JIMMIE LUNCEFORD'S ORCHESTRA – 1948-1949 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1151 (2000) FLAC (tracks), lossless

After Jimmie Lunceford's death on July 12, 1947 (reportedly of poisoning by a disgruntled racist owner of a restaurant who was mad at being forced to feed Lunceford and his musicians), his orchestra struggled on under the leadership of pianist Ed Wilcox and tenor saxophonist Joe Thomas. The band's final 18 recordings (very rare numbers cut for the Manor, Dot, and Perception labels) are on this CD. The orchestra was still potentially strong, featuring fine high-note trumpet work from Paul Webster, clarinetist Omer Simeon, and Thomas on tenor and vocals. But without their leader, it was a losing battle for the ghost orchestra. To the credit of Wilcox and Thomas, the band's last recordings do not feature recreations of past glories but instead look ahead to the potential future, with some R&B-ish jams and jivey vocal numbers; unfortunately there would be no further hits. This intriguing CD concludes with a two-part version of "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano" from 1942 by a completely unidentified orchestra, under the title of "A Tribute to Jimmie Lunceford." Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1    Scratch My Back 2:53
Vocals – Joe Thomas
2    Saxology    2:31
3    What 'Cha Gonna Do? 3:01
Vocals – Joe Thomas
4    One For The Book    2:35
5    Sneaky Pete 3:19
Vocals – Joe Thomas
6    Moonbeams    2:46
7    Ooh, That's What I Like 2:37
Vocals – Freddy Bryant
8    Fatigue    2:57
9    Midriff    2:37
10    At Sundown    4:15
11    A Study In Blue 2:55
Vocals – Savannah Churchill
12    Jackie 2:55
Vocals – Joe Thomas
13    Arleen    3:10
14    Gug Mug (Grazing)    2:39
15    The Worm    2:35
16    My Baby And Me 2:37
Vocals – Joe Thomas
17    That's The Way You Fall In Love 2:57
Vocals – Freddy Bryant
18    Magic Of You    2:35
19    When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano, Part 1    2:44
20    When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano, Part 2    1:59
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Curby Alexander (tracks: 12 to 18), Otis "Hashim" Hicks (tracks: 1 to 11)
Baritone Saxophone – Earl Carruthers (tracks: 1 to 18)
Bass – Ed Sneed (tracks: 1 to 18)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Omer Simeon (tracks: 1 to 18)
Drums – Danny Farrar (tracks: 12 to 18), Joe Marshall (tracks: 1 to 11)
Guitar – Al Norris (tracks: 1 to 18)
Piano, Directed By – Edwin Wilcox (tracks: 1 to 18)
Tenor Saxophone – Lee Howard (tracks: 1 to 11)
Tenor Saxophone [poss.] – Slim Henderson (tracks: 12 to 18), Todd Rhodes (tracks: 12 to 18)
Tenor Saxophone, Directed By – Joe Thomas (3) (tracks: 1 to 18)
Trombone – Al Cobbs (tracks: 1 to 11), Arnett Sparrow (tracks: 12 to 18), Elmer Crumbley (tracks: 1 to 18), Russell Bowles (tracks: 1 to 18)
Trumpet – Bob Mitchell (tracks: 1 to 18), Paul Webster (tracks: 1 to 18), Rostelle Reese (tracks: 12 to 18), Tommy Simms (tracks: 12 to 18), Willie Cook (tracks: 1 to 11)