Oracle Sisters

Jack Purvis was a strange figure in jazz history. A talented trumpeter who could also play effective trombone starting in the late '20s, Purvis was also a petty thief, a smuggler, a cook, an airplane pilot, and a charming con man. He was in one legendary escapade after another, which finally resulted in a jail sentence, and he never seemed to regret any of his adventures or make any attempt at reform. His remarkable and somewhat unbelievable tale is outlined in detail in Michael Brooks' lengthy and definitive liner notes to this superb three-CD set. Purvis made all of his recordings during 1928-1931 (except for a lone session by pianist Frank Froeba in 1935), leading eight selections of his own and otherwise mostly adding some hot jazz trumpet to dance band dates…