Jumping back into Post War Jazz tonight via the inimitable Slim Gaillard. The undisputed crown Prince of hipsters and scat singers, Gaillard crossed over so many musical boundaries it was almost impossible to categorize him. But it was never impossible to recognize him as one of the true originals and one of the most innovative artists to come along and blossom during that complete musical free-for-all known as the Post War Jazz period.

Like many artists of the time, he recorded for a whole host of record companies, many of them independent labels around the West Coast. One of those was the small L.A. based Jazz/R&B/Jump blues label Mel-o-Disc where Gaillard recorded this classic, Laguna, in 1946.

In a word, wowtee.

(Gerald Wilson - at 91, no stopping in sight)

I was thinking today about what a great Jazz scene there was on the West Coast in the 1940s, 50s and early 60s. Certainly in Los Angeles and the famous Central Avenue scene. There have been some books written and a few compilations that introduce an audience to this rich vein of musical history, but so far nothing that really dives in and explores the extraordinary talent that showed up and gigged around L.A. during those days.

One of those extraordinary greats was/is Gerald Wilson. Still going strong at 91 (last I heard he was music Director for the Monterey Jazz Festival), Wilson has hosted a veritable who's who of Jazz greats over the years.

This track, Mambo Mexicano, comes from a series of sessions he did in 1954 with his band that included Clark Terry, Paul Gonsalves and Teddy Edwards. This pre-dates his long association with Pacific Jazz, and is an indication of which direction he was headed.

Things were definitely happening on the West Coast.