Mostrando postagens com marcador Arthur Briggs. Mostrar todas as postagens
Mostrando postagens com marcador Arthur Briggs. Mostrar todas as postagens

27.9.23

DJANGO REINHARDT – 1935 | The Classics Chronological Series – 727 (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Gathered here are many of the first sides cut by the Quintette du Hot Club de France. Better known maybe as Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli's band, this very original Parisian combo took the energy of early jazz classics sides by Armstrong, Beiderbecke, et al., and infused it with elements from the French chanson tradition and Reinhardt's own gypsy heritage. Beyond their unique guitar and violin repartee, though, Reinhardt and Grappelli could match -- and even surpass -- the improvised swing forged by their stateside contemporaries, a feat rarely achieved in the early days of European jazz. With the quality of these maiden QHCF sides, then, the pickings are plentiful. Alongside other finely remastered collections on JSP and Affinity, this and many other Classics volumes in the label's strict chronological series will probably be best appreciated by completists rather than survey-seeking newcomers. That said, the 22 tracks here contain some top performances, including such QHCF standouts as "You and the Night and the Music," "Ultrafox," and "Avalon." Also to be found are a some innocuous vocals by Jerry Mengo, a few cuts manned by New Orleans native and multi-instrumentalist Frank "Big Boy" Goudie, and plenty of Reinhardt and Grappelli's incredible playing. A nice addition to an already healthy catalog. Stephen Cook       Tracklist :

4.6.23

FREDDY JOHNSON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1933-1939 | The Classics Chronological Series – 829 (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Freddy Johnson was a talented swing-oriented pianist who spent the 1930s playing in Europe. This Classics CD contains all five of his sessions, a song ("Wo Ist Der Mann?") on which his band accompanies Marlene Dietrich, plus a date with trumpeter Louis Bacon's septet. In addition to Johnson's many piano solos, the top players are trumpeter Arthur Briggs, Frank "Big Boy" Goudie on tenor, trombonist Herb Flemming, tenorman Alix Combelle, and Bacon. Four songs recorded in 1934 with a Dutch band have delightful vocals from the completely obscure Rosie Poindexter. This CD is a must for collectors of small-group swing. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

12.4.23

WILLIE LEWIS AND HIS ENTERTAINERS – 1932-1936 (1995) The Classics Chronological Series – 822 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Willie Lewis invaded Europe in 1925 as a member of Sam Wooding's explosive jazz orchestra, making hot records and stunning audiences throughout Berlin, Barcelona, and Paris. When Wooding's organization disintegrated, Lewis returned to New York in 1931 and assembled a group of musicians for the purpose of a brief European tour the following year. Willie Lewis & His Entertainers played the Merry Grill in Brussels, and made one wild phonograph recording. A 13-piece orchestra composed almost entirely of European musicians and augmented with a vaudevillian vocal quartet (including Lewis himself) presents "Who Taught You That?" This is funny stuff, something like the frantic singing heard on certain records by Sam Wooding, Fats Waller & His Buddies, or Bix Beiderbecke with Paul Whiteman. The rest of the material on this disc was recorded in Paris following Lewis' return to Europe in 1934, and constitutes a grab bag of Afro-American musical styles blended with popular music of the day. "Nagasaki" features another version of Lewis' vocal quartet and a hot solo by clarinetist Jerry Blake. Joe Hayman leads the band in singing "I Can't Dance (I Got Ants In My Pants)," his high voice anticipating the style of Louis Jordan. As if to purposefully present a wide range of Afro-American culture, two spirituals are sung a cappella. "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel" is particularly satisfying. Six records cut in January of 1936 find Lewis leading a smooth dance band very much in the manner of Jimmie Lunceford. With arrangements and trumpet/saxophone work by Benny Carter, a smooth vocal by bassist June Cole on "Stay Out of Love," and tasteful embellishments by Herman Chittison on piano and celeste, this is mid-'30s big band dance music at its finest. Four selections feature vocalist and professional stripper Joan Warner singing bouncy French pop melodies. At the heart of this CD lie two magnificent recordings waxed on April 28, 1936: Herman Chittison's arrangement of "Stompin' at the Savoy" with fine trumpeting from Bill Coleman, and Fletcher Henderson's arrangement of "Christopher Columbus" -- a masterpiece of swing. Next come two romantic numbers with pokey vocals by Willie Lewis and Alice Mann, and a pair of theatrically charged presentations by Adelaide Hall, a lovely woman who had made great records with Duke Ellington and Art Tatum, would soon record with Fats Waller in London, and was eventually to settle for the rest of her life in Scandinavia. For those who crave sophisticated sounds while practicing calisthenics, this remarkably varied disc ends with a two-part exercise record narrated in French, with musical accompaniment by the very classy Willie Lewis & His Entertainers. arwulf arwulf   

Tracklist :
 1 Who Taught You That? 2:48
Willie Lewis
2 Nagasaki 2:41
Mort Dixon / Harry Warren
3 I Can't Dance (I Got Ants in My Pants) 2:44
Charlie Gaines / Clarence Williams
4 Who'll Be a Witness 2:06
Traditional
5 Ezekiel 2:34
Traditional
6 I've Got a Feeling You're Fooling 3:20
Andy Razaf / Fats Waller
7 Stay Out of Love 3:17
Brent Gerlach
8 Rhythm Is Our Business 2:43
Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin / Jimmie Lunceford
9 Just a Mood 3:29
Benny Carter / Clarence Williams
10 All of Me 3:18
Gerald Marks / Seymour Simons
11 Stardust 3:14
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish
12 Etre Parisienne 3:15
Marc Cab / Henri Varna
Willie Lewis feat: Joan Warner
13 Le Coo-Coo-Coo 2:32
Marc Cab / Henri Varna
Willie Lewis feat: Joan Warner
14 Magie de la Danse 3:19
Marc Cab / Henri Varna
Willie Lewis feat: Joan Warner
15 Mon Proces 3:31
Marc Cab / Henri Varna
Willie Lewis feat: Joan Warner
16 Stompin' at the Savoy 3:17
Benny Goodman / Andy Razaf / Edgar Sampson / Chick Webb
 17 Christopher Columbus 3:22
Chu Berry / Andy Razaf
 18 I'm Shooting High 3:13
Ted Koehler / Jimmy McHugh
 19 Lost 2:58
Johnny Mercer / Phil Ohman
 20 Alone 3:11
Nacio Herb Brown / Arthur Freed
 21 Say You're Mine 2:43
Willie Lewis
22 Au Rythme du Jazz: Culture Physique 1ere Partie  2:46
Irving Berlin
 23 Au Rythme du Jazz: Culture Physique 2eme Partie
Irving Berlin

WILLIE LEWIS AND HIS ENTERTAINERS – 1936-1938 (1995) The Classics Chronological Series – 847 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1 Sing, Sing, Sing 2:38
Louis Prima
2 Knock, Knock, Who's There? 3:00
Bill Davies / Vincent Lopez / Johnny Morris / Bill Tyson
3 Sweet Sue 2:55
Victor Young
4 Organ Grinder's Swing 3:23
Will Hudson
5 On Your Toes 2:55
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
Willie Lewis feat: Jean Tranchant
6 There's a Small Hotel 3:13
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
Willie Lewis feat: Jean Tranchant
7 Le Soleil S' en Fout 2:35
Jean Tranchant
Willie Lewis feat: Jean Tranchant
8 Love 3:09
Jean Tranchant
Willie Lewis feat: Jean Tranchant
9 Ol' Man River 2:57
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
10 Swing, Brother, Swing 2:44
Lewis Raymond / Walter Bishop, Sr. / Clarence Williams
11 Swing Time 2:19
Willie Lewis
12 Doin' the New Low Down 2:32
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
13 Swinging for a Swiss Miss 3:10
Willie Lewis
14 Basin Street Blues 3:14
Spencer Williams
15 The Maid's Night Off 3:04
Will Hudson
16 Who's Sorry Now? 2:55
Bert Kalmar / Harry Ruby / Ted Snyder
17 Swinging at the Chez Florence 2:32
Willie Lewis
18 Coquette 3:03
Johnny Green / Gus Kahn / Carmen Lombardo
19 Memphis Blues 2:40
W.C. Handy / George Norton
20 In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town 2:57
Little Jack Little / John Siras / Joe Young
21 Goodbye to Summer 3:33
Harry Phillips
Willie Lewis feat: Greta Keller
22 I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (And Throw Away the Key) 3:03
Jim Eaton / Terry Shand
Willie Lewis feat: Greta Keller
23 Poor Little Angeline 2:58
Jimmy Kennedy Willie Lewis feat: Karla
24 Lambeth Walk 3:00
Douglas Furber / Noel Gay
Willie Lewis feat: Karla

10.9.22

COLEMAN HAWKINS | BENNY CARTER – Coleman Hawkins & Benny Carter (1985) APE (image+.cue), lossless

This attractive LP (which contains quite a few photos in its gateway liners) is drawn from four separate recording sessions. Hawkins is heard as the main soloist with Michel Warlop's orchestra in 1935, and he teams up with Benny Carter, two of Europe's best saxophonists (Alix Combelle on tenor and altoist Andre Ekyan), and Django Reinhardt for the famous "Crazy Rhythm" all-star session of 1937. In addition, Benny Carter is heard in Europe in 1938 and with his Chocolate Dandies (featuring trumpeter Buck Clayton and Ben Webster on tenor) in 1946. Superb music, all of which has since been reissued. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Coleman Hawkins–    Blue Moon    3:12
2    Coleman Hawkins–    Avalon    3:02
3    Coleman Hawkins–    What A Difference A Day Made    3:15
4    Coleman Hawkins–    Stardust    3:11
5    Coleman Hawkins–    Honeysuckle Rose    2:42
6    Coleman Hawkins–    Crazy Rhythm    2:58
7    Coleman Hawkins–    Out Of Nowhere    3:14
8    Coleman Hawkins–    Sweet Georgia Brown    2:56
9    Benny Carter–    I'm Coming, Virginia    3:00
10    Benny Carter–    Farewell Blues    3:12
11    Benny Carter–    Blue Light Blues    3:03
12    Benny Carter–    Sweet Georgia Brown    2:35
13    Benny Carter–    Out Of My Way    3:00
14    Benny Carter–    What'll It Be    3:14
15    Benny Carter–    Cadillac Slim    3:02

8.9.22

COLEMAN HAWKINS – 1934-1937 | The Classics Chronological Series – 602 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Coleman Hawkins was already well on his way to becoming the first master of the tenor saxophone when these sides were recorded. With his ten-year incubation with the heralded Fletcher Henderson band in the past (not to mention fine stints with McKinney's Cotton Pickers and various session outfits), Hawkins moved to Europe in 1934 and proceeded to hone his tough yet romantic sound with a variety of overseas groups. This Classics disc covers the first half of his eventual five-year sojourn. In addition to the four sides with pianist Stanley Black that kick things off, the 22 cuts find Hawkins in the adequate, yet somewhat stiff, company of continental contingents from The Hague, Paris, and various other locales. Hawkins is impressive throughout, though, in spite of the less than swinging environs; thankfully, the ensemble playing heats up quite nicely on the cuts with Django Reinhardt. A few reservations having been aired, this disc's good overall sound and sufficient enough supply of quality solos and cuts make it a title Hawkins fans should seek out. Stephen Cook
Tracklist :
1     Lullaby 2:55
Stanley Black    
2     Oh, Lady Be Good 2:43
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin    
3     Lost in a Fog 3:03
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh    
4     Honeysuckle Rose 3:04
Andy Razaf / Fats Waller    
5     Some of These Days 2:31
Shelton Brooks    
6     After You've Gone 2:36
Henry Creamer / Turner Layton    
7     I Only Have Eyes for You 2:42
Al Dubin / Harry Warren    
8     I Wish I Were Twins 2:31
Eddie DeLange / Frank Loesser / Joseph Meyer    
9     Hands Across the Table 3:04
Jean Delettre / Mitchell Parish    
10     Blue Moon 3:12
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers    
11     Avalon 3:01
Buddy DeSylva / Al Jolson / Vincent Rose
12     What a Diff'rence a Day Made 3:15
Stanley Adams / María Mendez Grever
13     Stardust 3:11
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish    
14     Chicago 3:00
Fred Fisher    
15     Meditation 3:00
Jack Bulterman    
16     What Harlem Is to Me 2:44
Paul Denniker / Andy Razaf / Sam Wooding    
17     Netcha's Dream 2:34
Coleman Hawkins    
18     Love Cries 3:05
Coleman Hawkins
19     Sorrow 3:05
Shelton Brooks    
20     Tiger Rag 2:18
Harry Da Costa / Eddie Edwards / Nick LaRocca / Henry W. Ragas / Tony Sbarbaro / Larry Shields
21     It May Not Be True 3:07
Coleman Hawkins    
22     I'm in the Mood for Love 3:09
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh

5.6.21

LOUIS ARMSTRONG – Louis Armstrong and Friends (2001) Jazz In Paris – 51 | RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The title of this compilation is a bit misleading, as Louis Armstrong only appears on seven of the CD's 20 tracks. All of them were recorded during a visit by the trumpeter to France in 1934 and were made on the sly, since he was under an exclusive contract to another label. The all-stars were primarily European musicians assembled for the session, though pianist Herman Chittison, a fellow American, makes his mark in "Super Tiger Rag," along with the leader's crisp, high-note solo. They compare favorably with some of Armstrong's later work back home with larger orchestras, but for the most part, the music is of minimal interest aside from his contributions. The other selections are a mixed bag. Pianist Freddy Johnson and trumpeter Arthur Briggs lead an orchestra that offers rather dated treatments of "Sweet Georgia Brown" and Spencer Williams' "Foxy and Grapesy." Actress Marlene Dietrich sings in her native German in "Wo Ist der Mann?" (Where Is the Man?), though the lyrics are half-spoken, backed by Briggs and Johnson leading a quintet. Tracks featuring vocalist Louis Cole with Briggs and Johnson are simply forgettable. Austrian singer Greta Keller is far more interesting than Dietrich on her pair of songs, including a moving "Goodbye to Summer" and the humorous, lightly swinging "I'm Gonna Lock My Heart and Throw Away the Key." The band is a good one, with expatriates Herman Chittison on piano and trumpeter Bill Coleman soloing. Clarinetist Danny Polo leads a sextet on the last four tracks, featuring either Garland Wilson or Una Mae Carlisle on piano and the phenomenal but underrated guitarist Oscar Alemán. The unaccredited "Doing the Gorgonzola" is easily the high point of this rare session. Overall, this music falls somewhat short of being essential, though the very reasonable price (like all of the CDs in Universal's Jazz in Paris series) makes it a bit more attractive. Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre: 1934
1. –Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre - Saint Louis Blues     2:43
W.C. Handy
2. –Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre - Super Tiger Rag     3:07
Nick LaRocca
3. –Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre - Will You, Won't You Be My Baby?     2:48
John Nesbitt / Howdy Quicksell
4. –Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre - On The Sunny Side Of The Street - Part 1     2:57
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
5. –Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre - On The Sunny Side Of The Street - Part 2     3:07
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
6. –Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre - Saint Louis Blues     3:06
W.C. Handy
7. –Louis Armstrong Et Son Orchestre - Song Of The Vipers     2:53
Traditional
Freddy Johnson, Arthur Briggs & Their All-Star Orchestra: 1933
8. –Freddy Johnson, Arthur Briggs & Their All-Star Orchestra     Sweet Georgia Brown     3:16
Ben Bernie / Kenneth Casey / Maceo Pinkard
9. –Freddy Johnson, Arthur Briggs & Their All-Star Orchestra     Foxy And Grapesy     3:34
Freddy Johnson / Spencer Williams
Marlene Dietrich Accompagnée Par Freddy Johnson Et Son Jazz: 1933
10. –Marlene Dietrich     Wo Ist Der Mann?     3:10
Max Kolpé / Peter Kreuder
Arthur Briggs: 1933
11. –Arthur Briggs     Nobody's Sweetheart     3:17
Ernie Erdman / Gus Kahn / Billy Meyers / Elmer Schoebel
12. –Arthur Briggs     Grabbin' Blues     3:32
Arthur Briggs / Freddy Johnson
13. –Arthur Briggs     I Got Rhythm     3:18
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
14. –Arthur Briggs     Japanese Sandman     3:38
Greta Keller: 1938
15. –Greta Keller     Goodbye To Summer     3:38
Harry Phillips
16. –Greta Keller     I'm Gonna Lock My Heart And Throw Away The Key     3:06
Jim Eaton / Terry Shand
Danny Polo And His Swing Stars: 1939
17. –Danny Polo And His Swing Stars     Doing The Gorgonzola     3:05
Danny Polo
18. –Danny Polo And His Swing Stars     Montparnasse Jump     2:46
Leonard Feather / Danny Polo
19. –Danny Polo And His Swing Stars     China Boy     2:56
Phil Boutelje / Dick Winfree
20. –Danny Polo And His Swing Stars     Polo-naise     2:56
Danny Polo
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Alcide Castellanos (faixas: 8, 9), Henri Tyree (faixas: 1 to 7)
Arranged By – Freddy Johnson (faixas: 8, 9)
Clarinet – Danny Polo (faixas: 17 to 20), Joe Hayman (faixas: 15, 16)
Clarinet, Saxophone [Alto] – Peter Du Congé (faixas: 1 to 10)
Double Bass – German Arago (faixas: 1 to 7), Juan Fernandez (faixas: 8 to 10), Louis Vola (faixas: 17 to 20), Wilson Myers (faixas: 15, 16)
Drums – Billy Taylor (faixas: 8 to 10), Jerry Mengo (faixas: 17 to 20), Oliver Times (faixas: 1 to 7)
Guitar – John Mitchell (faixas: 15, 16), Maceo Jefferson (faixas: 1 to 7), Oscar Aleman (faixas: 17 to 20), Sterling Conaway (faixas: 8, 9)
Piano – Freddy Johnson (faixas: 8 to 14), Garland Wilson (faixas: 17 to 20), Herman Chittison (faixas: 1 to 7, 15, 16), Una Mae Carlisle (faixas: 17 to 20)
Tenor Saxophone – Alfred Pratt (faixas: 1 to 7), Alix Combelle (faixas: 17 to 20), Frank "Big Boy" Goudie (faixas: 8, 9)
Trombone – Billy Burns (faixas: 8, 9), Lionel Guimaraes (faixas: 1 to 7)
Trumpet – Arthur Briggs (faixas: 8 to 14), Bill Coleman (faixas: 15, 16), Bobby Jones (faixas: 8, 9), Jack Hamilton (faixas: 1 to 7), Leslie Thompson (faixas: 1 to 7), Philippe Brun (faixas: 17 to 20), Theodore Brock (faixas: 8, 9)
Trumpet, Vocals – Louis Armstrong (faixas: 1 to 7)
Vocals – Greta Keller (faixas: 15, 16), Louis Cole (faixas: 8, 9, 11, 13)
Nota :
Recorded in Paris in October 1934 (1-7), on July 8, 1933 (8-9), on July 19, 1933 (10), in June 1933 (11-14), on September 27, 1938 (15-16) and on January 30, 1939 (17-20)
Reissue of the 78rpm discs: Brunswick 9683 (1), 500 490 (2, 6), 500 491 (4, 5), 500 492 (3, 7), 500 278 (8, 9), 500 262 (11, 13), 500 263 (12, 14), 81 859 (15, 16), Polydor 530 002 (10) & Decca 6989 (17, 18), 7126 (19, 20)

e.s.t. — Retrospective 'The Very Best Of e.s.t. (2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

"Retrospective - The Very Best Of e.s.t." is a retrospective of the unique work of e.s.t. and a tribute to the late mastermind Esb...