If I look up the Cookers on google, much current or recent-enough pr on the band still lists Harper as a member. I don't know the whole story (and maybe nobody outside the band does), but wasn't following closely enough to realize that he'd split.
Jim Cullum would get my vote. Saw him & his band in San Antonio, where he had a club. Definitely seemed like a solid group of players that he brought together.
https://www.tpr.org/arts-culture/2019-08-11/jim-cullum-jr-jazz-band-leader-and-cornetist-dies-at-77?_amp=true
Looks like there is a fair amount of overlap between these Chant du Monde boxes and the Pablo box (which I have and love). It would be nice to have this stuff without buying part of it twice!
Had this as Spanish Steps and let it go in a cull; certainly thought it was the best among the small amount of Hawes vinyl in the racks, none of which I kept. Maybe due for a reassessment.
I used to have the United States of America as well as The American Metaphysical Circus on LP... interesting, though at the time they didn't really take. It seems line his more curious endeavors are "off the record(s)," so to speak. RIP.