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A talented alto saxophonist and an arranger/composer who probably wrote "One O'Clock Jump" (although <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a> received the credit), Buster Smith's contributions to jazz are difficult to assess because he was under-recorded throughout his career. <a href="spotify:artist:4Ww5mwS7BWYjoZTUIrMHfC">Charlie Parker</a> often acknowledged Smith's influence on his tone, and the few early recordings of the older altoist do show some similarity (although Bird's style would become much more advanced); <a href="spotify:artist:4Ww5mwS7BWYjoZTUIrMHfC">Parker</a> played in Smith's band in 1937.
Buster Smith was a fixture in Kansas City for the bulk of his most significant years. He was with Walter Page's Blue Devils from 1925-1933 (the band only made two recordings) and <a href="spotify:artist:1bm4KifyNLFa4pjZzulTQU">Bennie Moten</a>'s orchestra during its last period (1933-1935), and co-led the Barons of Rhythm with <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a>. Unfortunately, he chose not to accompany <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Basie</a> to New York. When Smith finally went East, he contributed arrangements to several orchestras (including those led by <a href="spotify:artist:2YODXXiVE8ABc0TfihLOFj">Gene Krupa</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:5dlCVmfRbWVGOJYHzGyk32">Benny Carter</a>) and had short stints with <a href="spotify:artist:4xgDy82aqLHAG2Is3ELRWv">Don Redman</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3GAp4nVDIMnsYFZnD9DWSz">Hot Lips Page</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6Tb8e3g4fnkBfCsV1kBK10">Eddie Durham</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1KOfC5pbWnv0RaqzAjSDb9">Snub Mosley</a>. Buster Smith returned first to Kansas City and then finally to Texas for the remainder of his life. He recorded one very obscure (and long out-of-print) Atlantic album in 1959. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
Buster Smith was a fixture in Kansas City for the bulk of his most significant years. He was with Walter Page's Blue Devils from 1925-1933 (the band only made two recordings) and <a href="spotify:artist:1bm4KifyNLFa4pjZzulTQU">Bennie Moten</a>'s orchestra during its last period (1933-1935), and co-led the Barons of Rhythm with <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a>. Unfortunately, he chose not to accompany <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Basie</a> to New York. When Smith finally went East, he contributed arrangements to several orchestras (including those led by <a href="spotify:artist:2YODXXiVE8ABc0TfihLOFj">Gene Krupa</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:5dlCVmfRbWVGOJYHzGyk32">Benny Carter</a>) and had short stints with <a href="spotify:artist:4xgDy82aqLHAG2Is3ELRWv">Don Redman</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3GAp4nVDIMnsYFZnD9DWSz">Hot Lips Page</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6Tb8e3g4fnkBfCsV1kBK10">Eddie Durham</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1KOfC5pbWnv0RaqzAjSDb9">Snub Mosley</a>. Buster Smith returned first to Kansas City and then finally to Texas for the remainder of his life. He recorded one very obscure (and long out-of-print) Atlantic album in 1959. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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