many tracks as a sideman, over 80 with Moten, his own group only waxed a handful on four occasions...all in 1940.

The web says that he fired a teenaged Charlie Parker after a 5 month stint in his band for lack of discipline.

Harlan leonard cl, as, bar, dir / Edward Johnson, Williams H. Smith t / James Ross t, v / Fred Beckett, Richmond Henderson tb / Darwin Jones as / Henry Bridges cl, ts / Jimmy Keith ts / William Smith p / Effergee Ware (Side B) Stan Morgan (Side A) g / Winston Williams (Side B), Bill Hadnott (Side A) sb / Jesse Price d / Jesse Stone, Tad Dameron a.

Recorded in Chicago on January 11 (Side B) & July 15 (Side A), 1940.