One of the Swing Era’s piano greats who isn’t as well known today as those named above was Jess Stacy. Stacy was born in Missouri in 1904 and grew up in Cape Girardeau on the Mississippi River. At 14, Stacy was captivated by the music played on riverboats arriving from New Orleans and eventually played with Bix Beiderbecke in the 1920s and other artists and bands in the 1930s. He joined Benny Goodman in the mid-1930s, playing with the band at the famed Palomar Ballroom concert in 1935 and at Carnegie Hall in 1938. Stacy, who was influenced by Hines and Wilson, left Goodman in the early 1940s, rejoined in ’42 before leaving for Tommy Dorsey. He moved to Los Angeles in the ’50s but left the music business after being heckled by a drunk in a small club. For a time, he was married to singer Lee Wiley.
Jess Stacy - 1935-1939 {The Chronological Classics, 795} [68:09]
01. In The Dark / Flashes (3:16)
02. Barrelhouse (3:03)
03. The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise (3:10)
04. Ramblin' (3:08)
05. Complainin' (3:12)
06. Candlelights (3:17)
07. Complainin' (2:36)
08. Ain't Goin' Nowhere (2:45)
09. She's Funny That Way (3:43)
10. You're Driving Me Crazy (3:39)
11. The Sell-Out (4:17)
12. Ec-Stacy (4:43)
13. What's New? (2:50)
14. Melancholy Mood (2:49)
15. Noni (3:00)
16. Jess Stay (3:11)
17. Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) - Fox Trot (2:44)
18. Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) - Blues (3:37)
19. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (2:43)
20. A Good Man Is Hard To Find (3:05)
21. Clarinet Blues (3:21)
Jess Stacy - 1944-1950 {The Chronological Classics, 1175} [ 67:41]
01. Take Me To The Land Of Jazz (3:04)
02. Rose Of Washington Square (2:40)
03. Keepin Out Of Mischief Now (3:02)
04. D.A. Blues (3:25)
05. After You've Gone (2:20)
06. Old Fashioned Love (2:11)
07. I Ain't Got Nobody (2:46)
08. Blue Fives (2:11)
09. Ridin Easy (2:15)
10. Song Of The Wanderer (2:13)
11. Daybreak Serenade (2:57)
12. It's Only A Paper Moon (3:12)
13. Careless (2:45)
14. I'll Be Seing You (3:03)
15. Can't We Be Friends (2:29)
16. Imagination (2:44)
17. Under A Blanket Of Blue (3:16)
18. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (3:00)
19. Lullaby Of The Leaves (2:57)
20. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter (2:42)
21. Lover Man (3:22)
22. Keepin Out Of Mischief Now (2:38)
23. Cherry (2:53)
24. In A Mist (3:38)
Jess Stacy - 1951-1956 {The Chronological Classics, 1453} [73:31]
01. You Took Advantage Of Me (2:35)
02. Fascinating Rhythm (2:12)
03. I Can't Get Started (2:56)
04. I Want To Be Happy (2:45)
05. Indiana (2:35)
06. Stars Fell On Alabama (2:57)
07. If I Could Be With You (2:30)
08. Oh, Baby (2:50)
09. Roll 'Em (4:01)
10. Where Or When (2:56)
11. Sing, Sing, Sing (3:17)
12. Let's Dance (0:26)
13. Goodbye (0:52)
14. King Porter Stomp (4:28)
15. Don't Be That Way (3:17)
16. Sometimes I'm Happy (3:22)
17. When Buddha Smiles (2:35)
18. Down South Camp Meeting (3:05)
19. You Turned The Tables On Me (2:54)
20. I Must Have That Man (3:18)
21. Gee, Ain't I Good To You (2:31)
22. Blues For Otis Ferguson (3:45)
23. Boo-Boos For Bob (3:18)
24. Ec-Stacy (3:09)
25. Complainin' (2:21)
26. Ain't Goin' Nowhere (2:37)
