I will admit that I am hooked on Blues music. I prefer the old Mississippi Delta Blues. Nothing can beat an acoustical guitar and a gravely voice. But then still BB King and Muddy Waters with their electrified blues hold a certain place in my heart also. When I try to define THE Blues music, I always wander to here and there. So, I guess it all is good.

A recent gem I ran across is a piano/orchestra Blues song recorded in 1940, After Hours. It was written by Avery Parish and first recorded by the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra and featured Avery on the piano.

James Avery Parrish was born in Birmingham, Alabama. (January 24, 1917 – December 10, 1959). He died in New York City. 

Erskine Ramsay Hawkins was also from Birmingham (July 26, 1914 – November 11, 1993). He played trumpet and was a Big Band Leader with his Orchestra. He died in Willingboro Township, New Jersey.

After Hours came to be considered a jazz standard. 

The RCA 78 recording can be found on archive.org at:

https://archive.org/details/78_after-hours_erskine-hawkins-and-his-orchestra-avery-parrish-erskine-hawkins_gbia0179980a