JIMMIE NOONE – 1928-1929 | The Classics Chronological Series – 611 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Among Classics many Jimmie Noone discs, this collection of sides from 1928-1929 stands as the best. How could it not, what with it's wealth of top-notch material Noone and pianist Earl Hines cut while flourishing in the Chicago club scene. And while the overall quality of the ensemble playing is a bit subpar at times -- certainly, there's not much here to compare to Hines' contemporary triumphs with Louis Armstrong -- the sheer joy and deftness heard in Noone's solos and Hines' backing make for an enjoyable listen throughout. Along with picaresque Noone vocals like "Four of Five Times" and "Ready For the River," the 23-track mix includes such classics as "Apex Blues," "A Monday Date," and "Sweet Lorraine." This works very nicely as a generous and concise roundup of some of Noone's best work. Stephen Cook
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JIMMIE NOONE – 1929-1930 | The Classics Chronological Series – 632 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

One of the more overlooked virtuosos of the early jazz period, clarinetist Jimmie Noone followed the hallowed path from New Orleans to Chicago and established himself alongside King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, and Earl Hines. He first cut his teeth with Oliver in the late teens, then recorded some of his most mature work with Hines in 1928. This Classics disc picks up the story from 1929-1930, with 24 tracks featuring Noone accompanied by clarinetist Joe Poston, banjo man Junie Cobb, and cornet player George Mitchell. And although his sidemen are good, Noone's fleet touch, randy phrasing, and sweet tone are what capture the attention. The mix varies from gully low vocals by May Alix ("My Daddy Rocks Me") to fine instrumentals of the obscure ("El Rado Scuffle") and hit ("Apex Blues") variety. This is a solid disc, but newcomers may want to first check out the more essential 1928-1929 Classics release. Stephen Cook  
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