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Bulletin - January/ February 2010
Jazz, Dance Bands & Vocalists
Billie Holiday  -> Various Artists

 

 

NEW COMPACT DISCS

 

BILLIE HOLIDAY Columbia (France) 753 806-2 The Complete Billie Holiday On Columbia, 1933-1944 ● CD $42.98
10 CDs, 230 tracks, essential
A fabulous budget priced collection featuring all the recordings made for Columbia and its associated labels by one of the greatest female vocalists of all times. Beautifully remastered with 24-bit digital mastering the first six and half the seventh disc features the master takes of all her songs in chronological order. The rest of the set features alternate takes, radio airchecks and a track from a film soundtrack. Hear some of the greatest jazz and pop singing of all time with accompaniments from the likes of Lester Young, Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Roy Eldridge, Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges and many others. Set comes with a 68 page booklet with essays from Gary Giddins & Farah Jasmine Griffin, rare photos, label shots and complete discographical details. This is basically the same as the long deleted box set originally issued in 2001 but in a more compact package and for about 1/4 the price! (FS)

 
FUD LIVINGSTON Jazz Oracle 8060 The Story Of Joseph "Fud" Livingston ● CD $18.98
26 tracks, recommended
Hot white dance band music and jazz recorded between 1924 and 1929 featuring the fine clarinetist and tenor saxist Joseph "Fud" Livingston. It opens with a 1924 test pressing of Red Hot by Ben Pollack & His Californians and continues with two more by this band from 1926 which at the time included Glenn Miller on trombone and Benny Goodman/ clarinet. Subsequent sessions feature Fud with The Charleston Chasers (with Red Nichols, Miff Mole & Pee Wee Russell), The Devonshire Restauarant Dance Band, Joe Venuti and His New Yorkers, Paul Whiteman, Bob Zurke & His Delta Rhythm Band (from a 1939 test pressing) and others including all six extremely rare sides by Mendello's Dance Orchestra from 1928 with Glenn Miller, Carl Kress and Arthur Schutt. Sound quality is superb and the 40 page illustrated discusses in detail Fud's tumultous life and music. (FS)

 
LES PAUL Micro Werks 052 The Inventor - Great Guitar Instrumentals ● CD $11.98
14 tracks, 32 mins, highly recommended
So much has been written about the late, great Les Paul - Inventor of Multi-track recording, Guitarist (and the guitar bearing his name), Pop Music Artist, star of a TV show (with his then-wife Mary Ford). Yet, many people are not too familiar with the innovative sound-on-sound recordings he did from the late 1940's to early 50's, using variable speed techniques, echo effects, and multiple harmonies to create a one-man guitar orchestra, crossing musical genres from Jazz, Western Swing and Pop. Here is a sample of those releases, each track offering an insight to the man's remarkable skills as an instrumentalist, arranger, and engineer. Includes Lover/ What Is This Thing Called Love/ Goofus/ Jazz Me Blues / Whispering/ Carioca/ Lady Of Spain, etc. If you have ever wondered about Les Paul - besides the guitar with his name on it, this collection is a must-have. (BC)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Frog DGF 71 Frogspawn - The First Batch - Red Jazz Rarities, etc. ● CD $18.98
25 tracks, very highly recommended
"Frogspawn "- what a wonderful title - and the music is even better. 25 tracks featuring alternate takes, unissued tracks and impossibly rare gems from the period 1924 through 1933 - most making their first appearance on CD, and the few that have been out before are in superior sound. The first six tracks feature alternate takes from King Oliver & His Orch, Earl Hines & His Orch., Thomas Morris & His Seven Hot Babies and Fletcher Henderson & His Orch. Then it's on to a whole batch of real obscurities including Paul Davis & His Orchestra (a real mystery man with a fine version of Elllington's Black And Tan Fantasy), The Texas Blues Destroyers (a remarkable duo featuring Bubber Miley / cornet and Arthur Ray/ accordion!), The Blue Rhythm Orchestra, Frankie Franko & His Louisianans (the superb Golden Lily Blues

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Jazz Oracle 8061 Cambridge University Jazz, 1927-1936 ● CD $18.98
27 tracks of hot dance band music and jazz recorded between 1927 and 1936 by English groups and soloists that were based in Cambridge University. Includes Fred Elizalde with his Varisty Band and Cambridge Undergraduates, George Monhouse & His Cambridge University Quinquaginta Ramblers and others.

 

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