I've been listening to tenor-man Bud Freeman's 1929 - 1940 recordings with Pee Wee Russell, Jess Stacy, Jack Teagarden, Grachan Moncur, Gene Krupa, Big Sid Catlett and many other midwestern worthies - some Benny Goodman, Bunny Berigan, and Tommy Dorsey too. Bud Freeman's tenor, his use of vibrato, reminds me of Anthony Braxton while his ensembles with Pee Wee Russell and Jack Teagarden remind me of Mingus.
The pianist, Jess Stacy's music has been closely attended to me lately. He was many years Benny Goodman's main piano-man. Stacy was married to the great and wonderful singer Lee Wiley for three/five years. Her performances of "Sugar" and especially "Steamboat Tennessee" with Stacy and friends are captivating. Take a look at Will Friedwald's insightful study Jazz Singing: America's Great Voices From Bessie Smith to BeBop and Beyond.
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