EARL HINES AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1928-1932 | The Classics Chronological Series – 545 (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This initial installment in the historical chronology of recordings released under the name of Earl Hines contains no less than 13 finely rendered piano solos. Hines the pianist is caught in the act of tapping into everything that was in the air at the time: ragtime, blues, catchy airs and shout-style stride -- everything a bright young man would have picked up between Pittsburgh and Chicago, with Kansas City, New Orleans and New York coming up through the floorboards. Hines experimented unflinchingly with rhythmic variation, and was by far the most adventurous improviser in all of jazz piano before the rise of Art Tatum. "Caution Blues" is the venerable "Blues in Thirds" taken at a brisk clip. The ensemble sides, which were the very first to appear under Hines' own name, have elements in common with what was being recorded in 1929 by Louis Armstrong, Luis Russell, the nine- and eleven-piece editions of Fats Waller & His Buddies, and many other fine bands of the day. There are two rather insipid vocals by trombonist William Franklin, a fine dose of hefty scat singing from tuba-toting arranger Hayes Alvis, and three decidedly hip examples of Hines as hot and low-down vocalist. He scats with abandon during a smoky rendition of "Everybody Loves My Baby," talks like Don Redman on "Have You Ever Felt That Way?" and chortles wordlessly on "Sister Kate" after the manner of Louis Armstrong. Finishing off the disc with a taste of 1932, "Deep Forest," soon to be established as the Hines theme song, is a sort of piano concerto in miniature. Here is the perfect prologue to what this striking individual went on to accomplish over the next half-century. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist + Credits :

JABBO SMITH'S RHYTHM ACES – 1929-1938 (2006) The Classics Chronological Series – 669 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although only 20 years old, trumpeter Jabbo Smith cut virtually all of his finest recordings in 1929, when he was touted as a competitor to Louis Armstrong. Smith's 19 sides with his Rhythm Aces (all of which are on this essential CD) are some of the most exciting recordings of the era. Often teamed in a quintet with Omer Simeon (on clarinet and alto), pianist Cassino Simpson, banjoist Ikey Robinson, and the tuba of Hayes Alvis (subs appear on a few numbers), Jabbo's reckless and explorative trumpet flights are often thrilling. Highlights include "Jazz Battle," "Till Times Get Better," "Ace of Rhythm," and "Band Box Stomp," but all of the performances (including Smith's trombone solo on "Lina Blues" and his occasional and effective vocals) are well worth hearing. The CD concludes with Jabbo Smith's four-song 1938 session, which is disappointingly tame. Strange as it seems, Smith was past his prime by 1930 when he was only 21. Except for some early sideman appearances and forgettable efforts in later years (plus one previously unissued Rhythm Ace side from 1929 that was unearthed in the mid-'90s by the Retrieval label), this CD essentially contains Jabbo Smith's entire legacy, although he would live until 1991. Scott Yanow   
Tracklist :
1 Jazz Battle 2:40
Jabbo Smith  
2 Little Willie Blues 3:24
Jabbo Smith
3 Sleepy Time Blues 3:27
Jabbo Smith
 4 Take Your Time 2:48
Jabbo Smith
 5 Sweet and Low Blues 3:21
Jabbo Smith
 6 Take Me to the River 2:51
Jabbo Smith
 7 Ace of Rhythm 2:55
Jabbo Smith
 8 Let's Get Together 3:30
Jabbo Smith
 9 Sau Sha Stomp 3:06
Jabbo Smith
 10 Michigander Blues 3:22
Jabbo Smith
 11 Decatur Street Tutti 2:48
Jabbo Smith
 12 Till Times Get Better 3:09
Jabbo Smith
 13 Lina Blues 3:32
Jabbo Smith
 14 Weird and Blue 3:03
Jabbo Smith
15 Croonin' the Blues 3:13
Jabbo Smith
 16 I Got the Stinger 3:20
Jabbo Smith
 17 Boston Skuffle 2:52
Jabbo Smith
 18 Tanguay Blues 2:48
Jabbo Smith
 19 Band Box Stomp 3:02
Jabbo Smith
 20 Moanful Blues 3:00
Jabbo Smith
 21 Rhythm in Spain 2:44
Jabbo Smith
 22 Absolutely 3:00
Jabbo Smith / M. Williams 
 23 More Rain, More Rest 2:46
Jabbo Smith / M. Williams
 24 How Can Cupid Be So Stupid? 3:10
Jabbo Smith