BUD FREEMAN – 1928-1938 | The Classics Chronological Series – 781 (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Bud Freeman was virtually the only key tenor saxophonist of the 1928-35 period who did not sound heavily influenced by Coleman Hawkins. Freeman, whose style fell between Dixieland and swing and who has long had a distinctive sound, is heard on this Classics CD at the head of several classic groups. There are two titles from 1928 with an octet also including obscure trumpeter Johnny Mendel, pianist Dave North, drummer Gene Krupa and (on "Can't Help Lovin' That Man") singer Red McKenzie. While those performances have early examples of Freeman's style, the tenor's sound was very much formed by the time of the 1935 sextet date with the brilliant trumpeter Bunny Berigan; Bud and Bunny made for an exciting team. The bulk of this CD features Freeman in prime form jamming in a trio with pianist Jess Stacy and drummer George Wettling; these versions of "You Took Advantage of Me," "I Got Rhythm," "Keep Smiling at Trouble" and "My Honey's Loving Arms" are definitely classics. Also on this CD are five numbers on which Freeman leads an all-star octet also including cornetist Bobby Hackett, clarinetist Pee Wee Russell, Stacy and Eddie Condon. Although this music has been reissued in many different settings through the years, it is certainly essential (in one form or another) to all historical jazz collections. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1    Bud Freeman And His Orchestra–    Craze-O-Logy 2:55
Written-By – Freeman
2    Bud Freeman And His Orchestra–    Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man 3:20
Vocals – Red McKenzie
Written-By – Kern
3    Bud Freeman And His Windy City Five–    What Is There To Say? 3:27
Written-By – Harburg, Duke
4    Bud Freeman And His Windy City Five–    The Buzzard 3:07
Written-By – Freeman
5    Bud Freeman And His Windy City Five–    Tillie's Downtown Now 3:18
Written-By – Freeman
6    Bud Freeman And His Windy City Five–    Keep Smilin' At Trouble 3:09
Written-By – Jolson, De Sylva
7    Bud Freeman Trio–    You Took Advantage Of Me 2:50
Written-By – Rogers-Hart
8    Bud Freeman Trio–    Three's No Crowd 1:55
Written-By – Freeman, Wettling, Stacy
9    Bud Freeman Trio–    I Got Rhythm 2:48
Written-By – Gershwin
10    Bud Freeman Trio–    Keep Smilin' At Trouble 2:49
Written-By – Jolson, De Sylva, Gensler
11    Bud Freeman Trio–    At Sundown 2:55
Written-By – Donaldson
12    Bud Freeman Trio–    My Honey's Lovin' Arms 2:59
Written-By – Ruby, Meyer
13    Bud Freeman Trio–    I Don't Believe It 2:57
Written-By – Freeman
14    Bud Freeman And His Gang–    Tappin' The Commodore Till 2:45
Written-By – The Bunch
15    Bud Freeman And His Gang–    Memories Of You 3:13
Written-By – Razaf, Blake
16    Bud Freeman And His Gang–    "Life" Spears A Jitterbug 2:50
Written-By – King, Gabler
17    Bud Freeman And His Gang–    What's The Use? 3:16
Written-By – Newman, Jones
18    Bud Freeman Trio–    Three Little Words 2:56
Written-By – Kalmar, Ruby
19    Bud Freeman Trio–    Swingin' Without Mezz 3:07
Written-By – Anderson, Gabler
20    Bud Freeman Trio–    The Blue Room 3:02
Written-By – Rodgers-Hart
21    Bud Freeman Trio–    Exactly Like You 2:44
Written-By – McHugh-Fields
22    Minerva Pious And Bud Freeman–    Private Jives 5:05
Written-By – De Vries
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Dave Matthews (tracks: 14 to 17)
Banjo – Norman Foster (tracks: 1, 2)
Bass [String Bass] – Artie Shapiro (tracks: 14 to 17), Grachan Moncur (tracks: 3 to 6), John Mueller* (tracks: 1, 2)
Clarinet – Bud Freeman (tracks: 4, 5), Bud Jacobson (tracks: 1, 2), Pee Wee Russell (tracks: 14 to 17)
Cornet – Bobby Hackett (tracks: 14 to 17)
Drums – Cozy Cole (tracks: 3 to 6), Dave Tough (tracks: 14, 15), Gene Krupa (tracks: 1, 2), George Wettling (tracks: 7 to 13, 18 to 21), Marty Marsala (tracks: 16, 17)
Guitar – Eddie Condon (tracks: 3 to 6, 14 to 17)
Piano – Claude Thornhill (tracks: 3 to 6), Dave North (tracks: 1, 2), Jess Stacy (tracks: 7 to 13, 14 to 21)
Speech – Bud Freeman (tracks: 22), Minerva Pious (tracks: 22)
Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman (tracks: 1 to 21)
Trombone – Floyd O'Brien (tracks: 1, 2)
Trumpet – Bunny Berigan (tracks: 3 to 6), Johnny Mendel (tracks: 1, 2)
Trumpet, Piano – Joe Bushkin (tracks: 22)