FRANKIE "Half-Pint" JAXON — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 2 1929-1937 | RM | DOCD-5259 (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Volume two in the complete recordings of Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon contains all of the titles he is known to have cut between July 1929 and July 1937. During this period, Jaxon crossed over from the Vocalion label to Decca, working with a diverse range of musicians that included the Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers, (a traditional-sounding choir who backed him on several spirituals) and cornetist Punch Miller & His Delegates of Pleasure. Most of these records were issued under the headings of Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon and either his Hot Shots or his Quarts of Joy. Half Pint's jumpin' little bands included trumpeters Bob Schoffner and George Mitchell; trombonist Preston Jackson, and Cassino Simpson, a skilled pianist who made his best recordings with Jabbo Smith and ultimately ended up in a mental institution after trying to murder Half Pint, whose androgyny and well-known theatrical knack for female impersonation might well have driven Simpson over the edge. For awhile, Jaxon was accompanied by one of Chicago's hottest little bands, misleadingly billed as the Harlem Hamfats. With "No Need Knockin' on the Blind," the focus of the Half Pint Jaxon story has moved from his longtime stomping grounds in Chicago to the swinging environment in New York, where he was accompanied by a band that included clarinetist Buster Bailey, a mainstay in the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra who was on the verge of leading his own Rhythm Busters and would soon be prominently featured in the John Kirby Sextet. Maximum enjoyment is to be found in rambunctious performances like "Down Home in Kentucky," the spunky "Fifteen Cents," Half Pint's theme song "Fan It," and a very theatrical "Mortgage Blues" which begins with a brusque and spirited reference to Marcus Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and spokesman for the Back to Africa Movement. Frankie Jaxon's gleefully outspoken pride in being a person of color was chiseled in high relief with the title "Chocolate to the Bone (I'm So Glad I'm Brownskin)," and he was fond of injecting little Black Nationalist references that probably got by any Caucasians but without a doubt resonated among his predominately African-American audience. His introduction to "Down Home in Kentucky," for example, describes a segregated social environment where "Mr. Charlie is still in the lead." arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1.    Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers–    I Want Two Wings To Veil My Face 2:40
Banjo – Unknown Artist
Cornet – Punch Miller
Piano – Unknown Artist
Trombone – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
Vocals [Vcl Group] – Unknown Artist
2.    Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers–    Give Me That Old Time Religion 2:55
Banjo – Unknown Artist
Cornet – Punch Miller
Piano – Unknown Artist
Trombone – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
Vocals [Vcl Group] – Unknown Artist
3.    Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers–    Christ Was Born On Christmas Morn 3:25
Banjo – Unknown Artist
Brass Bass – Unknown Artist
Cornet – Punch Miller
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
Vocals [Vcl Group] – Unknown Artist
4.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon*–    Take It Easy 3:11
Cornet – Punch Miller
Drums – Unknown Artist
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
5.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon With Punches Delegates Of Pleasure–    You Got To Wet It 3:01
Clarinet [possibly] – Lem Johnson
Cornet – Punch Miller
Guitar – Charles Ducastaign
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
6.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon With Punches Delegates Of Pleasure–    Down Home In Kentuck 3:12
Clarinet [possibly] – Lem Johnson
Cornet – Punch Miller
Guitar – Charles Ducastaign
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
7.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon–    Scuddlin' 2:47
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar – Unknown Artist
Piano [probably] – Charlie Johnson
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
8.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon–    Chocolate To The Bone 3:04
Drums – Unknown Artist
Guitar – Unknown Artist
Piano [probably] – Charlie Johnson
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
9.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon And His Hot Shots–    Mama Don't Allow It  3:12
Acoustic Bass [probably] – Johnny Frazier
Alto Saxophone [probably] – Kenneth Anderson 
Clarinet [probably] – Dalbert Bright
Drums [probably] – Tubby Hall
Piano [probably] – Jerome Carrington
Tenor Saxophone [probably] – David Young
Trombone [probably] – Preston Jackson
Trumpet [probably] – Bob Shoffner, George Mitchell, Guy Kelly
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
Vocals [2nd v.] – Unknown Artist
10.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon And His Hot Shots*–    Spank It 2:37
Acoustic Bass [probably] – Johnny Frazier
Alto Saxophone [probably] – Kenneth Anderson 
Clarinet [probably] – Dalbert Bright
Drums [probably] – Tubby Hall
Piano [probably] – Jerome Carrington
Tenor Saxophone [probably] – David Young
Trombone [probably] – Preston Jackson
Trumpet [probably] – Bob Shoffner, George Mitchell, Guy Kelly
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
11.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon And His Hot Shots*–    The Mortgage Blues - Part 1 3:00
Drums [probably] – Tubby Hall
Piano [probably] – Jerome Carrington
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
Vocals [2nd v.], Vocals [group] – Unknown Artist
12.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon And His Hot Shots*–    The Mortgage Blues - Part 2 2:53
Drums [probably] – Tubby Hall
Piano [probably] – Jerome Carrington
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
Vocals [2nd v.] – Unknown Artist
Vocals [Group Vcl] – Unknown Artist
13.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon And His Hot Shots*–    Mama Don't Allow It 2:57
Acoustic Bass – Johnny Frazier
Alto Saxophone – Kenneth Anderson 
Clarinet – Dalbert Bright
Drums – Tubby Hall
Piano – Jerome Carrington
Tenor Saxophone – David Young
Trombone – Preston Jackson
Trumpet – Bob Shoffner, George Mitchell, Guy Kelly
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
Vocals [2nd v.] – Unknown Artist
14.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon And His Hot Shots–    My Baby's Hot (Can't You Understand) 2:54
Acoustic Bass – Johnny Frazier
Alto Saxophone – Kenneth Anderson 
Clarinet – Dalbert Bright
Drums – Tubby Hall
Piano – Jerome Carrington
Tenor Saxophone – David Young
Trombone – Preston Jackson
Trumpet – Bob Shoffner, George Mitchell, Guy Kelly
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
15.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon And His Hot Shots–    Fifteen Cents 3:07
Acoustic Bass – Johnny Frazier
Alto Saxophone – Kenneth Anderson
Clarinet – Dalbert Bright
Drums – Tubby Hall
Piano – Jerome Carrington
Tenor Saxophone – David Young
Trombone – Preston Jackson
Trumpet – Bob Shoffner, George Mitchell, Guy Kelly
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
16.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon And His Hot Shots–    Fan It
Acoustic Bass – Johnny Frazier
Alto Saxophone – Kenneth Anderson 
Clarinet – Dalbert Bright
Drums – Tubby Hall
Piano – Jerome Carrington
Tenor Saxophone – David Young
Trombone – Preston Jackson
Trumpet – Bob Shoffner, George Mitchell, Guy Kelly
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
17.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon* And The Harlem Hamfats–    The Dirty Dozen 2:56
Acoustic Bass – Ransom Knowling
Clarinet – Odell Rand
Drums – Pearlis Williams
Guitar – Joe McCoy
Guitar, Mandolin – Charlie McCoy 
Piano – Horace Malcolm
Trumpet – Herb Morand
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
18.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon* And The Harlem Hamfats–    She Brings Me Down 2:45
Acoustic Bass – Ransom Knowling
Clarinet – Odell Rand
Drums – Pearlis Williams
Guitar – Joe McCoy
Guitar, Mandolin – Charlie McCoy 
Piano – Horace Malcolm
Trumpet – Herb Morand
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
19.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon And The Harlem Hamfats–    Take It Easy, Greasy 2:53
Acoustic Bass – Ransom Knowling
Clarinet – Odell Rand
Drums – Pearlis Williams
Guitar – Joe McCoy
Guitar, Mandolin – Charlie McCoy 
Piano – Horace Malcolm
Trumpet – Herb Morand
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
20.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon And The Harlem Hamfats–    Wet It (Let The Good Work Go On) 2:43
Acoustic Bass – Ransom Knowling
Clarinet – Odell Rand
Drums – Pearlis Williams
Guitar – Joe McCoy
Guitar, Mandolin – Charlie McCoy 
Piano – Horace Malcolm
Trumpet – Herb Morand
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
21.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon And The Harlem Hamfats–    No Need Knockin' On The Blind 3:07
Acoustic Bass – Unknown Artist
Clarinet – Buster Bailey
Drums – Pearlis Williams
Guitar – Joe McCoy
Guitar, Mandolin – Charlie McCoy 
Piano – Horace Malcolm
Trumpet – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
22.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon And The Harlem Hamfats–    You Certainly Look Good To Me 2:28
Acoustic Bass – Unknown Artist
Clarinet – Buster Bailey
Drums – Pearlis Williams
Guitar – Joe McCoy
Guitar, Mandolin – Charlie McCoy 
Piano – Horace Malcolm
Trumpet – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
23.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon And The Harlem Hamfats–    She Sends Me 2:33
Acoustic Bass – Unknown Artist
Clarinet – Buster Bailey
Drums – Pearlis Williams
Guitar – Joe McCoy
Guitar, Mandolin – Charlie McCoy 
Piano – Horace Malcolm
Trumpet – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
24.    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon And The Harlem Hamfats–    Chocolate To The Bone (I'm So Glad I'm Brownskin) 2:59
Acoustic Bass – Unknown Artist
Clarinet – Buster Bailey
Drums – Pearlis Williams
Guitar – Joe McCoy
Guitar, Mandolin – Charlie McCoy 
Piano – Horace Malcolm
Trumpet – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon 

MAGGIE JONES — Volume 2 (May 1925 To June 1926) + GLADYS BENTLEY — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order 1928/1929 (1995) DOCD-5349 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Two different blues-oriented vaudeville singers are featured on this CD, which is the follow-up to Maggie Jones, Vol. 1. Jones had a strong voice and is heard on the first 16 selections, backed by some Fletcher Henderson sidemen (including cornetist Joe Smith), the St. Louis Rhythm Kings, clarinetist Bob Fuller, trumpeter Louis Metcalf, and pianist Clarence Williams, among others. In addition, this CD has all eight recordings by singer-pianist Gladys Bentley, a male impersonator whose style is a bit of an acquired taste; guitarist Eddie Lang is fortunately on four of the numbers. This well-done release is not essential but has its moments of interest. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Maggie Jones–    Cheatin' On Me 3:13
Orchestra – Henderson's Hot Six
2.    Maggie Jones–    Mamma (Won't You Come And Ma-Ma Me) 2:58
Orchestra – Henderson's Hot Six
3.    Maggie Jones–    He's Just A Horn-Tootin' Fool 3:08
Orchestra – St. Louis Rhythm Kings
4.    Maggie Jones–    Go Get 'Em Caroline 3:11
Orchestra – St. Louis Rhythm Kings
5.    Maggie Jones, Acc. Her Band–    Dallas Blues 3:01
Orchestra – Maggie Jones, Acc. Her Band
6.    Maggie Jones, Acc. Her Band–    South Street Blues 2:32
Orchestra – Maggie Jones, Acc. Her Band
7.    Maggie Jones, Acc. Her Band–    Never Drive A Beggar From Your Door 2:57
Orchestra – Maggie Jones, Acc. Her Band
8.    Maggie Jones, Acc. Her Band–    I'm A Back Bitin' Mama 2:58
Orchestra – Maggie Jones, Acc. Her Band
9.    Maggie Jones, Acc. Her Jazzers–    Single Woman's Blues 2:48
Orchestra – Maggie Jones, Acc. Her Jazzers
10.    Maggie Jones And Her Jazz Band–    Never Tell A Woman Friend 2:52
Orchestra – Maggie Jones, Acc. Her Jazzers
11.    Maggie Jones–    The Man I Love Is Oh So Good    3:01
12.    Maggie Jones–    I'm Leaving You    2:53
13.    Maggie Jones–    I'm A Real Kind Mama    2:57
14.    Maggie Jones–    You Ain't Gonna Feed My In Pasture Now    2:52
15.    Maggie Jones–    Mama Stayed Out The Whole Night Long    3:04
16.    Maggie Jones–    He Belongs To Me    2:58
17.    Gladys Bentley–    Ground Hog Blues    3:00
18.    Gladys Bentley–    Worried Blues    2:43
19.    Gladys Bentley–    How Long-How Long Blues    2:48
20.    Gladys Bentley–    Moanful Wailin' Blues    3:02
21.    Gladys Bentley–    Wild Geese Blues    3:00
22.    Gladys Bentley–    How Much Can I Stand?    3:05
23.    Gladys Bentley–    Big Gorilla Man    2:50
24.    Gladys Bentley–    Red Beans And Rice    2:57
Credits : 
Alto Saxophone – Bob Fuller (tracks: 7, 8, 10), Elmer Snowden (tracks: 7 to 10)
Banjo – Charlie Dixon (tracks: 1, 2), Elmer Snowden (tracks: 5, 7, 8)
Clarinet – Bob Fuller (tracks: 5, 7 to 9), Buster Bailey (tracks: 1, 2), Louis Maesto (tracks: 3, 4)
Compilation Producer – Johnny Parth
Cornet – Harry Cooper (tracks: 6), Joe Smith (tracks: 1, 2), Louis Metcalf (tracks: 11 to 14)
Drums – Christian Maesto (tracks: 3, 4)
Effects – Unknown Artist (tracks: 5)
Guitar – Eddie Lang (tracks: 19 to 22)
Liner Notes – John Wilby
Piano – Clarence Williams (tracks: 15, 16), Cliff Jackson (tracks: 11 to 14), Fletcher Henderson (tracks: 1, 2), Louis Hooper (tracks: 5 to 10), Nick Moleri (tracks: 3, 4), Unknown Artist (tracks: 23, 24)
Piano [Poss.] – Gladys Bentley (tracks: 17 to 20)
Remastered By – Gerhard Wessely
Trombone – Charlie Green (tracks: 1, 2), Jake Frazier (tracks: 11, 12), Pete Pellezzi (tracks: 3, 4)
Trumpet – Micky Bloom (tracks: 3, 4)
Vocals – Gladys Bentley (tracks: 17 to 24), Maggie Jones (tracks: 1 to 16)

ROSA HENDERSON — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 3 (1924-1926) DOCD-5403 (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The fourth and final CD in Document's Rosa Henderson series finishes off her recording career with nine numbers from 1926, a dozen from 1927, and two from 1931. Most notable are six numbers in which Rosa Henderson is accompanied by the great stride pianist James P. Johnson (including "Black Snake Moan" and "Can't Be Bothered With No Sheik"). Other selections have her assisted by the Three Hot Eskimos, the Four Black Diamonds, pianist Cliff Jackson, and cornetist Louis Metcalf. A perfectly done reissue series paying tribute to a talented if forgotten classic blues singer of the 1920s.  Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Rosa Henderson, Choo Choo Jazzers–    Hard-Hearted Hannah  2:58
Cornet [Prob.] – Rex Stewart
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
2.    Sally Ritz–    Deep River Blues  3:02
Cornet – Unknown Artist
Piano – Louis Hooper
Trombone [Poss.] – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
3.    Sally Ritz–    The Basement Blues  2:55
Cornet – Unknown Artist
Piano – Louis Hooper
Trombone [Poss.] – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
4.    Rosa Henderson–    Don't Advertise Your Man  3:46
Banjo [Prob.] – Elmer Snowden
Clarinet [Prob.] – Bob Fuller
Cornet [Either/Or] – Bubber Miley, Rex Stewart, Tom Morris
Orchestra – Kansas City Five 
Piano [Prob.] – Louis Hooper
Trombone [Prob.] – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
5.    Rosa Henderson–    Twelfth Street Blues  2:48
Cornet – Louis Metcalf
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
6.    Rosa Henderson–    Memphis Bound (31677)  3:10
Cornet – Louis Metcalf
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
Whistle [Train-whistle] – Unknown Artist
7.    Rosa Henderson–    Memphis Bound (31678)  3:00
Cornet – Louis Metcalf
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Cliff Jackson
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
Whistle [Train-whistle] – Unknown Artist
8.    Rosa Henderson–    Undertaker's Blues  3:47
Banjo [Prob.] – Elmer Snowden
Clarinet [Prob.] – Bob Fuller
Cornet [Either/Or] – Bubber Miley, Rex Stewart, Tom Morris
Orchestra – Kansas City Five 
Piano [Prob.] – Louis Hooper
Trombone [Prob.] – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
9.    Rosa Henderson–    Everything My Sweetie Does (Pleases Me)  3:02
Banjo [Prob.] – Elmer Snowden
Clarinet [Prob.] – Bob Fuller
Cornet [Either/Or] – Bubber Miley, Rex Stewart, Tom Morris
Orchestra – Kansas City Five 
Piano [Prob.] – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
10.    Rosa Henderson–    It Takes A Two Time Papa  2:52
Cornet – Rex Stewart
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Louis Hooper
Trombone – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
11.    Rosa Henderson–    Nobody Knows The Way I Feel 'Dis Mornin' 2:51
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Louis Hooper
Trombone [Prob.] – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
12.    Rosa Henderson–    Penitentiary Bound Blues  2:56
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Louis Hooper
Trombone [Prob.] – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
13.    Rosa Henderson–    12th Street Blues  2:54
Banjo – Elmer Snowden
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Cornet – Rex Stewart
Orchestra – Choo Choo Jazzers
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
14.    Rosa Henderson–    Get It Fixed  2:48
Banjo – Elmer Snowden
Cornet – Rex Stewart
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
15.    Rosa Henderson–    Low Down Daddy Blues  3:00
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
16.    Rosa Henderson–    Poplar Bluff Blues  2:28
Piano – Louis Hooper
Trombone – Jake Frazier
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
17.    Rosa Henderson–    An' I Don't Mean If  2:52
Banjo – Elmer Snowden
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
18.    Rosa Henderson–    You Can't Be Like My Last Man Was  2:50
Banjo – Elmer Snowden
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Orchestra – Three Jolly Miners
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
19.    Rosa Henderson–    Let's Talk About My Sweetie  2:54
Cornet – Rex Stewart
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
20.    Rosa Henderson–    Mama Is Waitin' For You  3:01
Cornet – Rex Stewart
Piano – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
21.    Mamie Harris–    You Get Mad  2:51
Piano – Fats Waller
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
22.    Mamie Harris–    What's The Matter Now?  2:40
Piano – Fats Waller
Vocals – Rosa Henderson
23.    Rosa Henderson–    Here Comes My Baby  3:03
Clarinet – Bob Fuller
Cornet [Either/Or] – Bubber Miley, Tom Morris
Orchestra – Three Hot Eskimos
Piano [Poss./Or] – Cliff Jackson
Piano [Prob./Or] – Louis Hooper
Vocals – Rosa Henderson