COLEMAN HAWKINS - 1945 | The Classics Chronological Series – 926 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Covering in detail a timeline from January 1944 to October 1945, this chapter in the Classics Coleman Hawkins chronology presents recordings he made for the Asch, Selmer, Capitol, Super Disc and V-Disc labels during what was an exciting and transitional period in the evolution of jazz. During the '40s Hawkins was deliberately aligning himself with young and innovative players; four of the sessions feature trumpeter Howard McGhee and pianist Sir Charles Thompson; bassist Oscar Pettiford was also an integral part of Hawk's mid-'40s West Coast band. Lush ballads and upbeat jam structures make for excellent listening throughout. Hawk is also heard sitting in with drummer Sid Catlett's all-stars, leading a quintet with the great Art Tatum at the piano, and working up his own extended set of "Variations" for solo tenor saxophone. While some commentators have focused unnecessary attention upon all-too-human drawbacks like Howard McGhee's addictions and occasional bouts of quarreling between Pettiford and Sir Charles, the music contained in this compilation stands squarely in its own light, unsullied by gossip or untoward circumstances.  arwulf arwulf     Tracklist + Credits :

ELLA FITZGERALD – 1939-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 566 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This fifth in the six-CD series by the European Classics label documents Fitzgerald's recordings during a nine-month period starting shortly after she took over the late Chick Webb's Orchestra. During this era she was much better on the ballads than on the uptempo novelties, many of which (such as "My Wubba Dolly") were not worth saving. Fortunately this CD has a good sampling of ballads (such as "My Last Goodbye," "Moon Ray," "Sugar Blues" and "Imagination") along with two rare instrumentals by her big band. The music is not essential but fans will enjoy this look at her early days. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :

DON BYAS – 1945, Vol. 2 | The Classics Chronological Series – 959 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Carlos Wesley "Don" Byas openly claimed to represent a third stream of tenor sax, somewhere between Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. In truth, he sounded most like the mature Hawkins, also sharing stylistic traits with Pres, Budd Johnson, Lucky Thompson and Ben Webster. Most importantly, he sounded like himself. Four sides recorded for the "Jamboree" label in October 1945 feature the extraordinary piano of Johnny Guarnieri. "Once in a While" comes across like a lullaby compared to the rip-snorting "Avalon," notable for J.C. Heard's fiery drumming. "Blue and Sentimental," forever associated with Count Basie's star tenor saxophonist Herschel Evans, is soulfully rendered here. "Melancholy Baby" sounds a lot like the kind of records Hawkins was making for the Keynote label in 1945 -- this recording, in fact, could effectively be used to stump jazz experts during blindfold tests. In a remarkable follow-up, the next session turns Erroll Garner loose in the company of Slam Stewart and Harold "Doc" West. The Savoy session (after Byas stretches out with "Candy" all to himself) features trumpeter Benny Harris. "How High the Moon" bristles with be bop changes, and "Donby" is recognizable as Byas' extension of Juan Tizol's "Perdido." "Byas a Drink" is a sort of be bop rhumba. In a strange chronology defying maneuver -- and without altering the title of the CD -- Classics has tacked on two sessions from 1944. Throughout his career, trumpeter Emmett Berry was almost never designated as a leader. On August 31 1944, the quintet bearing his name was graced with a rhythm section consisting of Dave Rivera, Milt Hinton and J.C. Heard. The music speaks of new ideas in the making, even if Berry swings rather than bops. Recorded on 12 " 78 rpm records allowing for nearly four minutes per side, the Cyril Haynes Sextet, starring Byas and the nearly forgotten trumpeter Dick Vance, featured electrified guitar solos by Al Casey with strong rhythmic support from -- once again -- Harold "Doc" West. Here, then, is a fat parcel of solid sessions from the life of Don Byas, well-worth hearing again and again. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist + Credits :

EDDIE HEYWOOD – 1944-1946 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1038 (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second installment in the Classics Eddie Heywood chronology traces the pianist's progression from a successful Commodore leader and accompanist (see the first installment as well as Billie Holiday's later Commodore material) into a Decca recording artist via a pair of V-Disc performances cut on November 13, 1944. This compendium of amiable, sophisticated, and mature swing music features alto saxophonists Lem Davis and Marshall Royal as well as trombonists Vic Dickenson, Henry Coker, and Young Lion Britt Woodman, who is heavily featured on "Pom Pom." If the artistic high point of the entire album is Heywood's interpretation of Duke Ellington's gorgeous melody "I Didn't Know About You" (a prelude to later renditions by Johnny Hodges, Lee Konitz, Thelonious Monk, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk), the toy surprise in this package is a very hip-sounding Bing Crosby, featured on five tracks recorded in Los Angeles near the end of the summer of 1945. Bing seems unusually comfortable in this company, and for this reason these tracks should be counted among the best jazz recordings he ever participated in. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :

BILLY KYLE – 1939-1946 (1997) The Classics Chronological Series – 941 | FLAC (tracks), lossless

The second of two Classics Billy Kyle CDs has all of the remaining titles the superior swing pianist led during his life (although he lived until 1966). Ten of the 23 numbers are lesser performances, with four featuring the dated organist Bob Hamilton and the vocals of O'Neil Spencer; two are jivey numbers by singer Jack Sneed and his Sneezers, and four others also emphasize O'Neil Spencer's singing along with the organ of Milt Herth. However, the other 13 selections are full of classic swing-oriented performances. The talented British trumpeter Nat Gonella is heard fronting a hot septet also including Kyle, clarinetist Buster Bailey and altoist Benny Carter (their version of "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" is a highlight); Kyle leads a couple of high-quality trio sets from 1939 and 1946, and he also heads a 1946 octet also featuring trumpeter Dick Vance, trombonist Trummy Young, clarinetist Bailey and tenor saxophonist John Hardee. The better half of this CD is so strong that it makes the entire set well worth acquiring despite the organists. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Nat Gonella With John Kirby's Orchestra–    You Must Have Been A Beautiful Day    3:03
2    Nat Gonella With John Kirby's Orchestra–    Just A Kid Named Joe    3:15
3    Nat Gonella With John Kirby's Orchestra–    Jeepers Creepers    2:58
4    Nat Gonella With John Kirby's Orchestra–    I Must See Annie Tonight    2:49
5    The Ramblers–    Honey In The Bee Ball    3:11
6    The Ramblers–    'Tain't What You Do (It's The Way That Cha Do It)    2:47
7    The Ramblers–    Money Is Honey    3:10
8    The Ramblers–    Lonesome Railroad    2:36
9    Billy Kyle–    Finishing Up A Date    2:40
10    Billy Kyle–    Between Sets    2:34
11    Jack Sneed And His Sneezers–    Paul Revere    2:48
12    Jack Sneed And His Sneezers–    Ole Chris (Christafo Colombo)    2:58
13    Milt Herth Trio–    Scatter-Brain    2:40
14    Milt Herth Trio–    The Moneys Have No Tails In Pago-Pago    2:42
15    Milt Herth Trio–    Peach Tree Street (Blues Song)    2:41
16    Milt Herth Trio–    Hezekiah (The Handwriting On The Wall)    2:46
17    Billy Kyle–    I Want You I Need You    3:03
18    Billy Kyle–    All The Things You Are    2:42
19    Billy Kyle–    I Got A Right To Sing The Blues    2:51
20    Billy Kyle's Big Eight–    H.R.S. Bounce    3:02
21    Billy Kyle's Big Eight–    Ooh, Baby, You Knock Me Out    2:50
22    Billy Kyle's Big Eight–    Date For Eight    3:00
23    Billy Kyle's Big Eight–    Contemporary Blues    2:58
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter (tracks: 1 to 4), Lem Davis (tracks: 20 to 23)
Bass – John Kirby (tracks: 1 to 4, 11, 12, 17 to 19), John Simmons (tracks: 20 to 23), Marty Kaplan (tracks: 9, 10)
Clarinet – Buster Bailey (tracks: 1 to 4, 20 to 23)
Drums – Buddy Rich (tracks: 20 to 23), Jack Maisel (tracks: 1 to 4), O'Neil Spencer (tracks: 5 to 16)
Guitar – Brick Fleagle (tracks: 1 to 4), Dave Barbour (tracks: 9, 10), Jimmy Shirley (tracks: 17 to 19), Teddy Bunn (tracks: 5 to 8)
Organ – Bob Hamilton (tracks: 5 to 8), Milt Herth (tracks: 13 to 16)
Piano – Billy Kyle
Tenor Saxophone – John Hardee (tracks: 20 to 23)
Trombone – Trummy Young (tracks: 20 to 23)
Trumpet – Charlie Shavers (tracks: 11, 12), Dick Vance (tracks: 20 to 23)
Trumpet, Vocals – Nat Gonella (tracks: 1 to 4)
Vocals – O'Neil Spencer (tracks: 5 to 8, 13 to 16), Teddy Bunn (tracks: 6)

COLEMAN HAWKINS - 1945 {CC, 926} (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Covering in detail a timeline from January 1944 to October 1945, this chapter in the Classics Coleman Hawkins chronology presents recordings he made for the Asch, Selmer, Capitol, Super Disc and V-Disc labels during what was an exciting and transitional period in the evolution of jazz. During the '40s Hawkins was deliberately aligning himself with young and innovative players; four of the sessions feature trumpeter Howard McGhee and pianist Sir Charles Thompson; bassist Oscar Pettiford was also an integral part of Hawk's mid-'40s West Coast band. Lush ballads and upbeat jam structures make for excellent listening throughout. Hawk is also heard sitting in with drummer Sid Catlett's all-stars, leading a quintet with the great Art Tatum at the piano, and working up his own extended set of "Variations" for solo tenor saxophone. While some commentators have focused unnecessary attention upon all-too-human drawbacks like Howard McGhee's addictions and occasional bouts of quarreling between Pettiford and Sir Charles, the music contained in this compilation stands squarely in its own light, unsullied by gossip or untoward circumstances. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1     All the Things You Are 2:58
Jerome Kern    
2     Step on It 3:08     
Unknown Artist    
3     Riding on 52nd Street 2:51    
Unknown Artist    
4     Memories of You 2:57
Eubie Blake / Andy Razaf    
5     Out to Lunch 2:54
Jimmy Davis / Joe Davis / Walter Thomas    
6     In the Hush of the Night 2:57
Dorsey, Davis, Dorsey
7     Look Out Jack! 2:47
Jimmy Davis / Irene Higginbotham    
8     Every Man for Himself 2:52
Jimmy Davis / Walter Thomas    
9     I'm Yours 3:29
Johnny Green / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg    
10     Under a Blanket of Blue 3:10
Jerry Livingston / Al J. Neiburg / Marty Symes    
11     Beyond the Blue Horizon 2:58
W. Frank Harling / Richard A. Whiting    
12     A Shanty in Old Shanty Town 2:58
Jack Little / Little Jack Little / John Siras / Joe Young / Joseph Young    
13     My Man 3:14
Jacques Charles / Channing Pollack / Albert Willemetz / Maurice Yvain    
14     El Salon de Gutbucket 2:59
Charlie Shavers    
15     Embraceable You 3:02
George Gershwin    
16     Undecided 3:05     
Sydney Robin / Charlie Shavers    
17     Recollections 2:54
Walter Thomas    
18     Drifiting on a Reed 3:04
Charlie Parker    
19     Flyin' Hawk 2:50
Walter Thomas    
20     On the Bean 2:41
Walter Thomas    
21     Sportsman's Hop 3:00     
Sir Charles Thompson    
22     Bean Stalking 3:08
Coleman Hawkins / Erskine Hawkins    
23     Ready for Love 2:59
Howard McGhee    

Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Hilton Jefferson (pistas: 18 to 21)
Bass – Eddie Robinson (pistas: 1 to 3), Johnny Simmons (pistas: 14 to 21), Oscar Pettiford (pistas: 6 to 13)
Drums – Denzil Best (pistas: 1 to 3, 6 to 17), Sid Catlett (pistas: 18 to 21)
Guitar – Allan Reuss (pistas: 6 to 17)
Piano – Billy Taylor (pistas: 18 to 21), Sir Charles Thompson (pistas: 1 to 3, 6 to 17)
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – Tyree Glenn (pistas: 18 to 21), Vic Dickenson (pistas: 10 to 13)
Trumpet – Dick Vance (pistas: 18 to 21), Howard McGhee (pistas: 1 to 3, 6 to 17)
Vibraphone [Uncredited] – Tyree Glenn (pistas: 20, 21)
Vocals – Matthew Meredith (pistas: 19)
Written-By – Hawkins (pistas: 2 to 5, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15)