When Valaida Snow played her trumpet, she sounded a bit like Herman
Autrey, Emmett Berry, or Shad Collins. As a singer she could be compared
with Lil Hardin Armstrong, Ethel Waters, Adelaide Hall, or Josephine
Baker, depending upon the material in question. Established in London as
a reigning queen of trumpet and sweet-to-hot vocals, Snow continued to
take on songs that were closely associated with Fats Waller, such as
"Sweet Heartache," which was given its all-time best interpretation by
Fats Waller & His Rhythm band three months prior to the rendition
heard here. On the London sessions during July of 1937, Snow was backed
with a seven-piece swing band. Trumpeter Johnny Claes rode shotgun
trumpet, as it were, providing support while Snow sang in her pretty,
pert voice. This woman's music grows on you, and several of the
performances on this disc -- "I Got Rhythm" and the breakneck "Tiger
Rag" in particular -- are swing jams of the highest order. Hearing
Snow's sultry presentation of "Caravan" is an experience not to be
missed. By this time -- 1939 -- our singer and trumpeter had made her
way into Scandinavia, recording four sides for the Sonora label in
Stockholm. She was even presented with a gold trumpet by Queen
Wilhelmina of The Netherlands! The last four titles on this disc find
Snow visiting Copenhagen in July of 1940, cheerfully recording for Tono
Records and apparently unaware that the forces of Nazi Germany were
about to alter her life in the rudest manner imaginable. The rest of the
Valaida Snow story can be found on the third and last volume of her
complete recordings, Classics 1343. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1 The Mood That I'm In 2:56
2 Sweet Heartache 2:52
3 Don't Know If I'm Comin' Or Goin' 2:43
4 Where Is The Sun? 2:41
5 Some Of These Days 2:53
6 Chloe 3:07
7 Swing Is The Thing 3:08
8 Nagasaki 3:12
9 I Wonder Who Makes Rhythm? 2:53
10 I Got Rhythm 3:11
11 I Can't Believe That Your In Love With Me 2:49
12 Tiger Rag 3:01
13 Minnie The Moocher 2:18
14 Caravan 3:30
15 Swing Low, Sweet Chariot 2:54
16 My Heart Belongs To Daddy 2:52
17 You're Driving Me Crazy 2:18
18 Take It Easy 3:15
19 I Can't Give You Anything But Love 3:08
20 St. Louis Blues 2:28
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