NEWSLETTER #133
Jazz, Dance Bands & Vocalists
Chet Baker ->
Lester Young
| CHET BAKER |
Proper Intro 2008 |
A Proper Introduction To Chet Baker |
● CD $9.98 |
25 tracks, 76 min, excellent
This set is a continuation of
Proper's "Young Mulligan" Gerry Mulligan set. As the years go on, more
tracks fall under the UK's public domain - these tracks are all from '53,
starting out with 5 tracks from 3 sessions with Baker as trumpet in
Mulligan's landmark piano-less quartet. However, in 6/53 Mulligan was
jailed for narcotics, so Chet formed his 1st group as leader, with Russ
Freeman on piano. The remaining tracks are Chet's 1st recordings on his
own, done for Pacific Jazz & include his first recordings as a vocalist (I
Fall In Love Too Easily/ The Thrill Is Gone) along with such classics
as This Time The Dream's On Me/ Easy To Love/ All The Things You Are,
etc. Liner notes from Joop Visser (GM)
|
| BENNY CARTER |
Proper BOX 68 |
The Music Master |
● CD $25.98 |
Alto saxist Benny Carter had a long and productive career.
This four CD set with 88 tracks recorded between 1930 and 1952 includes
his work with small groups as well as big bands and include performing
with Teddy Wilson, Coleman Hawkins, Oscar Peterson, Dexter Gordon and
others. Includes 52 page illustrated booklet with extensive notes and
discographical information.
|
| NAT "KING" COLE |
Proper PAIRS 136 |
Unforgettable |
● CD $12.98 |
2 discs, 46 tracks, essential
This is a follow-up to "Cool
Cole" - Proper Box 31. Where it seems that all the Cole re-issues are
either Trio sides or his greatest hits, this set is a bit different.
Starting out with a March 1950 transcription set by the trio that was not
on the box, next up is his early Capitol sides as a crooner, starting with
his huge hits Mona Lisa & Unforgettable, plus such other
seldom anthologized tracks as Destination Moon/ Don't Let Your Eyes Go
Shopping For Your Heart and A Little Street Where Old Friends Meet.
Even better are the original tunes bringing back Nat to a straight
instrumental jazz bag, though the title of the original LP, "Penthouse
Serenade", does let you know this is more uptown than down & dirty. With
slipcase & full liner notes & discography. (GM)
|
| BING CROSBY |
Acrobat 3002 |
Centenniel Collection |
● CD $13.98 |
2 CDs, 50 tracks , recommended
The 100th anniversary of
his birth make Bing a prime target for numerous excellent & low-cost
reissues. This set covers the Bing solo sides 1932-52, so there's no early
jazz or Paul Whiteman sides. Starting with Can't We Talk It Over,
this set includes a lot of early 30s tunes rarely reissued such as
Snuggled On Your Shoulder/ Waltzing In A Dream & Lazy Day,
along with all the pre-53 hits. (GM)
BING CROSBY: Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive(with The Andrews Sisters)/ Bali
Hai (from "south Pacific")/ Blue Prelude/ Can't We Talk It Over/
Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy/ Dear Hearts & Gentle People/ Don't Fence Me In
(from "hollywood Canteen")(with The Andrews Sisters)/ Far Away Places/
Galway Bar/ Give Me A Heart To Sing To/ Gone Fishin'/ Have I Told You
Lately That I Love You(with The Andrews Sisters)/ Home On The Range/ I'm
An Old Cowhand/ I've Got A Pocketful Of Dreams (from "sing, You Sinners")/
I've Got To Sing A Torch Song/ In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening
(from "here Comes The Groom")/ Isle Of Innisfree (from "the Quiet Man")/
It's Been A Long Long Time2/ Lazy Day/ Love Me Tonight/ Marshmallow World/
Moonlight Becomes You (from "the Road To Morocco")/ Mule Train (with Perry
Botkin's String Band)/ My Love/ Now Is The Hour/ Only Forever (from
"rhythm On The River")/ Play A Simple Melody (from "watch Your Step")/
Quicksilver(with The Andrews Sisters)/ Red Sails In The Sunset/ Riders In
The Sky (from "riders In The Sky")/ Sam's Song/ Shine/ Silent Night/
Silver Bells (from "the Lemondrop Kid")/ Snuggled On Your Shoulder/ Some
Enchanted Evening (from "south Pacific")/ Some Of These Days/ Sparrow In
The Tree Top(with The Andrews Sisters)/ Street Of Dreams/ Sunday, Monday
Or Always (from "dixie")/ Too Marvellous For Words (from "ready, Willing
And Able")/ Waltzing In A Dream/ What's New/ When You And I Were Young
Maggie Blues/ White Christmas/ You Are My Sunshine/ You've Got Me Crying
Again/ Young & Healthy/ Zing A Little Zong (from "just For You")
|
| THE DE CASTRO SISTERS |
Bear Family BCD 16381 |
Teach Me Tonight |
● CD $21.98 |
31 tracks recorded between 1954 & '58 by Cuban-born vocal
trio backed by the orchestra of Lloyd "Skip" Martin. Includes their hits
Boom Boom Boomerang/ Too Late Now, the title song and more.
|
| ROY ELDRIDGE |
Proper BOX 69 |
Little Jazz Trumpet Giant |
● CD $25.98 |
4 discs, 97 tracks, essential
Outstanding box set
showcasing the trumpeter often called the most important trumpeter between
Louis Armstrong & Dizzy Gillespie? Diz was one of his most vocal
champions! Starting off with a rare '35 Volcaion side with the Teddy Hill
Orch (the wonderfully titled (Lookie Lookie Lookie) Here Comes Cookie),
Little Jazz then moves to some small all-star groups that were putting out
records for juke boxes, including those led by Teddy Wilson, including
backing Billie Holiday on What A Little Moonlight Can Do, with the
Fletcher Henderson Orch & with the Fletcher Henderson Chocololate Bunnies
& finally Gene Krupa, where he would really make his name . There's some
small band Krupa sides with Benny Goodman including I Hope Gabriel
Likes My Music, then his own big band sides for Vocalion before moving
on to Krupa's big band with Anita O'Day & renown in such classics as
Let Me Off Uptown & Rockin' Chair. In between there's also some
wonderful live radio shots. From Krupa was his again renowned stint with
Artie Shaw including the track named after his own nickname - Little
Jazz. And that's only the first two discs! Disc 3 concentrates on his
European recordings - 1950 recordings done in Paris for Vogue & in 1951 in
Stockholm for Metronome. The final disc mostly has his '51-53 Mercury
sides. And of course there's the multiple Metronome All-Star sessions
throughout. A 48 page booklet puts it all together. (GM)
|
| DUKE ELLINGTON |
Saga Jazz 66460 |
Duke's Singing Ladies |
● CD $13.98 |
A slightly different look at the music of the great Duke
Ellington - this one features 24 tracks recorded between 1928 and 1952
featuring vocals by some of the many fine female singers who worked with
him. Includes Ivy Anderson, Betty Roche, Marie Ellington, Dolores Parker,
Yvonne Lanauze, Anita O'Day, Chubby Kemp, Ethel Waters, Evelyn Preer.
Adelaide Hall, Sue Mitchell, Mary McHugh and others. Excellent sound and 12
page booklet has brief notes and full discographical info.
|
|
LT.
JAMES EUROPE'S 369TH U.S. INFANTRY BAND |
Memphis Archives 7020 |
"Hell Fighter's" Band |
● CD $14.98 |
Available again. 24 tracks recorded in 1919 featuring one
of the most important early black bandleaders James Reese Europe. He
organized and led the all-black 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band
during World War I. They fought in the trenches and introduced an early
form of jazz to the Continent. Tragically, Europe was murdered shortly
after these recordings. Several tracks feature the vocals of Noble Sissle.
Includes That Moanin' Trombone/ On Patrol In No Man's Land/ All Of No
Man's Land Is Ours/ Dixie Is Dixie Once More/ St. Louis Blues/ Ja Da/
Missouri Blues/ Russian Rag/ Clarinet Marmalade/ Mirandy
and others.Sound
quality is excellent and set comes with 44 page booklet with extensive
notes on Europe's life and career as well information on the members of
the band and a discussion of each performances. It also includes photos
and other illustrations along with excerpts from newspaper reports of the
time.
|
| GEORGE FORMBY |
JSP JSPCD 1901 |
England's Famed Clown Prince Of Song |
● CD $28.98 |
Lancashire lad George Formby was one of Britain's most
popular musical entertainers during the 30s and 40s accompanying his
engaging voice with a ukulele banjo and singing witty, often self
composed, songs - some with a risque quality. This five CD box set is the
first of two to reissue all of Formby's recordings and features 125 songs
recorded between 1926 and 1950 including several previously unissued.
Remastering is by the acclaimed Ted Kendall working from the best
available original 78s.
|
| CURTIS FULLER'S
QUINTET |
Savoy Jazz 17186 |
Blues-ette |
● CD $11.98 |
8 tracks, 47 min, highly recommended Reissue of Savoy
13006 from '59 with 2 bonus alternate takes. This early stereo recording
is a wonderful quintet date from 5/25/59 with Fuller (tb), Golson (ts),
Tommy Flannigan (p), Jimmy Garrison (b) & Al Harewood(d). Originals by
both Golson & Fuller along with a couple covers - I especially like their
version of Charlie Shaver's Undecided. Soon, with the addition of
Art Farmer on trumpet, this turned into the famed Jazztet. Includes
alternates of Five Spot After Dark & the title tune originally
only issued in Japan. (GM)
|
| BENNY GOODMAN |
Proper Intro 2017 |
A Proper Introduction To Benny Goodman &
His Orchestra |
● CD $9.98 |
23 tracks, 78 min, highly recommended BG at his peak,
1934-41, with emphasis on his late-30s glory years with Harry James & Gene
Krupa in the band (note that this is the Orch., so no trio or quartet
sides). The hits are all here - King Porter Stomp/ Stompin' At The
Savoy/ Sing Sing Sing/ Roll 'Em/ Stealin' Apples/ Ridin' High/ Don't Be
That Way - a nice, inexpensive way to get a taste of Benny! With liner
notes & discographical info. (GM)
|
| LIONEL HAMPTON |
Acrobat 4012 |
Jukebox Hits, 1943-1950 |
● CD $12.98 |
20 tracks, 65 min, essential
This survey covers tracks by
the great Hamp orch that landed in the new Black charts - The Harlem Hit
Parade & Hot R&B charts, along with a few that were regional hits.
Starting off with what is often called the 1st Rock'n'Roll record, the '42
Decca version of Flyin' Home with Illinois Jacquet on blazing
tenor, then followed by RCA Bluebird's re-release (& much more sedate) of
the original '40 version with swing vet Jerry Jerome on tenor. After a
one-off of Evil Gal Blues (which introduced Dinah Washington &
Arnett Cobb to the world) done for Keynote during the recording ban, Hamp
was solidly back on Decca with many of his hits being covers of R&B tunes
including Drinking Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee/ Chicken Shack/ The Hucklebuck/
Blow Top Blues & Everybody's Somebody's Fool, with such greats
as Milt Buckner, Al Grey, Gene Morris, even Albert Ammons briefly on
piano, & vocals by Hamp, Betty "Bebop" Carter, Little Jimmy Scott & The
Hamptones. (GM)
|
| ERSKINE HAWKINS |
Acrobat 4011 |
Jukebox Hits, 1940-1950 |
● CD $12.98 |
20 tracks,65 min, recommended
20 tracks recorded for RCA
Victor/Bluebird that made the charts. Though there's a lot from the R&B
chart, more than half the tunes actually had high placing on the Pop
charts! Starting with their signature tune Tuxedo Junction, which
was turned into a massive hit by Glenn Miller using the exact same
arrangement, this includes such greats as Whispering Grass/ Dolemite/
Five O'Clock Whistle/ Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams/ Cherry, along with
a final hit cover of Tennessee Waltz done for Coral. Featuring the
Bascomb brothers, Dud on trumpet & Paul on tenor. (GM)
|
| EDDIE JEFFERSON |
Savoy Jazz 17277 |
Vocal Ease |
● CD $9.98 |
13 tracks, 64 min, highly recommended
You usually think of
vocalese (writing lyrics to great jazz solos & singing them) as having a
hey-day in the 50s & 60s & kinda petering out after that (except of course
for The Manhattan Transfer). Jefferson is considered the Godfather of
Vocalese & this set has him practicing his art into the mid-70s. This
compilation, which originally came out in '99 on the defunct 32 Jazz
label, collects the best of the 3 LPs he made for Muse '74-77. Backed by
such great musicians as Joe Newman, Sam Jones, Richie Cole, Eric Kloss &
Rick Laird Jefferson gives words to such things as Miles Davis'
Bitches' Brew & So What, Eddie Haris' Freedom Jazz Dance,
Cannonball Adderly's Things Are Gonna Get Better, even new words to
Sly's Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin) as a salute to jazz
masters, as well as more traditional fodder - Ornithology/ Night In
Tunisia/ Billie's Bounce. (GM)
|
|
SPIKE
JONES & HIS CITY SLICKERS |
Proper Intro 2047 |
A Proper Introduction To Spike Jones |
● CD $9.98 |
23 tracks, 69 mins, highly recommended
Budget priced
collection of 23 tracks from the immortal master of musical mayhem
recorded between 1945 and 1953 with vocals from the likes of Gene Walla
Bell, The Boys In The Back Room, Sir Frederick Gas, Homer & Jethro,
Doodles Weaver and others. Includes Minka/ Knock Knock (Who's There?)/
Rum Tee Diddle Dee Yump/ Chinese Muletrain/ So' Elp Me/ Tennessee Waltz
(must be heard to be believed)/Dance Of The Hours/ What Is A Disk
Jockey?/ Baby Buggie Boogie/ I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus/ Lula Had A
Baby/ Dragnet/ I'm Getting Sentimental Over You, etc. It also includes
I Went To Your Wedding - an utterly crazed parody of Hank Snow's
song of the same name that I had as a 78 in the early 50s in England -
after not hearing it for more than 40 years it still cracks me up. No
duplication with Proper's previously issued box set of Jones (Proper BOX 5
- "Strictly For Music Lovers" - 4 CDs, 95 tracks - $25.98). Excellent
sound and 8 page booklet with informative notes & discographical
information. (FS)
|
| GENE KRUPA |
Ocium 044 |
Who's Rhythm - All Star Small Group
Recordings |
● CD $14.98 |
18 tracks + multimedia, 73 min, highly recommended
Wonderful collection of small group recordings done for Clef in '53 while
Gene was a member of Norman Granz's Jazz At The Philharmonic (JATP)
troupe. And it is indeed an All Star aggregation - all three sessions
include Teddy Wilson & Charlie Shavers (who wrote a dozen of the tracks).
Also included, in two sextet & one septet sessions, are Lockjaw Davis,
Bill Harris, Ben Webster, Herb Ellis & Ray Brown. Also includes multimedia
- put the disc in your computer to get liner notes, a Krupa discography, a
photo gallery & a history & timeline of jazz drumming! Capitol Idea/
Jungle Drums/ Payin' Them Dues Blues/ Swedish Schnaps, etc. (GM)
|
| THE MILLS BROTHERS |
Fabulous 252 |
London Sessions, 1934-1939 |
● CD $7.98 |
The Mills Brothers had a big following in England and
recorded a number of sessions there. This set features 14 songs recorded
in England between 1934 and 1939. The brothers are in fine form on a
collection of mostly old favorites along with a couple specifically from
the British audience - Lazybones/ Swing Is The Thing/ London Rhythm/
Caravan/ Georgia On My Mind/ Stardusr/ Organ Grinder's Swing, etc.
Sound quality is fine.
|
| CHARLES MINGUS |
Savoy Jazz 17189 |
Jazz Composers Workshop |
● CD $11.98 |
10 tracks, 45 min, essential
Reissue of Savoy 1113 from
'56 - unfortunately this is missing that LPs wonderful cover, but does
include a bonus Body & Soul. This LP was a bit of an anomaly for
Chaz - this is more what was called 3rd Stream music, with a heavy
influence of modern classical music - there may be more Stravinsky in some
tunes here than Duke or Satchmo. There's 2 different sessions here - a
quintet from Halloween '54 with future Miles producer Teo Macero on tenor
& John LaPorta on clarinet, with Mingus originals & Tea For Two,
and a 1/30/55 quartet with Macero as well as pianist Wally Cirullo who
wrote all 4 pieces here. Includes Smog LA/ Rose Geranium, etc. (GM)
|
| THELONIOUS MONK |
Proper Intro 2027 |
A Proper Introduction To Thelonious Monk-Trinkle
Tinkle |
● CD $9.98 |
15 tracks, 56 min, excellent
Not an "introduction", but a
continuation of Monk tunes that have gone into public domain in the UK
since Proper's Monk 2-fer from 2002, ("Criss Cross" - Proper Pairs 114 -
$12.98). This starts off with 4 tracks from his final Blue Note session
from 5/52, a great sextet session with Kenny Dorham, Lou Donaldson & Lucky
Thompson in the front line (Skippy/ Caroina Moon), then the final
two '52 sessions which were his first with Prestige, trio sessions include
such classics as Bemsha Swing/ Little Rootie Tootie/ Monk's Dream &
the title track. Finally there's the infamous Friday The 13th
session from '53, also from Prestige, that had Sonny Rollins &, as a last
minute addition, Julius Watkins on French horn, & include the track
Friday The 13th. (GM)
|
| RED NICHOLS |
Classics 1332 |
1929 |
● CD $14.98 |
Includes sides with Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and Gene
Krupa.
|
| CHARLIE PARKER |
Savoy Jazz 17188 |
Newly Discovered Sides By The Immortal
Charlie Parker |
● CD $11.98 |
10 tracks, 46 min, excellent
Reissue of Savoy 12186,
another early 12". These WERE newly discovered when this 1st came out
(early 60s?), but have since been reissued many times. These are wonderful
tracks from the Royal Roost broadcasts of '48,& '49, with a core group of
Al Haig(p), Tommy Potter (b) & Max Roach (d). Miles Davis is on trumpet on
the '48 sides, including Groovin' High & Hot House, & Kenny
Dorham is on trumpet, along with Milt Jackson (vbs) & Lucky Thompson (ts)
on the '49 sides including Slow Boat To China & A Night In
Tunisia. As these are broadcasts, the combo gets to stretch out longer
than on the 3 minute restraint of the 78. There's even 4 bonus tracks from
these broadcasts including East Of The Sun/ Out Of Nowhere &
Be-Bop. (GM)
|
| CHARLIE PARKER |
Savoy Jazz 17190 |
The Immortal Charlie Parker |
● CD $11.98 |
16 tracks, 56 min, excellent CD issue of Savoy 12001, one
of the first Bird 12"ers & the 1st Charlie Parker LP I ever bought/heard.
Starting with Charlie's earliest for Savoy, as sideman for guitarist Tiny
Grimes from Sept '44, this goes on to the wonderful Now's The Time
with Miles Davis on trumpet & Dizzy Gillespie on piano! From there is 3
New York sessions from May & Aug '47 & Sept '48, all with Miles, along
with Max Roach on drums & either Bud Powell or John Lewis on piano as they
work through such classics as Donna Lee/ Little Willie Leaps/ Chasin'
The Bird/ Cheryl & more, many heard with incomplete & alternate takes.
(GM)
|
| BEN POLLACK |
Jazz Oracle 8042 |
Volume 6: The Whoopee Makers |
● CD $15.98 |
Sixth of seven volumes devoted to the complete recordings
of Ben Pollack's Orchestra between 1926 and 1933 (excluding the Hotsy
Totsy Gang sessions). This is basically the Ben Pollack band without
Pollack featuring Jack Teagarden, Jimmy Dorsey, Irving Mills, Jimmy
McOartland, Benny Goodman and others.
|
| THE RED HEADS |
Jazz Oracle 8043 |
REcorded In New York, 1925-1927 |
● CD $44.98 |
Three CD set with 74 tracks featuring groups with the
pairing of Red Nichols on trumpet and Miff Mole on trombone with various
other musicians and issued under various names. It also features
accompaniments to vocalist and ukuulele player Cliff Edwards where they
were part of His Hot Combination and vocalist Jay C. Flippen where they
were members of His Gang. Includes all known alternate takes. Includes 32
page illustrated booklet with extensive notes by Reide Kaiser and full
dicographical info.
|
| DJANGO REINHARDT |
JSP JSPCD 919 |
Django In Rome, 1949/50 |
● CD $28.98 |
Four CD set with 90 tracks newly remastered by Ted
Kendall.
|
| THE SIX BROWN BROTHERS |
Archeophone 6002 |
Those Moaning Saxophones |
● CD $14.98 |
26 tracks, 78 min, highly recommended In the 19-teens a
saxophone craze hit the US - Tom Brown was one of the 1st to turn it to
popular music. With his brothers (yes, there were 6 Brown Brothers!) Tom
hit on the idea of a sax sextet (initially quintet) led by Tom & brother
Fred on alsos. The group was active throughout the teens & recorded for
both Columbia & Victor - this set covers 1911-27, with many early versions
of rags, traditional tunes & hits of the day, many in medley form (anyone
who's ever seen a cartoon will recognize The Chicken Reel, heard
here in medleys The Chicken & The Coon, & The Chicken Reel
Comedy Medley. Also includes For Me & My Gal/ Darktown Strutters
Ball/ I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles, & a fascinating 9+ min soundtrack
to a Vitophone short that includes everything from A Little Spanish
Town to How Dry I Am, & even some original tunres like That
Moaning Saxophone Rag. 22 page booklet with exhaustive history, rare
photos (LOVE the clown suits!) & full discographical info. (GM)
|
| FRANKIE TRUMBAUER |
Classics 1331 |
1936-1946 |
● CD $14.98 |
This CD opens with the second half of a session from April
1936. Ain't Misbehavin' features the leader at length on C-melody
sax, followed by Jack Teagarden as vocalist. The disc ends with three rare
tracks from 1946 - the final recordings Trumbauer made under his own name.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Acrobat 9000 |
1953 British Hit Parade |
● CD $18.98 |
A real treat for British nostalgia fans or fans of British
nostalgia. A three CD set with 75 tracks featuring every record that
entered the British charts, as published in the New Musical Express, from
January 3, 1953 to December 19th, 1953. The songs are featured in
chronological order of first entry with the exception of multiple versions
of the same of the same song where the titles are separated to make for
better listening. Includes British and American pop artists including Nat
"King" Cole, The Mills Brothers, Ted Heath, Guy Mitchell, Joni james,
Frankie Laine, Patti Page, Johnnie Ray, Kay Starr, Eddie Fisher, Muriel
Smith, Winifred Atwell, Frank Chacksfield, Vera Lynn, Al Martino, Doris
Day & Johnnie Day, Jimmy Young, Dean Martin, David Whitfield, Les Paul &
Mary Ford, Ray Anthony, Ray Martin & His Orchestra, Eddie Calvert and many
more. Includes 40 page illustrated booklet with notes on each track.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Archeophone 9009 |
The Phonographic Yearbook - 1908 |
● CD $14.98 |
26 of the most popular songs and tunes of 1908 including
tracks by Alan Turner, Collins & Harland, The Haydn Quartet, Ada Jones &
Billy Murray, The Peerless Quartet, Billy Murray, Eddie Morton, Henry
Burr, Arthur Collins, The Victor Orchestra, Collins & Harlan and others.
Lovingly remastered it includes 24 page illustrated booklet with extensive
notes.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Fremeaux FA 5092 |
Swing Manouche 1933-2003 |
● CD $25.98 |
2 CDS, 36 tracks, highly recommended 2 CD sampler of
Manouche (Gypsy) swing jazz issued to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary
of Django Reinhardt's passing. Disk 1 is drawn from recordings reissued by
the Fremeaux label spanning the career of Django and his contemporaries
(1933-1947). Disc 2 samples the catalog of La Lichere, which features
recordings by artists working in the Manouche tradition (1989-2003). Disc
1 is a well-chosen precis of seminal recordings, on the guitar side
(Django, Oscar Aleman) and contemporaneous accordion jazz/musette swing
(Gus Viseur, Tony Murena). Disc 2 has music that brings in some
intriguing, wide-ranging gypsy influences, like Turkish percussionist Okay
Temiz's Fis Fis Tsiganes (percussion, violin, clarinet, and kanun); cool
addition of cello (artist Jean-Charles Capon) to Gypsy guitar (Esconde/Capon/Boussaguet
Acousic Trio) and accordion (Galliano/Capon); and a couple of tracks by
Les Primitifs du Futur, the group that includes expatriate arbiter of cool
Robert Crumb. Evocative stuff -- so much so that I can't recommend this to
anyone who's trying to quit smoking, but for the rest of us, this can be a
great introduction to Gypsy jazz or a nice listenable slice of music for
Djangophiles. Detailed notes in booklet, in French with an abridged
English translation. (NSN)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
IAJRC 1017 |
Guitar Rarities, Volume 1 |
● CD $16.98 |
A 23 track collection devoted to jazz guitar featuring
some of the fine but lesser known performers - both British & American.
Recordings range from 1934 to 1946 and includes Albert Harris (in duets
with Bert Thomas and Ivor Mairants), Harry Bluestone & Bobby Sherwood
(violin & guitar duets), Ivor Mairants (on electric guitar with Geraldo &
His Swing Orchestra), George M. Smith (with small group) and Frank Victor
& Harry Volpe (guitar duets). Excellent sound and set comes with 16 page
illustarted booklet with extensive notes by guitarist Marty Grosz and full
discographical info.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ocium 045 |
Jam Session Two - Let's Split |
● CD $14.98 |
4 tracks + multimedia, 72 min, highly recommended Reissue
of two very rare jam session LPs, originally released in '53. The 1st 2
tracks came out as Jam Session #5 -Clef 2405. This all-star octet, based
on the JATP stars - Roy Eldridge, Johnny Hodges, Illinois Jacquet, Flip
Phillips, Lionel Hampton, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown & Buddy Rich, romp
though a fast paced 13 minute Jamming For Cleff & a loping 22
minute Rose Room. A totally different octet, based on the Basie
band - Joe Newman, Bennie Green, Paul Quinichette, Frank Foster, Johnny
Smith, Eddie Jones & Kenny Clerked a 22 minute Tenderly & the 14
minute title tune, originally issued as Jazz Studio #1-Decca 8058. (GM)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Savoy Jazz 17184 |
All That Jive |
● CD $12.98 |
18 tracks, 50 min, recommended Jive & vocalese from the
Savoy vaults 1945-53, all with new 24 bit remastering. The Jive comes from
such greats as Billy Eckstine (Oop-Bop-Sh'bam), Slim Gaillard & His
ORch (Flat Foot Floogie), Joe Carroll with Dizzy Gillespie (Oo-Shoo-Be-Doo-Bee)
& Babs Gonzalez(Get Out That Bed). Vocalese from the great Eddie
Jefferson (The Birdland Story), Jackie Paris ('Round Midnight)
& Annie Ross, later of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross(The Devil & The Deep
Blue Sea). And Emitt Slay's Korean war era Trio Male Call has
to be heard to be believed! (GM)
|
| FESS WILLIAMS |
Jazz Oracle 8041 |
Recorded In New York And Chicago, 1926-30 |
● CD $28.98 |
2 discs,50 tracks, highly recommended My fave jazz label
pulls off another winnner! Playing clarinet in the exaggerated "gas-pipe"
style that owes as much to Klezmer & novelty as real jazz, this set
concentrates on the previously un-collected Victor recordings, done as by
Fess William's Royal Flush Orch, with every known take including over a
dozen from test pressings, as well as a few takes from Brunswick &
Vocalion, including Heebie Jeebies from '26 that came out as by Bud
Jackson's Swanee Serenaders, as well as a coupling for Vocalion as Fess
Williams & His Joy Boys. Includes such jazz & vaudeville tunes as Here
'Tis/ Snag Nasty/ Gamblers Blues (a spoken version of St. James'
Infirmary)/ Musical Camp Meeting/ Sweet Savanah Sue, etc. The
usual meticulous Oracle booklet with complete history, liner notes, rare
pictures, pics of the record labels,even a brief history of the gas-pipe
style & of course, excellent sound courtesy of John RT Davies. (GM)
|
| FRANK WINEGAR |
Jazz Oracle 8040 |
Edison Hot Dance Obscurities Vol. 1 |
● CD $16.98 |
19 tracks, 69 min, recommended Some real obscurities as we
hear from 2 Edison Bands, fronted by banjoist Frank Winegar & trumpeter BA
Rolfe. Of the 13 tracks by Winegar's Penn Boys (1927-28) four are test
pressings & three are alternate takes, featuring tenor saxist Larry Hart.
Includes rejected & issued versions of their first coupling, Shaking
The Blues Away/ Ooh! Maybe It's You, both written by Irving Berlin.
Rolfe, who was named by Louis Armstrong as inspiring him to play high
notes, was very prolific, but little was jazz or hot. The 6 sides here,
also from ''27-28, were released as by BA Rolfe (Trumpet Virtuoso)
& His Palais D'Or Orch - Rolfe was very prolific & the highest paid Edison
artist, but these are the only sides that qualify as "hot", including
Louisiana Bo Bo, Al Jolson's Why Can't You & Fletcher
Henderson's Rocky Mountain Blues. As usual for Jazz Oracle, there's
incredible sound courtesy of John RT Davies, thorough liner notes & rare
pictures. (GM)
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| LESTER YOUNG |
Savoy Jazz 17187 |
The Masters Touch |
● CD $11.98 |
18 tracks, 64 min, recommended Reissue of Savoy 10271 from
'56 with bonus tracks. This is a fine cross-section of Prez's 40s Savoy
sides taken from 4 sessions. There's 2 big band sessions from the same
date & studio but different personnel. The Earl Warren Orch sides are
basically the Count Basie Orch with Billy Hart on piano, but the Johnny
Guarnieri All-Star Orch has the leader on piano, Billy Butterfield (t) &
Hank D'Amico(cl), both session from 4/18/44. A couple weeks later, 5/1/44,
found Prez leading Basie's All American Rhythm Section (Basie(p), Freddie
Green (g), Rodney Richardson(b) & Shadow WIlson (d) in a swinging quintet.
The final session is from 5 years later with Prez leading a more modern
sextet that included Junior Mance(p) & Roy Haynes (d) from 6/28/49. The CD
starts with the master takes of all 10 number here (Ghost Of A Chance/
Basie English/ Blues 'n Bell's, etc) then follows with alternate
takes. (GM)
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