BENNY CARTER AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1937-1939 | The Classics Chronological Series – 552 (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The fourth CD in Classics' complete chronological reissue of Benny Carter's early recordings as a leader finds Carter (on alto, trumpet, clarinet, tenor and even one vocal) leading orchestras in London, Laren, the Hague, Paris and (for the final three selections) New York. Highpoints include "Nagasaki," "I'm in the Mood for Swing," "Blues in My Heart," "I'm Coming Virginia" (from a three-song session that also features Django Reinhardt) and "Melancholy Lullaby." In addition, the great tenor Coleman Hawkins plays a prominent role on four of the performances. Carter is in top form throughout these often formerly rare but very vital swing recordings. His fans should quickly acquire all of these invaluable Classics releases. Scott Yanow     Tracklist + Credits :

ELLA FITZGERALD – 1945-1947 | The Classics Chronological Series – 998 (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Welcome to a richly rewarding segment of the all too often overlooked plateau that lies between Ella Fitzgerald's recordings with Chick Webb's orchestra during the second half of the 1930s and her triumphant reign as one of the world's most popular jazz singers during the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. The recordings she made between February 26, 1945, and March 1, 1947, illustrate this woman's amazing versatility as she teamed up with an extraordinarily variegated range of vocalists and instrumentalists. Her pleasant collaborations with the Ink Spots and the Delta Rhythm Boys and a few titles with big-band accompaniment serve as appetizers for "Stone Cold Dead in the Market (He Had It Coming)," a disturbingly funny calypso number featuring Louis Jordan & His Tympany 5. Here Ella and Louis put across a performance even more outrageous than Sarah Vaughan's eccentric West Indian suicide song "De Gas Pipe She's Leaking, Joe." While Jordan's band grinds out spicy Caribbean dance music, Ella proudly explains how, fed up with being physically abused, she beat her husband to death with various kitchen utensils. Jordan, who calmly states that he's singing his portion of the duet while stretched out inanimate in the shopping district, admits that he was an abusive drunkard who often beat his wife. This incredibly humorous sendup of the horribly tragic and all too common specter of domestic violence leading to homicide is sustained largely by the female vocalist, who repeatedly describes her husband-killing technique, defiantly exclaims "he had it coming," and even communes with the spirit of Bessie Smith by insisting that she'd do it again even "if I was to die in the electric chair." This interesting compilation also contains a pair of duets with Louis Armstrong, some pleasant performances backed by bands led by pianists Billy Kyle and Eddie Heywood, and some really wild V-Disc collaborations with drummer and scat singer Buddy Rich. Never a dull moment! arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist + Credits :

EDDIE HEYWOOD – 1944 | The Classics Chronological Series – 947 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Tracklist :

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 :

EDDIE HEYWOOD – 1946-1947 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1219 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Eddie Heywood sextet had largely run their course by mid-1946. In fact, his group had expanded to a septet (with two trombones) when the first of the recordings on this CD were made. Six selections feature that melodic group (the best is "Temptation") and they back the Andrews Sisters on three other songs. The remainder of this CD is from 1947, with Heywood mostly being featured in a trio (with Peggy Mann taking vocals on three songs). He is also featured backing organist Roy Ross on "Jitterbug Waltz," leading a sextet on two songs, and accompanying singer Bob Eberly (formerly with Jimmy Dorsey) on two ballads. Overall this is an interesting variety of formerly rare performances by Eddie Heywood, closing in December 1947, right before an ailment knocked him out of action for a couple years. Scott Yanow
Tracklist : 

EDDIE HEYWOOD – 1950-1951 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1360 (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Perfectly suited for the task of providing attractive and accessible music for public consumption, jazz pianist Eddie Heywood, Jr. occupies a comfortable stylistic plateau somewhere between the flashy Herman Chittison and the painterly Erroll Garner. Famous as an accompanist for Billie Holiday and leader of a widely acclaimed small group that recorded for the Commodore label during the early and mid-'40s, Heywood was forced by failing health to take a three-year hiatus from professional activity beginning in 1947. This fourth installment of his complete works in chronological order presents Heywood's comeback recordings, starting with four unaccompanied solos from 1950 and four 1951 piano studies with unidentified large-band accompaniment. The instrumental arrangements follow the pattern established by Heywood's Commodore ensembles, whereby the piano remains very much in the foreground while the horns serve only to accentuate and lightly embellish. This tidy formula, typified by Heywood's 1944 recording of "Begin the Beguine," sometimes caused frustration among his sidemen. Vic Dickenson was known to express laconic resentment at being made to feel superfluous when Heywood's band performed in public. This, of course, has no bearing whatsoever upon the material heard here. Eight sides recorded for Columbia in August and September of 1951 perfectly illustrate the pianist's whimsy, and with all respect to the bassist and drummer, it probably doesn't matter who they were. Most of the time the whole point of an Eddie Heywood performance was the pianist first and foremost. Eight tracks recorded for MGM in December of 1951 illustrate the point to perfection -- the other musicians remain anonymous while Heywood basks calmly in the limelight. "Stompin' at the Savoy" and "Perdido" are relaxed grooves well worth visiting. Here is lounge piano that's substantial and rewarding. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist  :

BARNEY BIGARD – 1944 | The Classics Chronological Series – 896 (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Barney Bigard is one of the great jazz clarinetists. Although most famous for playing in Duke Ellington's band, Bigard performed with a host of lesser bandleaders, giving a series of distinctive, lyrical performances with each. 1944 collects Bigard's performances with the Capitol International Jazzmen, Zutty Singleton's bands, and his time with Roger Kay. Although not as consistently revelatory as his playing with the Duke, these sessions show Bigard to be a master of his instrument, displaying fabulous technique and great lyricism throughout. The Classics label has done a fine job at remastering, and the excellent liner notes round off a nice package. Thomas Ward
Tracklist + Credits :

SID CATLETT – 1944-1946 (1997) The Classics Chronological Series – 974 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

It's been said that Big Sid Catlett was the complete drummer, able to play with boppers and moldy figs alike and any kind of musician that fell in between those two opposite poles. Certainly his sense of time was impeccable and his soloing always flowed from the most musical of impulses. This collection brings together all the titles that were issued under his name during the '40s, featuring names like Illinois Jacquet, Ben Webster, Charlie Shavers, Oscar Pettiford, Willie Smith, Al Casey, Barney Bigard, Art Tatum, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and Pete Johnson in the various lineups. Kicking off with a spoken introduction from Sid and a live recording of "Rose Room" taken from a V-Disc, these are delightful recordings in a variety of settings that show off the versatility and innate musicality of Catlett's swinging ways. Cub Koda
Tracklist :
1    Esquire Metropolitan Opera House Jam Session–    Rose Room     5:53
Art Hickman / Harry Williams
2    Big Sid Catlett Quartet Featuring Ben Webster–    Sleep     3:30
 Earl Lebeig / Earl Lebieg
3    Big Sid Catlett Quartet Featuring Ben Webster–    Linger Awhile     3:06
 Harry Owens / Vincent Rose
4    Big Sid Catlett Quartet Featuring Ben Webster–    Memories Of You     3:45
 Eubie Blake / Andy Razaf
5    Big Sid Catlett Quartet Featuring Ben Webster–    Just A Riff     3:57
 Big Sid Catlett
6    Sid Catlett Quartet–    1-2-3 Blues     3:09
 Traditional
7    Sid Catlett Trio–    I Found A New Baby    2:41
 Jack Palmer / Spencer Williams
8    Ed Hall And The Big City Jazzmen–    Blues In Room 920 3:14
 Big Sid Catlett
9    Ed Hall And The Big City Jazzmen–    Sweet Georgia Brown 2:41
 Ben Bernie / Kenneth Casey / Maceo Pinkard
10    Sid Catlett And The Regis All Stars–    Blue Skies 3:07
 Irving Berlin
11    Sid Catlett And The Big City Jazzmen–    Blue Skies 3:07
 Irving Berlin
12    Sid Catlett And The Big City Jazzmen–    Thermo-Dynamics 3:00
 Irving Berlin
13    Big Sid Catlett's Band–    I Never Knew     2:53
 Gus Kahn / Ted Fio Rito
14    Big Sid Catlett's Band–    Love For Sale 3:04
Arranged By – Horace Henderson
15    Big Sid Catlett's Band–    Justiz You, Just Me     2:45
 Jesse Greer / Raymond Klages
16    Big Sid Catlett's Band–    Henderson Romp     2:39
 Fletcher Henderson / Horace Henderson
17    Al Casey And His Sextet–    Sometimes I'm Happy    2:54
 Irving Caesar / Vincent Youmans
18    Al Casey And His Sextet–    How High The Moon     2:39
 Nancy Hamilton / Morgan Lewis
19    Sid Catlett And His All Stars–    Organ Boogie     2:28
 Big Sid Catlett
20    Sid Catlett And His All Stars–    Organ Blues     3:28
 Big Sid Catlett
21    Sid Catlett And His All Stars–    Sherry Wine Blues 3:20
 Traditional
Vocals [?] – Bill Gooden
22    Sid Catlett And His All Stars–    Open The Door Richard 2:54
 Dusty Fletcher / Dan Howell / John Mason / Jack McVea
Vocals – Band Members
23    Sid Catlett And His All Stars–    Shirley's Boogie     2:31
 Big Sid Catlett
24    Sid Catlett And His All Stars–    Humoresque Boogie     2:37
 Antonin Dvorák
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Ben "Bull Moose" Jackson (tracks: 13 to 16), Willie Smith (tracks: 17, 18)
Bass – Gene Ramey (tracks: 21 to 24), John Simmons (tracks: 2 to 7, 13 to 18), Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 1, 8 to 12)
Clarinet – Barney Bigard (tracks: 1), Edmond Hall (tracks: 8 to 10)
Drums – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Al Casey (tracks: 1, 13 to 18), Jimmy Shirley (tracks: 19, 21 to 24)
Organ – Bill Gooden (tracks: 19, 20)
Piano – Art Tatum (tracks: 1), Eddie Heywood (tracks: 8 to 12), Horace Henderson (tracks: 13 to 18), Marlowe Morris (tracks: 2 to 7)
Piano, Celesta – Pete Johnson (tracks: 19 to 24)
Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster (tracks: 2 to 6), Hubert "Bumps" Myers (tracks: 13 to 16), Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tracks: 21), Frankie Socolow (tracks: 8 to 12), Illinois Jacquet (tracks: 13 to 18)
Trumpet – Charlie Shavers (tracks: 8 to 12), Gerald Wilson (tracks: 17, 18), Joe Guy (tracks: 13 to 16)

JOHNNY HODGES - Day Dream (1996) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Flamingo 4'35
(Grouya / Anderson
2    Time On My Hands 4'18
(Adamson / Gordon / Youmans
3    Night And Day 4'24
(Porter)
4    Esquire Swank 3'28
(Hodges / Ellington)
5    Day Dream 2'58
(La Touche / Strayhorn / Ellington)
6    Passion Flower 3'09
(B. Strayhorn)
7    That's The Blues, Old Man 2'57
(J. Hodges)
8    A Flower Is A lovesome Thing 2'53
(J. Hodges)
9    Frisky 2'49
(J. Hodges)
10    Longhorn Blues 2'52
(J. Hodges)
11    Far Away Blues 2'57
(J. Hodges)
12    Dream Blues 3'02
(J. Hodges)
13    Finesse (Night Wind) 2'42
(Hodges / Ellington)
14    Good Gal Blues 2'58
(Ellington)
15    Wanderlust 2'47
(Hodges / Ellington)
16    Krum Elbow Blues 2'35
(Hodges / Ellington)
17    I'm In Another World 3'02
(Hodges / Ellington)
18    Hodge Podge 2'36
(Hodges / Ellington)
19    (I'm Riding On The Moon) And Dancing On The Stars 2'55
(Mills / Ellington)
20    Savoy Strut 2'31
(Hodges / Ellington)
21    Home Town Blues 2'39
(J. Hodges)
22    Skunk Hollow Blues 2'39
(J. Hodges)

BENNY CARTER AND HIS ORCHESTRA - 1937-1939 {CC, 552} (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The fourth CD in Classics' complete chronological reissue of Benny Carter's early recordings as a leader finds Carter (on alto, trumpet, clarinet, tenor and even one vocal) leading orchestras in London, Laren, the Hague, Paris and (for the final three selections) New York. Highpoints include "Nagasaki," "I'm in the Mood for Swing," "Blues in My Heart," "I'm Coming Virginia" (from a three-song session that also features Django Reinhardt) and "Melancholy Lullaby." In addition, the great tenor Coleman Hawkins plays a prominent role on four of the performances. Carter is in top form throughout these often formerly rare but very vital swing recordings. His fans should quickly acquire all of these invaluable Classics releases. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Gin and Jive 2:58
Benny Carter    
2     Nagasaki 2:59
Mort Dixon / Harry Warren    
3     There's a Small Hotel 3:07
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers    
4     There's a Small Hotel 3:06
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers    
5     I'm in the Mood for Swing 2:35
Benny Carter / Spencer Williams    
6     Rambling in C 3:15
Benny Carter    
7     Black Bottom 3:02
Lew Brown / Buddy DeSylva / Ray Henderson    
8     Rambler's Rhythm 2:33
Saskia Kwast    
9     New Street Swing 2:31
Jack Bulterman    
10     I'll Never Give In 2:42
W. Johnson    
11     Skip It 2:58
Benny Carter    
12     Lazy Afternoon 3:04
Benny Carter    
13     I Ain't Got Nobody 3:06
Roger Graham / Dave Peyton / Spencer Williams    
14     Blues in My Heart 2:35
Benny Carter / Irving Mills    
15     Somebody Loves Me 2:47
Buddy DeSylva / George Gershwin / Ballard MacDonald    
16     Mighty Like the Blues 3:04
Leonard Feather    
17     Pardon Me, Pretty Baby 2:59
Raymond Klages / Jack Meskill / Vincent Rose    
18     My Buddy 2:49
Walter Donaldson / Gus Kahn    
19     I'm Coming, Virginia 3:03
Will Marion Cook / Donald Heywood    
20     Farewell Blues 3:15
Paul Mares / Elmer Schoebel    
21     Blue Light Blues 3:06
Benny Carter / Duke Ellington    
22     Plymouth Rock 2:50     
23     Savoy Stampede 2:57
Benny Carter    
24     Melancholy Lullaby 2:58
Benny Carter
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter, Carl Frye (pistas: 22 to 24), Fletcher Allen (pistas: 19 to 21), Jimmy Powell (pistas: 22 to 24), Louis Stephenson (pistas: 11 to 14)
Bass – Hayes Alvis (pistas: 22 to 24), Jack Pet (pistas: 7 to 10), Len Harrison (pistas: 11 to 21), Wally Morris (pistas: 1 to 6)
Clarinet – Benny Carter (pistas: 7 to 18)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Andre Van Der Ouderaa (pistas: 7 to 10), Andy McDevitt (pistas: 1 to 6), Freddy Gardner (pistas: 1 to 6), Wim Poppink (pistas: 7 to 10)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Williams (pistas: 11 to 18)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Bertie King (pistas: 11 to 14, 19 to 21)
Directed By – Benny Carter (pistas: 1 to 6, 11 to 18), Theo Uden Masman (pistas: 7 to 10)
Drums – Al Craig (pistas: 1 to 6), Henry Morrison (pistas: 22 to 24), Kees Kranenburg (pistas: 7 to 10), Robert Montmarché (pistas: 11 to 21)
Guitar – Albert Harris (pistas: 1 to 6), Django Reinhardt (pistas: 19 to 21), Ray Webb (pistas: 11 to 18), Ulysses Livingston (pistas: 22 to 24)
Piano – Eddie Heywood (pistas: 22 to 24), Eddie Macauley (pistas: 1 to 6), Freddy Johnson  (pistas: 11 to 18), Nich De Roy (pistas: 7 to 10), Yorke De Souza (pistas: 19 to 21)
Tenor Saxophone – Alix Combelle (pistas: 19 to 21), Benny Carter (pistas: 7 to 10), Buddy FeatherStonaugh (pistas: 1 to 6), Castor McCord (pistas: 22 to 24), Coleman Hawkins (pistas: 15 to 18), Ernie Powell (pistas: 22 to 24), George Evans (3) (pistas: 1 to 6), Sal Doof (pistas: 7 to 10)
Trombone – Bill Mulraney (pistas: 1 to 6), George Chisholm (pistas: 11 to 18), Harry Van Oven (pistas: 11 to 14), Jimmy Archey (pistas: 22 to 24), Lew Davis (pistas: 1 to 6), Marcel Thielemans (pistas: 7 to 10), Vic Dickenson (pistas: 22 to 24)
Trombone, Vibraphone – Tyree Glenn (pistas: 22 to 24)
Trumpet – Benny Carter (pistas: 1 to 18, 21), George Woodlen (pistas: 22 to 24), Cliff Woodridge (pistas: 11 to 14), George Van Helvoirt (pistas: 7 to 10), Jack Bulterman (pistas: 7 to 10), Joe Thomas (pistas: 22 to 24), Leslie Thompson (pistas: 1 to 6), Lincoln Mills (pistas: 22 to 24), Rolf Goldstein (pistas: 11 to 14), Sam Dasberg (pistas: 11 to 14), Tommy McQuater (pistas: 1 to 6)

BILLIE HOLIDAY – 1940-1942 (1993) The Classics Chronological Series – 680 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist:
1. I'm All For You (3:13)
2. I Hear Music (2:43)
3. It's The Same Old Story (3:13)
4. Practice Makes Perfect (2:38)
5. St. Louis Blues (2:55)
6. Loveless Love (3:17)
7. Let's Do It (2:59)
8. Georgia On My Mind (3:21)
9. Romance In The Dark (2:17)
10. All Of Me (3:03)
11. I'm In A Low-Down Groove (3:10)
12. God Bless The Child (2:58)
13. Am I Blue? (2:51)
14. Solitude (3:16)
15. Jim (3:11)
16. I Cover The Waterfront (2:59)
17. Love Me Or Leave Me (3:22)
18. Gloomy Sunday (3:14)
19. Wherever You Are (3:02)
20. Mandy Is Two (3:01)
21. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie (3:05)
22. Until The Real Thing Comes Along (3:11)
23. Trav'lin' Light (3:14)

BILLIE HOLIDAY – 1944 (1995) The Classics Chronological Series – 806 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist:

1 Billie's Blues 4:14

Billie Holiday feat: Leonard Feather All Stars

2 Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me 2:50

Duke Ellington / Bob Russell

3 I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You) 1:48

Fred E. Ahlert / Roy Turk

4 How Am I to Know? 2:40

Jack King / Dorothy Parker

5 My Old Flame 2:57

Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston

6 I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You) 2:54

Fred E. Ahlert / Roy Turk

7 I Cover the Waterfront 3:25

Johnny Green / Edward Heyman

8 I'll Be Seeing You 3:28

Sammy Fain / Irving Kahal

9 I'm Yours 3:13

Johnny Green / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg 

10 Embraceable You 3:13

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin

11 As Time Goes By 3:07

Herman Hupfeld

12 He's Funny That Way 3:00

Neil Moret (Chas. N. Daniels) / Richard A. Whiting

13 He's Funny That Way 3:12

Neil Moret (Chas. N. Daniels) / Richard A. Whiting

14 Lover, Come Back to Me 3:13

Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg

15 Lover, Come Back to Me 3:16

Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg

16 Billie's Blues 3:04

Billie Holiday feat: Eddie Heywood's Sextet / Eddie Heywood's Trio

17 On the Sunny Side of the Street 3:00

Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh

18 Lover Man 3:15

Jimmy Davis / Roger "Ram" Ramirez / Jimmy Sherman

19 No More 2:45

Tutti Camarata / Bob Russell

20 That Ole Devil Called Love 2:51

Doris Fisher / Allan Roberts

21 Don't Explain 2:53 

Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr.

22 Big Stuff  2:26

Leonard Bernstein