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NEWSLETTER #125
Jazz, Dance Bands, Vocalists
Count Basie -> Fess Williams

COUNT BASIE
CHARLIE CHRISTIAN
WILD BILL DAVIS
DUKE ELLINGTON
BUD FREEMAN
SLIM GAILLARD & SLAM STEWART
BENNY GOODMAN
EDMOND HALL
LIONEL HAMPTON & HIS ORCHESTRA
THE JOHN KIRBY SEXTET
 
MEZZ MEZZROW
KING OLIVER & HIS ORCHESTRA
THE ORIGINAL INDIANA FIVE
CHARLIE PARKER
ADRIAN ROLLINI
VARIOUS ARTISTS
DINAH WASHINGTON
BEN WEBSTER
CLARENCE WILLIAMS
FESS WILLIAMS
 

 
COUNT BASIE Neatwork 2045 The Alternative Takes, Vol. 2 : 1940-1941 ● CD $14.98
25 tracks, 71 minutes, essential. One of my favorites of the entire Neatwork catalog. The tunes here are all from a short period, the end of Oct 1940 till the end of Jan '41. The Columbia sides finds the Basie Orch's roster a veritable who's who of jazz giants, with such greats as Lester Young, Buck Clayton, Sweets Edison, Dicky Wells, Don Byas, Tab Smith, Vic Dickenson, of course The All-American Rhythm Section (Basie, Freddy Green, Walter Page & Jo Jones) & on vocals Jimmy Rushing & Helen Humes. A lot of the tracks are breakdowns, & it's fascinating hearing the band work on such tunes as Five O'Clock Whistle/ Drafting Blues/ Beau Brummel & Stampede In G Minor. My fave is the session for It's Square But It Rocks - on take 3 Helen Humes loses her place, but the band continues & Helen eventually rejoins singing a tentative "la-la-la", after which the band returns with some fine soloing. Also includes 2 takes of It Counts A Lot, the very rare tune that finds The Count sitting in with Sam Donahue Orch. (GM)

 
CHARLIE CHRISTIAN JSP 909 First Master Of The Electric Guitar ● CD $29.98
Another one of those great multiple CD sets from JSP, going for a song, or in this case a guitar chord. This four CD set features 68 tracks by the great pioneering jazz guitarist drawn from radio shows, jam sessions and the "Spiritual To Swing" concert recorded between 1939 and 1941.

 
WILD BILL DAVIS Pacific 624 At Birdland ● CD $18.98
13 tracks, 48 min, recommended. Reissue of Epic 3118 from 1955, never before on CD. Recorded live at the famed New York jazz club with a trio including Floyd Smith on guitar & Chris Columbus on drums. In a soulful jazz vein, the wild man of the organ does jazz, blues, standards & even a few originals (Ooh-Ah-De-De-De/ I Ain't Feeling So Good). Highlight is his version of April In Paris, which predates the Count Basie hit by a couple of years; in fact he was supposed to cut it with The Count. Starting out, of course, with Lullabye Of Birdland, there's fine versions of Basie's Jumpin' At The Woodside, Duke's Thing's Ain't What They Used To Be and a smokin' version of Night Train. (GM)

 
DUKE ELLINGTON Neatwork 2042 The Alternative Takes, Vol. 6 : 1937-1938 ● CD $14.98
25 tracks, 73 min, essential. This set, which showcases 13 months of the Orch, features various versions of Ellingtonian bands, starting with Johnny Hodges Orch for Variety (2 takes of a VERY uncharacteristic Peckin' done for Variety 5/20 (sound closer to a Cab Calloway tune with the nonsense lyrics). Most of the rest are unissued test pressings done for Master by such bands as Barney Bigard & His Jazzopators, Rex Stewart & His 52nd Street Stompers, Cootie Williams & His Rug Cutters, Ivie Anderson & Her Boys From Dixie, as well as Duke Ellington & His Famous Orch. Some of these eventually got released on Columbia LPs & include such Ellington-written rarities as Sponge Cake & Spinach/ Scrounch/ Sugar Hill Shim-Sham as well as such Ducal classics as I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart/ Diminuendo & Crescendo In Blue & Braggin' In Brass. (GM)

 
DUKE ELLINGTON Neatwork 2048 The Alternative Takes, Vol. 7 : 1938-1940 ● CD $14.98
24 tracks, 69 minutes, essential. What makes this set essential is at the end of the disc, with 5 outtakes from the legendary Ellington/Jimmy Blanton duets from 10/40, with Pitter Panther Patter/ Sophisticated Lady & two alternates of Body & Soul. What remains is a great batch of Ducal outtakes. As with Vol 6, there a few recordings by the splinter bands, with 3 sides by Johnny Hodges Orch & a couple by Cootie Williams & His Rug Cutters. The rest is pure Duke & His Famous Orch on sides originally recorded for Vocalion, some of which came out on 78 on UK's Parlophone label, a few others later making onto Columbia reissue LPs. Starting off with the very atmospheric Pyramid, written by Duke & Juan Tizol, this does have a few Duke classics like Prelude To A Kiss/ Ko-Ko, & his tribute to Willie Smith, Portrait Of The Lion. (GM)

 
BUD FREEMAN Neatwork 2044 The Alternative Takes : 1935-1945 ● CD $14.98
25 tracks, 69 min, recommended. The bulk of this set is from '38-39, with the cream of the Austin High/ Eddie Condon crew. Done for Commodore, Bluebird, Decca & Columbia, all the greats are here, with the tenor master joined by Condon, Bobby Hackett, Pee Wee Russell, Jack Teagarden, Max Kaminsky & Jess Stacy. Especially nice are early Trio sides by Freeman, Stacy & George Wettling. The set is bookended by an amazing '35 all-star Bud Freeman & His Windy City Five with Condon, Bunny Berigan, Claude Thornhill, Granchan Moncur & Cozy Cole, & ending with a '45 Keynote version of Town Hall Blues with an octet including Billy Butterfield, Carl Kress & Bob Haggart. (GM)

 
SLIM GAILLARD & SLAM STEWART Definitive DRCD 11190 Complete Columbia Master Takes ● CD $29.98
3 CDs, 56 tracks, 2 hrs 38 mins, recommended
This treasure chest starts with a success story - a silly song called Flat Foot Floogie - then gets better. How could anyone have a bad time in the company of hip figurehead Slim Gaillard and his bass-playing partner Slam Stewart? More than two hours of their madcap melodies, liberally laced with verbal vouty and small group swing, may send your roommates to the nuthouse, but they'll go with a smile. You'll be swayin' and swingin' to the plentiful jewels of jive found here - Chinatown/ Ti-Pi-Tin/ Oh! Lady Be Good/ Laughin' In Rhythm/ Tutti Frutti/ Buck Dance Rhythm (featuring Slim's tap dancing) / Chicken Rhythm/ Matzoh Balls/ African Jive/ Palm Springs Jump/ Groove Juice Special to name a few. The duo's slap-happy surrealism will assure them a place in the hipster's hall of fame, but their instrumental talents are what keeps this chronology listenable. Gaillard was a capable swing guitarist, and Stewart consistently turned in amazing vocal solos, duetting effortlessly with his own bowed bass. In addition to the studio recordings there is a bonus cut of Hellzapoppin' from the 1941 movie of the same name. King Cole Trio buffs will gladly fall in step with the pair's West Coast lilt, while devotees of out and out nuts like Screamin' Jay and Babs Gonzales will locate the roots of their favored lyrical nonsense right here. Mellowroonie! (MB/ FS)

 
BENNY GOODMAN Neatwork 2041 The Alternative Takes, Vol. 1 : 1928-1937 ● CD $14.98
24 tracks, 73 min, essential. Starting with a couple Brunswick test pressing done for Brunswick in '28 as Benny Goodman's Boys (with an all-star Ben Pollack lineup including Glenn Miller & Tommy Dorsey, the bulk of this set, which complements the Classics series, is from '34-36. Includes the early great BG bands with such stellar sidemen as Harry James, Gene Krupa, Jess Stacy, George Van Eps, Bunny Berigan, Vido Musso, etc. A '34 unissued version of Junk Man for Columbia has guests Coleman Hawkins with Mildred Bailey on vocals! Also includes rare stuff by the Trio from '35 (After You're Gone) & the Quartet from '36, including the version of Moon Glow that only appeared on a Franklin Mint LP! (GM)

 
EDMOND HALL Neatwork 2043 The Alternative Takes, Vol. 1 : 1940-1941 ● CD $14.98
19 tracks, essential. Though clarinetist Hall is mostly known for his 50s work with Eddie Condon & with Louis Armstrong's All-Stars, the first 5 tracks, with Charlie Christian make this set essential. The first four are from singer Teddy Howard's Columbia session of 10/40. His appears to be a Teddy Wilson pickup session, with the crooner, on tunes such as Stardust & Wrap Up Your Troubles In Dreams, backed up by an all-star group with Wilson, Hall, Christian, Bill Coleman & Benny Morton! The fifth track is an outtake from the Edmund Hall Celeste Quartet with Hall & Christian backing Meade "Lux" Lewis on celeste! The other tunes happen to be some of the finest war-time small group stuff, done for Blue Note & Commodore, with such names as Edmund Hall & His Blue Note Jazzmen & Edmund Hall's Swingtet, with such stellar sidemen as James P Johnson, Emmett Berry, Vic Dickenson, Sidney de Paris, Red Norvo & Harry Carney. (GM)

 
LIONEL HAMPTON & HIS ORCHESTRA Pacific 623 Lionel Hampton Apollo Hall Concert 1954 ● CD $18.98
8 tracks, 39 minutes, recommended. Reissue of Epic 3190 from '55, never before on CD. Recorded in Europe (not the Harlem Apollo, but maybe the one in Glasgow - there's liner notes, but too tiny to read). Hamp does most of the soloing here, ably aided by tenor blowing legend Bobby Plater on a set including a gorgeous version of Lover Man, such standards as Stardust/ Our Love Is Here To Stay & The Nearness Of You, ending, of course, with a rousing Flying Home. (GM)

 
THE JOHN KIRBY SEXTET Definitive DRCD 11168 The Columbia & RCA Victor Recordings ● CD $22.98
Two CD set by this group known as "The Biggest Little Band In The Land" led by bassist John Kirby featuring 52 tracks recorded between 1939 and 1942. In addition to Kirby the band included Charlie Shavers/ tp, "Buster" Bailey/ cl, Russel Procope/ as, "Billy" Kyle/ p and William Spencer or Gordon Powell/ d. In addition to original compositions and standards the group also featured imaginative arrangements by Charlie Shavers of classical pieces from Chopin, Schubert, Beethoven and others.

 
MEZZ MEZZROW Neatwork 2046 The Alternative Takes, Vol. 1 : 1938-1945 ● CD $14.98
24 tracks ,71 min, recommended. This set's in 2 parts. The first 6 sides are from 2 quintets with the clarinetist teamed with trumpeter Ladnier & guitarist Teddy Bunn in sides cut for Victor at the end of '38. Many of these were on the very rare Mezz LP that came out on the Victor subsidiary X in the mid-50s. The remaining tracks were all done for Mezz's own King Jazz label in '45, all Septets & Quintets co-led by the great Sidney Bechet, with Hot Lips Page joining the front line in the septet, & even an appearance by blues singer Pleasant Joe on Bad Bad Baby Blues. (GM)

 
MEZZ MEZZROW Neatwork 2047 The Alternative Takes, Vol. 2 : 1947 ● CD $14.98
19 tracks, 74 minutes, recommended This set concentrates on alternate takes by 2 versions of the great Mezzrow-Bechet Quintet. The 1st 5 have a rhythm of Sox Wilson, Welman Braud & Baby Dodds, with Coot Grant (female) singing the humorous blues Whoop Miss Wolf Away From My Door. The final tracks are from back-to-back 12./47 sessions with the rhythm section of Sammy Price, Pops Foster & Kaiser Marshall. Includes Really The Blues Pts 1 & 2/ I'm Speaking My Mind/ Funky Butt. (GM)

 
THE ORIGINAL INDIANA FIVE Jazz Oracle 8031 Vol. 3 : Recorded In New York, 1925 ● CD $14.98
The third of five volumes featuring the complete recordings of this hot band with the exception of their sides for Harmony which have been reissued on Frog. The 24 tracks here also features sides they made under the name of the Black Diamond Serenaders and Tommy Morton's Grangers.

 
CHARLIE PARKER Proper BOX 46 Boss Bird - Studio Recordings, 1944-1951 ● CD $25.98
4 discs, 101 tracks, essential. We've always been blessed as most everything that Bird recorded has been in print, be it master takes, alternates, radio shots & concerts. The problem is, you have to get a lot of different sets. This is the 1st to combine all his Savoy & Dial masters along with all the Clef material up to 1951. This doesn't have the later material (all available on Verve), the alternate takes or the JATP stuff. What you do get is 101 of the best of Bird, from his backing up Tiny Grimes for Savoy in '44 to the Charlie Parker With Strings sides, as well as all the small groups with trumpeters Miles Davis on the Savoy & early Clef sides, Howard McGhee on the Dial sides & Red Rodney on the last of the Clefs, & such rhythm section mates as Max Roach, John Lewis, Barney Kessel, Dodo Mamarosa, Roy Haynes, Ray Brown & Kenny Clarke. All the greats are here - Billie's Bounce/ Ko-Ko/ Cool Blues/ Carvin' The Bird/ Relaxin' At Camarillo/ Al-Leu-Cha/ Loverman/ April In Paris, etc. (GM)

 
ADRIAN ROLLINI ASV CDAJA 5424 Tap Room Swing ● CD $11.98
25 tracks, 74 min, highly recommended The King of the Bass Sax, as well as master of The Goofus & The Hot Fountain Pen (both his inventions), ace session musician Rollini is heard on this excellent & excellent sounding set recorded 1927-38. The first part has Rollini as sideman in such classic groups as Red Nichols & His Five Pennies, Joe Venuti & His Blue Four/Five, The California Ramblers, Miff Mole & His Molers & of course Bix Beiderbecke & His Gang on such classic recordings as Feeling No Pain/ After You've Gone/ At The Jazz Band Ball & Jazz Me Blues. The final tunes are recordings by his own band which featured such greats as Benny Goodman, Bunny Berigan, Wingy Manone, Jack Teagarden & Adrian's trumpet player brother Art Rollini. (GM)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Avid AMSC 701 Swing, Blues, Jive & Boogie ● CD $27.98
Excellent two CD set featuring 52 tracks of jazz and blues from the vibrant and important Kansas City scene of the 30s and 40s. Includes Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra, Andy Kirk & His Clouds Of Joy, Count Basie, Mary Lou Williams, Hot Lips Page, Eddie Durham, Harlan Leonard & His Rockets, Bob Bon & His Buddies, Pete Johnson, Joe Turner, Jimmy Rushing, Jay McShann & Julia Lee. Sound is excellent and set comes with 20 page booklet with notes, photos and discographical info.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Definitive DRCD 11182 From Spirituals To Swing ● CD $22.98
Two CD set featuring recordings of blues, gospel and jazz made at the legendary concerts organized by John Hammond at Carnegie Hall in New York in 1938 and 1939. Though not as comprehensive as the three CD set issued by Vanguard a couple of years ago it's quite a bit cheaper. Includes performances by Count Basie & His Orch., Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons, Mitchell's Christian Singers, Big Bill Broonzy with Albert Ammons, Jimmie Rushing, The Golden Gate Quartet, Ida Cox, Sonny Terry with Bull City Red, The Kansas City Six and others. The second concert ends with a jam session featuring solos from Basie, Lesetr Young, Charlie Christian, Pete Johnson and others! Sound quality is good considering the circumstances of the recording and set comes with 12 page booklet with notes, photos, discographical info and a reprint of the introduction from the original program.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Dejavue Retro Gold 4227 Chantons Francais, 1937-1944 ● CD $11.98
Two CD set with 36 tracks featuring some of the most popular French singers in this important time just prior to and during the Nazi occupation of France. Includes Berthe Sylva, Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet, Ray Ventura, Frehel, Fernandel, Maurice Chevalier and others. Excellent sound and 20 page booklet which has no notes but includes some artist photos and atmospheric posters.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Dejavue Retro Gold 4203 Vocal Groups & Crooners Of The 30s ● CD $11.98
Inexpensive and entertaining two CD set featuring five songs each by Rudy Vallee (Heigh-Ho, Evrybody, Heigh-Ho/ Let's Do It, etc), Hoagy Carmichael (Georgia On My Mind/ My Resistance Is Low, etc), Noel Coward (Mad Dogs & Englishmen/ London Pride, etc), Bing Crosby (Swinging On A Star/ You Are My Sunshine, etc), The Boswell Sisters (Shine On Harvest Moon/ Wha'd Ja Do To Me, etc), The Ink Spots (When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano/ Bless You For Being A Angel, etc), The Andrews Sisters (Beat Me Daddy Eight To The Bar/ Bei Mir Bist Du Schon, etc) and The Mills Brothers (It Don't Mean A Thing/ Till Then, etc).

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Neatwork 2040 Great Jazz Pianists - Alternative Takes & Supplements ● CD $14.98
25 tracks, 79 min, essential. Heard here are rare recordings by Willie The Lion Smith, Teddy Wilson & Earl Hines. But the reason to get this set is the appearance of the legendary Jelly Roll Morton Baltimore acetates! Recorded at a small Baltimore studio in '38 in anticipation of trying to get Jelly a new record contract, these didn't turn up until the 40s. As they're on acetates, the sound can be a bit rough at times, but is always highly listenable. The tunes piano solos, band recordings, even an Organ Interlude & include such Jelly greats as The Pearls & King Porter Stomp, & his versions of Honeysuckle Rose/ Melancholy Baby & Tiger Rag. The Lion is heard with a washboard player on a Brunswick coupling & 3 rejected Decca takes from '35, & a gorgeous second take of Three Keyboards from '38, with Willie on celeste backed by pianists Jess Stacy & Joe Bushkin! Teddy is heard on 2 moments of him doodling in the Columbia studios in '42 & Fatha is head with an all star quintet including Buck Clayton & Barney Bigard. (GM)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Pablo 5311 Norman Granz' J.A.T.P. - Carnegie Hall, 1949 ● CD $16.98
Previously unissued performance of Jazz At The Philharmonica recorded live at Carnegie Hall in November, 1949. Includes Charlie Perker, Sonny Criss, Flip Phillips, Fats Navarro, Tommy Turk, Hank Jones, Ray Brown and Shelly Mann.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Trikont 0295 Dope & Glory - Reefer Songs Of The 30s and 40s ● CD $22.98
Those corrupt folks at Trikont are at it again with this two CD set featuring 50 songs and tunes from the 30s and 40s on the subject of "the evil dope". Mostly jazz and blues including some familiar items and a lot of more obscure ones. It includes several versions of the national anthem of marijuana If You're A Viper including a great version from 1943 by Fats Waller issued under the title of Vipers Drag. We also have Spinach Song by Julia Lee & Her Boy Friends, Knockin' Myself Out by Yack Taylor, Here Comes The Man With The Jive by Stuff Smith & His Onyx Club Boys, Light Up by Buster Bailey's Rhythm Busters, The 'G' Man Got The 'T' Man by Cee Pee Johnson & Band, Save The Roach For Me by Buck Washington, All Teed Up by Sam Price, Muggin' The Blues by Richard Jones & His Jazz Wizards Muggles by Louis Armstrong (shame on you J.K. Rowling!) and others by Mezz Mezzrow, Tampa Red, Cab Calloway, Barney Bigard, Lil Green, Nat King Cole Trio, Frankie Jaxon and others. Sound quality is excellent and there two 24 page booklets - one with notes in German and one in English. They're both worth checking out since they have different illustrations.

 
DINAH WASHINGTON Proper BOX 43 The Queen Sings ● CD $25.98
Another fine, budget priced box set from the good folks at Proper. This one is devoted to the great voice of the versatile Dinah Washington - a brilliant singer who was equally comfortable singing blues, R&B, jazz and pop. These four CDs with 109 tracks features the master take of every studio recording made by Dinah between December 1943 and October 1951. The set starts with two sessions accompanied by Lionel Hampton groups (she was Hampton's vocalist at the time) and ends with a session of two songs where she is joined by the great vocal group The Ravens. Along the way we hear sides with small and large jazz groups and R&B groups. Includes 44 page illustrated booklet with extensive notes and full discographical details.

 
BEN WEBSTER Proper BOX 37 Big Ben ● CD $25.98
4 discs, 93 tracks, essential. The thing I love about the new British compilations is "labels be damned." Where it used to be only one label putting out the material of a long-time vet who recorded for many labels, important things are always left out. Not with Proper. And this works doubly well with Webster, one of the early giants of the tenor. Ben, until his late 40 Mercury sides & 50s Verve sides, was mostly a sideman, gaining fame with the early 40s Duke Ellington Orch on Victor, which became known as the (bassist Jimmy) Blanton/Webster Years. But here, over 4 discs, Ben's whole early career can be evaluated. Starting with early 30s sides with Blanche Calloway & Benny Moten (both Victor), Fletcher Henderson on Decca, Willie Bryant on Vocalion, 30s Duke, Cab Calloway & Teddy Wilson (Brunswick) & Duke again on Columbia, & that's just the 1st disc! The 2nd disc is mostly Duke, but also includes a Slim Gaillard Merrit session. The 3rd disc has both big band sessions with Woody Herman & small all-star groups led by such greats as Cozy Cole, Foots Thomas, Big Sid Catlett, & Ben himself. The final disc, besides Ben's leadership, also find him in such diverse company as a Kansas City orch. led by Jay McShann featuring Walter Brown, & a Johnny Otis band for EmArCy, even a small modern group led by clarinetist Tony Scott & featuring Dizzy Gillespie & Trummy Young. The 48 page booklet gives you all pertinent info along with rare pics. (GM)

 
CLARENCE WILLIAMS Frog DGF 48 Clarence Williams' QRS Recordings, Volume 1 ● CD $16.98
25 tracks, 76 mins, highly recommended. First of two volumes featuring all the recordings made for the short lived QRS label under the leadership of the talented and versatile Clarence Williams. There are 12 supeerb sides by Williams & his Orchestra which included Joe "King" Oliver & Ed Allen (cornets), Ed Cuffee (trombone), two clarinets (drawn from Bennie Moten, Arville Harris, Bennie Waters and "Buster" Bailey) and others. They do tunes like Long, Deep & Wide/ Squeeze Me/ Wildflower Rag (two takes)/ I'm Through/ Bimbo and others. There are eight tracks by blues singer Anna Bell (with a smaller Williams group). She was a terrific singer with a powerful and earthy style that is a joy to listen to - her two takes of Kitchen Woman Blues are particularly fine. There are five vocals by Katherin Henderson who performs in a more polite vaudeville style but is quite appealing. In spite of the rarity of this material sound quality is stunning - remastering is by Ted Kendell - a protege of John R.T. Davies. There are informative notes by John Capes. (FS)

 
FESS WILLIAMS Retrieval 79032 Pre-Victors, The Complete Set : 1925-27 ● CD $14.98
Fess, the master of the "stove pipe" clarinet, is heard on 24 of his earliest recordings for Gennett, Oct. 2, 1925 - June 25, 1927, with George Temple (t), David "Jelly" James (tb), Fess (cl,as,v), Perry Smith (ss,cl,ts,v) and others. Remastered by John R.T. davies set comes with 16 page booklet with extensive notes by Mark Beresford.

 

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