HOT LIPS PAGE – 1946-1950 | The Chronogical Classics – 1199 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 The bebop era may have been raging during the period covered by this CD, but trumpeter-singer Hot Lips Page stuck to his swing/Dixieland/blues style. Although commercial success would largely elude him, Page is heard in prime form on the 23 formerly rare performances included on this valuable CD. Other than one cut from 1946, the music is from 1947 and 1949-1950. Page (whose voice had become a bit raspier through the years) digs into four instrumentals and four vocals with a medium-size group in 1947; four of the titles were previously unreleased. He is also heard with slightly later combos, on two numbers with strings and a choir, and on a very successful four-song session in which he interacts vocally with Pearl Bailey; their version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is classic. Other highlights include "St. James Infirmary," "Fat Stuff," "Don't Tell a Man About His Woman," "The Hucklebuck," and "Ain't No Flies on Me." Recommended. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist + Credits :

ANDY KIRK AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1943-1949 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1075 (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This compilation presents selections from the last several recording sessions (mostly for Decca) of bandleader Andy Kirk. 1943-1949 opens with three late 1943 songs from Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy, which included trumpeters Fats Navarro and Howard McGhee, tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest, and vocalist June Richmond. Next comes "Hippy-Dippy," one of the few surviving songs from the only visit Kirk's band made to the studios in 1944. This number is followed by two very popular sellers, "Get Together With the Lord" and "I Know," representing the 1945 period of Andy Kirk and His Orchestra (this time including Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis) and featuring vocals by the Jubalaires, who return to sing on the 1946 recordings of "I Don't Know What I'd Do Without You" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." Other vocalists heard on 1943-1949 include Bea Booze, the Four Knights, Joe Williams, and Kenny White. Joslyn Layne
Tracklist :
1    Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy–    Shorty Boo 2:59
Vocals – Unknown Artist
Written-By – Unknown Artist
2    Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy–    Fare Thee Honey Fare Thee Well 2:59
Vocals – June Richmond
Written-By – Alston
3    Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy–    Baby Don't You Tell Me No Lie 3:08
Vocals – June Richmond
Written By – Coleman
4    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    Hippy-Dippy 2:32
Written-By – Unknown Artist
5    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra And The Jubalaires–    Get Together With The Lord 2:49
Vocals – The Jubalaires
Written-By – Reichner, Jaffe
6    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra And The Jubalaires–    I Know 3:17
Vocals – The Jubalaires
Written-By – Jennings, Brooks
7    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    He's My Baby 3:21
Vocals – Beverley White
Written-By – Kirk, White
8    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    Alabama Bound 2:56
Vocals – Bea Booze
Written-By – Williams, Jackson
9    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    Soothe Me 2:55
Vocals – Billy Daniels
Written-By – Greene
10    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    Doggin' Man Blues 3:04
Vocals – Bea Booze
Written-By – Moore, Jordan
11    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    I Don't Know What I'd Do Without You 2:59
Vocals – The Jubalaires
Written-By – Kuhn
12    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry 3:00
Vocals – The Jubalaires
Written-By – Kuhn
13    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    Now You Tell Me 2:54
Vocals – Joe Williams
Written-By – Roberts, Fisher
14    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    Louella 3:05
Vocals – Joe Williams
Written-By – Stone, Marks
15    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    So Soon 3:10
Vocals – The Four Knights
Written-By – Razaf, Luce
16    Andy Kirk And His Orchestra–    I'm Falling For You 3:04
Vocals – The Four Knights
Written-By – Williams, Hubert
17    Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy–    Little Girl, Don't Cry 2:35
Orchestra – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Jimmy Anderson
Written-By – Davis, Millinder
18    Andy Kirk And His Clouds Of Joy–    Drinking Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee, Drinking Wine 3:07
Orchestra – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Kenny White
Written-By – Williams, McGhee
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Ben Smith (tracks: 1 to 4), Joe Evans (tracks: 5 to 16), Reuben Phillips (tracks: 1 to 16)
Baritone Saxophone – Ed Loving (tracks: 1 to 4), John Porter (tracks: 7 to 16), John Taylor  (tracks: 5 , 6)
Bass – Al Hall (tracks: 7 to 16), Booker Collins (tracks: 1 to 3), Lavern Baker (tracks: 4 to 6)
Directed By – Andy Kirk
Drums – Ben Thigpen (tracks: 1 to 16)
Guitar – Floyd Smith (tracks: 5 to 16)
Piano – Hank Jones (tracks: 5 to 16), Johnny Young (tracks: 1 to 4)
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tracks: 5 to 16), J.D. King (tracks: 1 to 4), Jimmy Forrest (tracks: 1 to 16), John Harrington (tracks: 1 to 4)
Trombone – Bob Murray (tracks: 1 to 16), Henry Wells (tracks: 7 to 16), Milton Robinson (tracks: 5 to 16), Joe Baird (tracks: 1 to 4), Wayman Richardson (tracks: 1 to 16)
Trumpet – Art Capehart (tracks: 1 to 4), Clarence Trice (tracks: 13 to 16), Claude Dunson (tracks: 5 to 12), Fats Navarro (tracks: 1 to 4, 7 to 10), Fip Ricard (tracks: 13 to 16), Harry Lawson (tracks: 1 to 12), Howard McGhee (tracks: 1 to 3), John Lynch (tracks: 5 to 16), Talib Daawood (tracks: 5, 6), Unknown Artist (tracks: 4, 11 to 16)

MARY LOU WILLIAMS – 1944-1945 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1021 (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

One thing about chronologically arranged reissues -- you never know exactly what you're going to bump into. The third volume of the complete recordings of Mary Lou Williams, for example, opens with a pair of tunes sung by Josh White. It's good to hear the lyrics to Williams' cool, bluesy "Froggy Bottom," but "The Minute Man" is one of those obligatory, rhetorical patriotic numbers that cropped up everywhere during WWII and are relevant today only as historical curiosities. Most of the music reissued in this compilation originally appeared on scratchy 78-rpm records bearing the Asch label. Tenor sax archetype Coleman Hawkins is featured on the lush "Song in My Soul" and trumpeter Bill Coleman presides over a laid-back strolling blues with the worrisome title "Carcinoma." Clarinetist Claude Greene composed "This and That," a lively, bop-like romp that sounds a bit like "Epistrophy." As for "Oh, Lady Be Good," this septet's brisk and inventive set of variations based upon those Gershwin chord progressions would soon be rechristened "Rifftide" by Hawkins, who had a way of gobbling up harmonic advancements in jazz as soon as they appeared on the scene during the 1940s. With drummer Denzil Best driving the band, this is an exciting example of jazz in transition and should be studied by all who seek to better understand how the music evolved as quickly as it did in 1944. Speaking of modernity, in 1945 Mary Lou Williams composed and recorded "The Zodiac Suite," an astrologically inspired cycle of sketches for piano, bass, and drums. Each movement was dedicated to a specific set of musicians, including Ben Webster, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Ellis Larkins, and Leonard Feather. There also exists a three-piano arrangement of the "Scorpio" movement that the composer had intended to perform with Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. The music is at times wonderfully abstract and ethereal, regularly returning to the root system of blues and boogie as if to nourish itself with the lifeblood of tradition even as the composer pursued a course of harmonic exploration in ways that variously recall Ellington, Strayhorn, Satie, and Debussy. Incredibly, some critics and historians, like bored toddlers, have complained of a "lack of variety" in this work. This sort of ungracious mentality has also engendered shortsighted criticism of James P. Johnson's "Yamekraw." Williams expressed herself beautifully here, and listeners are advised to relax and proceed with patience and an open mind. This interesting album of rare treats closes with two piano solos that are cousins of "The Zodiac Suite," entitled "Stars" and "Moon," and "Timmie Time," a wonderful swinging bop study performed by an all-female quintet. In addition to Mary Lou Williams at the piano the ensemble was composed of guitarist Mary Osborne, vibraphonist Marjorie Hyams, upright bassist Bea Taylor, and smart shuffle drummer Bridget O'Flynn. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1    Mary Lou Williams And Her Orchestra–    The Minute Man    2:03
Vocals – Josh White
2    Mary Lou Williams And Her Orchestra–    Froggy Bottom     2:52
3    Mary Lou Williams And Her Orchestra–    Carcinoma     3:38
4    Mary Lou Williams And Her Orchestra–    Song Is My Soul     3:00
5    Mary Lou Williams And Her Orchestra–    This And That     2:38
6    Mary Lou Williams And Her Orchestra–    Lady Be Good     3:45
7    Mary Lou Williams Trio–    Taurus     2:32
8    Mary Lou Williams–    Pisces     2:30
9    Mary Lou Williams Trio–    Gemini     2:05
10    Mary Lou Williams–    Capricorn     2:52
11    Mary Lou Williams–    Sagittarius     1:48
12    Mary Lou Williams–    Aquarius    2:40
13    Mary Lou Williams–    Libra     2:08
14    Mary Lou Williams Trio–    Virgo     2:43
15    Mary Lou Williams Trio–    Aries     2:16
16    Mary Lou Williams Trio–    Scorpio     3:09
17    Mary Lou Williams Trio–    Cancer     2:35
18    Mary Lou Williams Trio–    Leo     1:42
19    Mary Lou Williams–    Stars     2:44
20    Mary Lou Williams–    Moon     2:24
21    Mary Lou Williams–    Timmie Time     2:48
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Joe Evans (tracks: 3 to 6)
Bass – Al Lucas (tracks: 7, 9, 14 to 18), Bea Taylor (tracks: 21), Eddie Robinson (tracks: 3 to 6), Jimmy Butts (tracks: 1, 2)
Clarinet – Claude Greene (tracks: 3 to 6)
Drums – Bridget O'Flynn (tracks: 21), Denzil Best (tracks: 3 to 6), Eddie Dougherty (tracks: 1, 2), Jack Parker (tracks: 7, 9, 14 to 18)
Guitar – Mary Osborne (tracks: 21)
Piano – Mary Lou Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins (tracks: 3 to 6)
Trumpet – Bill Coleman (tracks: 1 to 6)
Vibraphone – Marjorie Hyams (tracks: 21)