ELLA FITZGERALD – 1940-1941 | The Classics Chronological Series – 644 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The sixth in Classics' six-CD series that completely reissues all of Ella Fitzgerald's early recordings has her final 23 performances as the head of what was formerly the Chick Webb Orchestra. Just 22 during most of this period, she is generally in superb voice and the ballads (highlighted by "Shake Down the Stars," "Taking a Chance on Love," "The One I Love" and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man") are frequently exquisite; her expertise at scatting would come a few years later. It's recommended as are all of the entries in this valuable series (which is superior to GRP's Decca program). Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

CLAUDE HOPKINS AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1937-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 733 (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The third and final Claude Hopkins Classics CD has some really obscure and diverse music. The 1937 Hopkins big band included trumpeter Jabbo Smith and trombonist Vic Dickenson in its lineup, but of the six titles it cut, five are showcases for singer Beverly White; in all, the legendary Smith gets a single chorus. Better are eight titles by trumpeter Ovie Alston's orchestra, which includes Hopkins on piano in 1938 along with some of his sidemen. This CD concludes with six numbers by the pianist's struggling 1940 big band, decent swing performances that preceded the orchestra's complete breakup. A bit of a collector's item. Scott Yanow  

CAB CALLOWAY AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1938-1939 | The Classics Chronological Series – 576 (1991) APE (image+.cue), lossless

The seventh of the Classics label's 12 Cab Calloway CDs traces his progress during an 11-month period through 24 recordings. The band's main soloists at the time included trumpeters Shad Collins and Irving Randolph, trombonists Claude Jones and Keg Johnson and especially tenor great Chu Berry (the band gets four instrumentals on this set). Singer June Richmond has a couple of vocals but obviously Cab Calloway is the main reason that the orchestra was working so steadily. With such songs as "Shout Shout, Shout," "Do You Wanna Jump Children" and "F.D.R. Jones" among the more memorable tracks, this CD (along with the others in the valuable series) is well worth picking up. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Skrontch    2:50
Ellington / Mills
2    We're Breakin' Up A Lovely Affair    2:57
unknown
3    Peck-A-Doodle-Do    2:51
Calloway / Jones / Mosby / Mills
4    At The Clambake Carnival    2:28
Chu Berry
5    Hoy-Hoy    2:49
Conrad
6    Miss Hallelujah Brown    2:21
Davis / Coots
7    The Congo-Conga    3:00
Davis / Coots
8    The Boogie-Woogie    2:37
Davis / Coots
9    There's A Sunny Side To Everything    2:25
Davis / Coots
10    Shout, Shout, Shout    2:36
Blake
11    Mister Paganini - Swing For Minnie    2:50
Lambert / Richards
12    Jive (Page One Of Hepster's Dictionary)    2:57
Calloway / Payne / Berry
13    Do you Wanna Jump, Children    2:23
Donahue / Heusen / Bryan / Selsman
14    I'm Madly In Love With You    2:58
Davis / Coots
15    April In My Heart    2:36
Melnardi / Carmichael
16    Blue Interlude    2:35
Carter / Kurtz / Mills
17    F.D.R. Jones    2:20
Rome
18    Deep In A Dream    2:58
DeLange / Heusen
19    Tee-Um Tee-Um Tee-I, Tahiti    2:09
Johnson / Shuster / Powell
20    Angels With Dirty Faces    2:56
Spitalny / Fisher
21    Long Long Ago    2:22
Unknown
22    Afraid Of Love    2:30
Fenderson / Miller / Spitalny
23    Ratamacue    2:25
Cole / Thomas / Battle
24    Ad-De-Dey    2:42
Hupfeld