Don José Havana Orchestra (Cuarteto Machín) / Bennie Moten & His Kansas City Orchestra - Victor 23037 (1929)

What an odd pairing AND it took me a while to figure out who Don José's Havana Orchestra was...and what a nice surprise at that.

Cuarteto Machín: Daniel Sánchez g, v / Yayito Maldonado g / Antonio Machín dir, v / Remberto Lara t.

Recorded in New York on October 6, 1930.

As luck would have it, just came across the following record originally from South America. It has the real name of the group on the label.

Bennie Moten dir / Ed Lewis, Booker Washington c / Thamon Hayes tb / Harlan Leonard cl, ss, as / Jack Washington el, as, bar / Woody Walder cl, ts / Count Basie p / Ira "Buster" Moten pac, 2nd p / Leroy Berry bj / Vernon Page bb / Willie McWashington d / Eddie Durham tb, g.

Recorded in Chicago on October 23, 1929.

Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra - Okeh 8255 (1925)

Bennie Moten p, dir / Lammar Wright, Harry Cooper c / Thamon Hayes tb / Harlan Leonard cl, as / Woody Walder cl, ts, k effect / LaForest Dent bj / Vernon Page bb / Willie Hall d / William Little v.

Recorded in Kansas City on May 14, 1925.

Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra - Okeh 8242 (1925)

I wish it was in better shape...

Bennie Moten p, dir / Lammar Wright, Harry Cooper c / Thamon Hayes tb / Woody Walder cl, ts / Harlan Leonard cl, as / LaForest Dent bj / Vernon Page bb / Willie Hall d.

Recorded in Kansas City on May 14, 1925.

Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra - Okeh 8277 (1925)

Slowly adding Moten Okehs to the collection...

Bennie Moten p, dir/ Lammar Wright, Harry Cooper c / Thamon Hayes tb / Harlan Leonard cl, as / Woody Walder cl, ts / LaForest Dent bj / Vernon Page bb / Willie Hall d.

Recorded in Kansas City on May 14, 1925.

1930

Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra - 38012 (1928)

Bennie Moten p, a, dir / Ed Lewis, Booker Washington c / Thamon Hayes tb / Harlan Leonard cl, ss, as / Jack Washington cl, as, bar / Woody Walder cl, ts / Leroy Berry bj / Vernon Page bb / Willie McWashington d.

Recorded in Chicago on September 6 & 7, 1928.

Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra / Clifford Hayes' Louisville Stompers - Victor 21584 (1927/28)

Bennie Moten p, a, dir / Ed Lewis, Paul Webster c / Thamon Hayes tb / Harlan Leonard cl, ss, as / Jack Washington cl, as, bar / Woody Walder cl, ts / LaForest Dent as, ts / Leroy Berry bj / Vernon Page bb / Willie McWashington d.

Recorded in Chicago on June 11, 1927.

Hense Grundy tb / Clifford Hayes vn, as / Johnny Gatewoord p / Cal Smith g.

Recorded in Chicago on June 7, 1928.

Bennie Moten & His Kansas City Orchestra - Victor 23030 (1930)

Bennie Moten dir / Ed Lewis, Booker Washington c / Oran Hot Lips Page t / Thamon Hayes tb / Harlan Leonard cl, ss, as / Jack Washington cl, as, bar / Woody Walder cl, ts / Count Basie p / Ira Buster Moten pac / Leroy Berry bj / Vernon Page bb / Eddie Durham tb, g, a / Willie McWashington d.

Recorded in Kansas City on October 30 & 31, 1930.

Luis Russell & His Orchestra / Bennie Moten & His Kansas City Orchestra - Victor 22793 (1930-31)

Luis Russell p, dir / Henry Red Allen t, v / Robert Cheek, Gus Aiken t / Dicky Wells tb / Albert Nicholas cl, as / Henry Jones as / Greely Watson ts / Will Johnson g / Pops Foster sb / Paul Barbarin d, vib.

Recorded in New York on August 28, 1931.

Bennie Moten dir / Ed Lewis, Booker Washington c / Oran Hot Lips Page t / Thamon Hayes tb / Harlan Leonard cl, ss, as / Jack Washington cl, as, bar / Woody Walder cl, ts / Count Basie p / Ira Buster Moten pac / Leroy Berry bj / Vernon Page bb / Eddie Durham tb, g, a / Willie McWashington d / Jimmy Rushing v.

Recorded in Kansas City on October 28, 1930.