LOUIS JORDAN AND HIS TYMPANY FIVE – 1943-1945 | The Chronogical Classics – 866 (1996) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Although Louis Jordan's greatest hits are continually reissued, this Classics CD (the fourth in the series) gives listeners an opportunity to hear many of his lesser-known recordings, quite a few of which sound as if they could have been hits too. Jordan, a fine R&Bish altoist who was an underrated singer and a brilliant comedic talent who knew a good line when he heard one (there are many memorable ones throughout this program), is heard in peak form. The 23 performances are Decca sides (including five not originally released), some V-Discs and the privately recorded "Louis' Oldsmbile Song." Bing Crosby sings duets with Jordan on "My Baby Said Yes" and "Your Socks Don't Match," there are two major hits ("G.I. Jive" and "Caldonia") and among the sidemen are the fine trumpeter Eddie Roane, the forgotten but talented pianist Tommy Thomas, trumpeter Idrees Sulieman (on the January 19, 1945 session) and (for the final two songs) pianist Wild Bill Davis. Other highlights include "You Can't Get That No More," "I Like 'Em Fat like That," "Deacon Jones" and "They Raided the House." Highly recommended. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist + Credits :

JOE BUSHKIN – 1940-1946 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1434 (2007) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Joe Bushkin (1916-2004) was a fine swing pianist who operated in a groove similar to that of Teddy Wilson, Jess Stacy or Joe Sullivan. He worked with Bunny Berigan, Billie Holiday, Artie Shaw and Eddie Condon, then with Tommy Dorsey and young Frank Sinatra until 1942 whereupon he transferred most of his energies to the war effort by blowing trumpet in the United States Army Air Corps Band until 1946. Bushkin's postwar career would involve him briefly with Benny Goodman's band, in an excursion to Brazil with tenor saxophonist Bud Freeman and subsequently in New York's theater and nightclub scene. In 2007, the Classics Chronological Series took on the Joe Bushkin discography, beginning with his first solo Commodore session of May 17, 1940 (tracks one through five); lining up master takes from three subsequent Commodore dates and rounding off the album with four solid Savoy sides cut in Los Angeles at some undetermined point during the year 1946. Some of these recordings are uncommon and have been sought after for years by jazz lovers. Bushkin's harmonic sensibilities make his "Serenade in Thirds" the most attractive of the 1940 solos. An inspired threesome, Joe Bushkin's Blue Boys waxed five titles on March 28, 1941. "Morgan's Blues" spotlights string bassist Al Morgan and trumpeter Hot Lips Page is featured on the other four tunes. On May 23, 1944 Joe Bushkin waxed another five sides for Commodore, this time with bassist Sid Weiss and drummer Cozy Cole. The following day Bushkin, Weiss and drummer Specs Powell backed trumpeter Ernie Thomas Figueroa, trombonist Bill Harris and 18-year-old tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims; what a thrill to hear a teenage Zoot riding the swift and straightforward changes of "Pickin' at the Pic." The Savoy session of 1946 (tracks twenty through twenty-three) resulted in four choice cuts, rendered pleasantly cool by the lightly amplified guitar of Barney Kessel with subtle support from bassist Harry Babasin. Bushkin's technique at this point brings to mind the dexterity of Nat King Cole, a master pianist who would soon all but abandon the instrument in order to focus his energies on singing pop tunes for mass consumption. The next leg of Joe Bushkin's career would find him recording for V-Disc, MGM, Atlantic, Columbia and Capitol. Hearing this artist's recordings laid out neatly session by session is a wonderful treat for which many listeners are and will continue to be grateful. arwulf arwulf
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CAB CALLOWAY AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1932 | The Classics Chronological Series – 537 (1990) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The third of 12 Cab Calloway CDs put out by Classics (which on a whole reissues the master takes of all of the popular singer's recordings from 1930-42) covers a busy six-month period. His big band (which tended to be greatly overshadowed) was actually quite excellent with good soloists in trumpeter Lammar Wright, clarinetist Eddie Barefield, Walter Thomas on tenor and pianist Bennie Payne, but of course Calloway was the main star. Highlights of this very enjoyable set include "Old Yazoo," "Reefer Man," "Old Man of the Mountain," "You Gotta Ho-De-Ho," "I've Got the World on a String," the bizarre "Dixie Doorway," "Beale Street Mama" and "The Man from Harlem." Many of the titles on this rewarding release had never been reissued before, making the Classics series a collection worth picking up in a hurry before they disappear. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     How Come You Do Me Like You Do? 2:52
Gene Austin / Roy Bergere
2     Old Yazoo 2:57
Fats Waller
3     Angeline 2:49
D. Browne / Fats Waller
4     I'm Now Prepared to Tell the World It's You 2:51
Andy Razaf / Fats Waller
5     Swanee Lullaby 2:38
Ted Koehler / Morris White
6     Reefer Man 2:56
Andy Razaf / J. Russel Robinson    
7     Old Man of the Mountain 2:51
William J. Hill / Victor Young
8     You Gotta Ho-De-Ho (To Get Along With Me) 3:07
D. Browne / John Robinson
9     Strange as It Seems 3:16
Andy Razaf / Fats Waller
10     This Time, It's Love 2:27
Edgar Hayes / Ted Koehler
11     Git Along 2:40
Lovie Austin
12     Hot Toddy 2:37
Benny Carter
13     I've Got the World on a String 3:08
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
14     Harlem Holiday 2:48
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
15     Dixie Doorway 2:58
Mitchell Parish / Frank Perkins
16     Wah-Dee-Dah 3:00
Irving Mills / John Robinson / Ned Washington
17     Sweet Rhythm 2:49
Sidney Bechet / Leroy Maxey
18     Beale Street Mama 3:06
J. Russel Robinson / John Robinson / Roy Turk
19     That's What I Hate About Love 3:10
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
20     The Man from Harlem 3:04
Will Hudson
21     I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues 3:12
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
22     My Sunday Gal 2:55
Duke Ellington / Mitchell Parish / Frank Perkins
23     Eadie Was a Lady 2:49
Nacio Herb Brown / Buddy DeSylva / Richard A. Whiting
24     Gotta Go Places and Do Things 2:42
Jeanne Burns