LOUIS JORDAN AND HIS TYMPANY FIVE – 1940-1941 | The Chronogical Classics – 663 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second in the Classics label's CD series that reissues all of Louis Jordan's early recordings features the masterful entertainer with his Tympani Five in the period that directly preceded his great commercial successes. Although most of these 26 selections (including "Somebody Done Hoodooed the Hoodoo Man," "After School Swing Session," "Saxa-Woogie" and "De Laff's On You") are quite obscure, the playing by the group is quite infectious and enjoyable. Singers Daisy Winchester and Mabel Robinson are heard on the Mar. 13, 1940 session for a song apiece, but otherwise, the focus is on Jordan and his fine band, which features tenor saxophonist Kenneth Hollon and several trumpeters, including (on one date) Freddy Webster. Recommended to listeners who want to hear more Louis Jordan than just his hit records. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist + Credits :

BUDDY JOHNSON AND HIS BAND – 1939-1942 | The Classics Chronological Series – 884 (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Pianist Buddy Johnson is best-known for leading a swinging, R&B-oriented big band in the late 1940s and '50s that, with his sister Ella Johnson as the main star, introduced "Since I Fell for You." On this CD from the European Classics label, Johnson's first 24 numbers recorded as a leader are reissued and most of the tracks were previously quite hard to come by. At the time Buddy Johnson was an Earl Hines-influenced pianist who was searching for his own sound. A few numbers feature vocals by the so-so Mack Sisters and various bandmembers including the leader himself, but it is the songs with Ella Johnson (particularly "Please, Mister Johnson" and "It's the Gold") that stand out. During the two-year period covered by this CD, Johnson's band grew from a septet to a nonet, but the glory years were still in the future. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

 

BUDDY JOHNSON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1942-1947 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1079 (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

1942-1947 is the second volume chronicling Buddy Johnson's piano-led jump blues with his orchestra. An enjoyable listen, it offers a good sampling of the different vocalists Johnson worked with, including Chester Boone, James Lewis, Warren Evans, and -- happily -- seven tunes featuring the warm vocals of his sister Ella Johnson. "Let's Beat Out Some Love" and "Fine Brown Frame" are some of the only covers amidst Johnson-penned numbers such as "South Main," "Walk 'Em," and his biggest hit with Ella, "Since I Fell for You." Joslyn Layne
Tracklist :

SLIM GAILLARD – 1937-1938 | The Classics Chronological Series – 705 (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Slim's story begins in Detroit, where Bulee Gaillard was born on January 4, 1916. He seems to have inherited a bizarre sense of recklessness from his father, an absent-minded cruise-ship employee who at one point misplaced little Bulee, sailing off and leaving the boy stranded on the island of Crete for half a year. Multi-instrumental and able to sing and tap dance, Slim began his performing career in the early '30s. He invaded New York in 1937 and made his first appearance on records in April of that year with Frank Newton's Uptown Serenaders. These two rare sides were issued on Classics 643, the Chronological series' outstanding Frankie Newton volume with the title 1937-1939. Their reappearance at the beginning of Slim's chronology is fortuitous rather than redundant. Slim had a warm and pleasant voice. He was archetypically hip; he scatted with ease and sounded perfectly at home in the company of Frankie Newton, Edmond Hall, Russell Procope, and Pete Brown. Slim Gaillard's most famous tune materialized ten months later, on February 17, 1938. This was the very first in a long series of lively duets with bassist Slam Stewart. Bolstered by piano, percussion, and an occasional saxophone, the act became known as Slim & Slam. Their bottle-rocket hit record was originally supposed to be called "Flat Foot Floozy" but the word "floozy," denoting an inexpensive prostitute, seemed immoral to the folks in charge at Vocalion Records, so Slim changed it to "Floogie." Confusing things even further, Vocalion issued the song as "The Flat Fleet Floogee." None of this interfered with the success of Gaillard's magnum opus. Its rowdiest incarnation was recorded in London on August 21, 1938, by Fats Waller & His Continental Rhythm, with all the subtlety of a merry brawl. Slim & Slam's original version set the pace and established a pattern for their many subsequent collaborations, which continued until Gaillard was inducted into the armed forces in 1943. These 1938 recordings are the freshest and most endearing of all. "Chinatown," in spite of its ethnic slurring, demonstrates Gaillard's incredible ability to run his mouth in hilarious and surprising ways. The two men's unique voices -- surrealistic Slim and bowing, singing Slam -- mingle most pleasantly. "Tutti Frutti" and "Look-A There" are good examples of the kind of a groove these guys liked to glide with. "Vol Vist du Gaily Star" is strangely attractive. "Laughin' in Rhythm" was attempted by other musicians, but nobody ever came close to the outrageousness of this recording. Gaillard's lifelong involvement with cannabis seems to be documented here in high relief. The hilarity is authentic, and Gaillard is in the throes of a coughing fit as the record fades out. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1    Frank Newton And His Uptown Serenaders–    There's No Two Ways About It 2:53
Vocals – Slim Gaillard
2    Frank Newton And His Uptown Serenaders–    'Cause My Baby Says It's So 2:40
Vocals – Slim Gaillard
3    Slim & Slam–    The Flat Foot Floogie    2:47
4    Slim & Slam–    Chinatown, My Chinatown    2:35
5    Slim & Slam–    That's What You Call Romance    2:47
6    Slim & Slam–    Ti-Pi-Tin    2:31
7    Slim & Slam–    8, 9, And 10    2:39
8    Slim & Slam–    Dancing On The Beach    3:04
9    Slim & Slam–    Oh, Lady, Be Good    2:39
10    Slim & Slam–    Ferdinand The Bull    2:51
11    Slim & Slam–    Tutti Frutti    2:35
12    Slim & Slam–    Look-A There    2:12
13    Slim & Slam–    Humpty Dumpty    2:28
14    Slim & Slam–    Jump Session    2:33
15    Slim & Slam–    Laughin' In Rhythm    2:35
16    Slim & Slam–    Vol Vist Du Gaily Star    2:41
17    Slim & Slam–    Dopey Joe    2:01
18    Slim & Slam–    Sweet Safronia    2:07
19    Slim & Slam–    It's Gettin' Kinda Chilly    2:29
20    Slim & Slam–    Buck Dance Rhythm    2:38
Credits :    
Acoustic Bass – Richard Fullbright (tracks: 1, 2)
Acoustic Bass, Vocals – Slam Stewart (tracks: 3 to 20)
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown (tracks: 1, 2), Russell Procope (tracks: 1, 2)
Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone – Edmond Hall (tracks: 1, 2)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Cecil Scott (tracks: 1, 2)
Drums – Cozy Cole (tracks: 1, 2), Pompey "Guts" Dobson (tracks: 3 to 20), Slim Gaillard (tracks: 3 to 20)
Guitar – John Smith (tracks: 1, 2), Slim Gaillard (tracks: 3 to 20)
Piano – Don Frye (tracks: 1, 2), Sam Allen (tracks: 3 to 20)
Tenor Saxophone – Kenneth Hollon (tracks: 14 to 20)
Trumpet, Alto Saxophone – Frank Newton (tracks: 1, 2)
Vibraphone [occasional] – Slim Gaillard (tracks: 3 to 20)
Vocals – Slim Gaillard

SLIM GAILLARD – 1939-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 724 (1993) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Volume two in the Classics Slim Gaillard chronology presents the Flat Foot Floogee Boys in all their pixilated glory. Well known for his silly and imaginative use of hip scat and cannabis-informed "viper talk," Gaillard was also one of a handful of individuals who pioneered the use of the electrically amplified guitar. This entertaining compilation presents Gaillard in the company of trumpeters Cyril Newman, Al Killian, and Henry Goodwin, lightning alto saxophonist Herman Flintall, Kenneth Hollon on tenor sax, the versatile Garvin Bushell on clarinet, pianist Loumell Morgan, bowing/singing bassist Slam Stewart, and dynamic drummer Herbert Pettaway (also known as "Hubert"). There are no sleepers among these vintage recordings, which were originally issued on the Okeh and Vocalion labels. Slow ballads come across as very cool and groovy while most of the vocal routines are based on simple riffs with lyrics derived from basic hip vernacular. A jam like "Beatin' the Board" is a miracle of collectivity and "Sploghm" is cherished by collectors and jazz heads as a masterpiece of rapid-fire small-group swing. The call and response "Broadway Jump" takes the art of nonsensical babble to new levels of silliness. Soon the public would come to associate Gaillard almost exclusively with this sort of eccentric novelty chatter rather than with the bop revolution with which in some ways he was closely aligned. Invariably tempered with Gaillard's peculiar sense of humor, the bop element would become significantly more pronounced in 1945 and 1946, as later volumes in this excellent series thoroughly demonstrate. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    That's A Bringer - That's A Hanger - That's A Drag    2:56
2    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    A-Well-A-Take-'Em-A-Joe (Crap Shooter's Jive)    3:01
3    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Chicken Rhythm    2:52
4    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Swingin' In The Key Of C    2:41
5    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Boot-Ta-La-Za    3:23
6    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    (My Darling) It's You, Only You    3:10
7    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Beatin' The Board    2:57
8    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Look Out    2:52
9    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Matzoh Balls    2:35
10    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Early In The Morning    2:35
11    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Chittlin' Switch Blues    2:48
12    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Huh! Uh-Huh!    2:50
13    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Windy City Hop    2:42
14    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Baby, Be Mine    2:56
15    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Sploghm    2:34
16    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Fitzwater Street (Located In Philadelphia)    2:48
17    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Don't Let Us Say Good-Bye    2:57
18    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Rhythm Mad    2:44
19    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Bongo    2:54
20    Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogee Boys–    Broadway Jump    2:47
Credits :    
Acoustic Bass – William Smith (tracks: 1 to 12)
Acoustic Bass, Vocals – Slam Stewart (tracks: 13 to 20)
Alto Saxophone – Herman Flintall (tracks: 1 to 7)
Clarinet – Garvin Bushell (tracks: 17 to 20)
Drums – Herbert Pettaway
Piano – Loumell Morgan
Tenor Saxophone – Kenneth Hollon (tracks: 8 to 12)
Trumpet – Al Killian (tracks: 4 to 12), Cyril Newman (tracks: 1 to 3), Henry Goodwin (tracks: 17 to 20)
Vocals, Guitar – Slim Gaillard

FRANKIE NEWTON – 1937-1939 (1992) The Classics Chronological Series – 643 | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Welcome to the incredibly solid and inexplicably overlooked music of Frankie Newton, a formidable trumpeter who led a series of bracingly hot swing bands during the late '30s. First comes a hotter than average version of "You Showed Me the Way," with Clarence Palmer singing in a voice that has just a bit of Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon about it. Pete Brown, Cecil Scott, and Edmond Hall heat up the entire first session, and when you add Russell Procope the fur really flies. Listeners even get to hear clarinetist Hall doubling on baritone saxophone. Even more exciting is the presence of Bulee "Slim" Gaillard, making what must be two of his first appearances on record. Slim scats up a storm and the band wails back at him. On July 13, 1937, the Uptown Serenaders came out with the most notoriously weird and irrepressibly hot record ever to appear under Newton's name: "The Onyx Hop" begins as a scorcher, and then Frankie and Pete chant the following lyrics in a strange, stoned-out duet: "Come with me and smoke some tea and I shall carry on/Look out, fellow, let me pass, I shan't be out here long/Love my wife but what has that got to do with this song?/She stayed out one hour overtime, I stayed out all night long/Went down to the Onyx Club and had myself a ball/I got tight off of scotch and stuff and like not got home at all." This recitation quickly ignites a boiling out-chorus. It is one of the funniest and most dazzling uptown swing recordings of the 1930s, and here it is sandwiched between two globs of molasses as Leon LaFell groans out a pair of sentimental songs, probably perceived as necessary confections for the pop audience. But who cares! This incongruity is quickly forgotten as the session of January 13, 1939, appears in its entirety, with James P. Johnson, Pete Brown, and Mezz Mezzrow in addition to Al Casey, John Kirby, and Cozy Cole. Bits and pieces of this session have been reissued here and there over the years, but rarely has the entire session been made available in this way. Three of these tunes, two slow drags and a stomp, were devised by the Mighty Mezz, who more often than not proved to be a good source of solid grooves and funky atmosphere. The effect of six consecutive selections played by this incredible band is downright intoxicating, as is the rest of the material presented here. "Daybreak Blues" and "After Hour Blues," gently but firmly rendered by Newton in front of Albert Ammons, Teddy Bunn, Johnny Williams, and Sid Catlett, constitute the very beginnings of the Blue Note record label. They have previously appeared under the heading of the Port of Harlem Jazzmen, reissued however briefly by the good people at Mosaic Records. Frankie's Cafe Society Orchestra has Tab Smith playing soprano saxophone during the relaxing "Tab's Blues," while "Jitters," "Frankie's Jump," and "Jam Fever" are cookers. "Vamp" bases its dance rhythm on a very simple line. "Parallel Fifths," a walking blues with an underlying boogie-woogie attitude, provides a smooth finish to this almost perfect package of vintage uptown swing. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1    Frankie Newton And His Uptown Serenaders–    You Showed Me The Way 2:44
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown
Clarinet – Edmond Hall
Double Bass [String Bass] – Richard Fullbright
Drums – Cozy Cole
Guitar – John Smith
Piano – Don Frye
Tenor Saxophone – Cecil Scott
Trumpet – Frank Newton
Vocals – Clarence Palmer
Written-By – Green, McCrae
2    Frankie Newton And His Uptown Serenaders–    Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone 2:34
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown
Clarinet – Edmond Hall
Double Bass [String Bass] – Richard Fullbright
Drums – Cozy Cole
Guitar – John Smith
Piano – Don Frye
Tenor Saxophone – Cecil Scott
Trumpet – Frank Newton
Written-By – Stept, Clare
3    Frankie Newton And His Uptown Serenaders–    Who's Sorry Now? 2:44
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown
Clarinet – Edmond Hall
Double Bass [String Bass] – Richard Fullbright
Drums – Cozy Cole
Guitar – John Smith
Piano – Don Frye
Tenor Saxophone – Cecil Scott
Trumpet – Frank Newton
Written-By – Kalmar, Ruby, Snyder
4    Frankie Newton And His Uptown Serenaders–    I Found A New Baby 2:37
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown, Russell Procope
Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone – Edmond Hall
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Cecil Scott
Double Bass [String Bass] – Richard Fullbright
Drums – Cozy Cole
Guitar – John Smith
Piano – Don Frye
Trumpet – Frank Newton
Written-By – Palmer, Williams
5    Frankie Newton And His Uptown Serenaders–    The Brittwood Stomp (I'm A Ding Dong Daddy) 2:42
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown, Russell Procope
Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone – Edmond Hall
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Cecil Scott
Double Bass [String Bass] – Richard Fullbright
Drums – Cozy Cole
Guitar – John Smith
Piano – Don Frye
Trumpet, Written-By – Frank Newton
6    Frankie Newton And His Uptown Serenaders–    There's No Two Ways About It 2:53
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown, Russell Procope
Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone – Edmond Hall
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Cecil Scott
Double Bass [String Bass] – Richard Fullbright
Drums – Cozy Cole
Guitar – John Smith
Piano – Don Frye
Trumpet – Frank Newton
Vocals – Slim Gaillard
Written-By – Adamson, McHugh
7    Frankie Newton And His Uptown Serenaders–    'Cause My Baby Says It's So 2:40
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown, Russell Procope
Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone – Edmond Hall
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Cecil Scott
Double Bass [String Bass] – Richard Fullbright
Drums – Cozy Cole
Guitar – John Smith
Piano – Don Frye
Trumpet – Frank Newton
Vocals – Slim Gaillard
Written-By – Dubin, Warren
8    Frankie Newton And His Uptown Serenaders–    Easy Living 2:47
Alto Saxophone – Gene Johnson, Pete Brown
Clarinet – Edmond Hall
Double Bass [String Bass] – John Kirby
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Frank Rice
Piano – Don Frye
Tenor Saxophone – Cecil Scott
Trumpet – Frank Newton
Vocals – Leon LaFell
Written-By – Robin, Rainger
9    Frankie Newton And His Uptown Serenaders–    The Onyx Hop 2:44
Alto Saxophone – Gene Johnson
Alto Saxophone, Vocals – Pete Brown
Clarinet – Edmond Hall
Double Bass [String Bass] – John Kirby
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Frank Rice
Piano – Don Frye
Tenor Saxophone – Cecil Scott
Trumpet, Vocals, Written-By – Frank Newton
10    Frankie Newton And His Uptown Serenaders–    Where Or When 2:32
Alto Saxophone – Gene Johnson, Pete Brown
Clarinet – Edmond Hall
Double Bass [String Bass] – John Kirby
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Guitar – Frank Rice
Piano – Don Frye
Tenor Saxophone – Cecil Scott
Trumpet – Frank Newton
Vocals – Leon LaFell
Written-By – Rodgers-Hart
11    Frankie Newton And Orchestra–    Rosetta
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown
Clarinet – Mezz Mezzrow
Double Bass [String Bass] – John Kirby
Drums – Cozy Cole
Guitar – Albert Casey
Piano – James P. Johnson
Trumpet – Frank Newton
Written-By – Hines
12    Frankie Newton And Orchestra–    Minor Jive 3:05
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown
Clarinet, Written-By – Mezz Mezzrow
Double Bass [String Bass] – John Kirby
Drums – Cozy Cole
Guitar – Albert Casey
Piano – James P. Johnson
Trumpet – Frank Newton
13    Frankie Newton And Orchestra–    The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise 3:11
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown
Clarinet – Mezz Mezzrow
Double Bass [String Bass] – John Kirby
Drums – Cozy Cole
Guitar – Albert Casey
Piano – James P. Johnson
Trumpet – Frank Newton
Written-By – Seitz, Lockhart
14    Frankie Newton And Orchestra–    Who? 3:09
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown
Clarinet – Mezz Mezzrow
Double Bass [String Bass] – John Kirby
Drums – Cozy Cole
Guitar – Albert Casey
Piano – James P. Johnson
Trumpet – Frank Newton
Written-By – Kern, Hammerstein, Harbach
15    Frankie Newton And Orchestra–    The Blues My Baby Gave To Me 3:12
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown
Clarinet, Written-By – Mezz Mezzrow
Double Bass [String Bass] – John Kirby
Drums – Cozy Cole
Guitar – Albert Casey
Piano – James P. Johnson
Trumpet – Frank Newton
16    Frankie Newton And Orchestra–    Rompin' 2:33
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown
Clarinet, Written-By – Mezz Mezzrow
Double Bass [String Bass] – John Kirby
Drums – Cozy Cole
Guitar – Albert Casey
Piano – James P. Johnson
Trumpet – Frank Newton
17    Frank Newton Quintet–    Daybreak Blues 2:38
Double Bass [String Bass] – Johnny Williams
Drums – Sidney Catlett
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Albert Ammons
Trumpet – Frank Newton
18    Frankie Newton And His Café Society Orchestra–    Tab's Blues 2:54
Alto Saxophone – Stanley Payne
Double Bass [String Bass] – Johnny Williams
Drums – Eddie Dougherty
Guitar – Ulysses Livingston
Piano – Kenny Kersey
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Written-By – Tab Smith
Tenor Saxophone – Kenneth Hollon
Trumpet – Frank Newton
19    Frankie Newton And His Café Society Orchestra–    Jitters 3:00
Alto Saxophone – Stanley Payne
Double Bass [String Bass] – Johnny Williams
Drums – Eddie Dougherty
Guitar – Ulysses Livingston
Piano – Kenny Kersey
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Written-By – Tab Smith
Tenor Saxophone – Kenneth Hollon
Trumpet – Frank Newton
20    Frankie Newton And His Café Society Orchestra–    Frankie's Jump 2:46
Alto Saxophone – Stanley Payne
Double Bass [String Bass] – Johnny Williams
Drums – Eddie Dougherty
Guitar – Ulysses Livingston
Piano – Kenny Kersey
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Tab Smith
Tenor Saxophone – Kenneth Hollon
Trumpet, Written-By – Frank Newton
21    Frankie Newton And His Café Society Orchestra–    Jam Fever 3:06
Alto Saxophone – Stanley Payne
Double Bass [String Bass] – Johnny Williams
Drums – Eddie Dougherty
Guitar – Ulysses Livingston
Piano – Kenny Kersey
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Written-By – Tab Smith
Tenor Saxophone – Kenneth Hollon
Trumpet – Frank Newton
22    Frank Newton Quintet–    After Hour Blues 4:07
Double Bass [String Bass] – Johnny Williams
Drums – Sidney Catlett
Guitar – Teddy Bunn
Piano – Meade Lux Lewis
Trumpet – Frank Newton
23    Frankie Newton And His Café Society Orchestra–    Vamp 2:51
Alto Saxophone – Stanley Payne
Double Bass [String Bass] – Johnny Williams
Drums – Eddie Dougherty
Guitar – Ulysses Livingston
Piano – Kenny Kersey
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Written-By – Tab Smith
Tenor Saxophone – Kenneth Hollon
Trombone – Dicky Wells
Trumpet – Frank Newton
24    Frankie Newton And His Café Society Orchestra–    Parallel Fifths 3:15
Alto Saxophone – Stanley Payne
Double Bass [String Bass] – Johnny Williams
Drums – Eddie Dougherty
Guitar – Ulysses Livingston
Piano – Kenny Kersey
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Tab Smith
Tenor Saxophone – Kenneth Hollon
Trombone – Dicky Wells
Trumpet, Written-By – Frank Newton

PUTNEY DANDRIDGE AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1935-1936 (1995) The Classics Chronological Series – 846 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Putney Dandridge put on an act that was conspicuously similar to Fats Waller's, with an edge that often bordered on Leo "Scat" Watson's maniacal excesses. When excited, his voice shook with glee, and he liked to holler at his musicians while they swung. The best example of Dandridge's craft is "Nagasaki," closely resembling a version he recorded with Adrian Rollini's Tap Room Gang within days of the giddy rendition heard here. Throughout his brief recording career, Dandridge played piano and celeste but often ceded the keyboard to Teddy Wilson so as to be able to concentrate all of his energies on singing his heart out. This is campy stuff. Bear in mind that Dandridge developed his chops by accompanying the world's greatest tap dancer, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, during the early 1930s. You can feel that kind of exuberant showmanship bubbling away during every song Dandridge ever sang. It mixes marvelously with the honest jazz blown by a steady parade of outstanding musicians drawn from bands led by Waller, Rollini, Willie Bryant and Fletcher Henderson. As entertaining as Dandridge could be, his act flourished largely because of the presence of saxophonists Gene Sedric and Chu Berry, trumpeters Roy Eldridge and Henry "Red" Allen, and clarinetist Buster Bailey (who also doubles on alto sax). Look more closely at the personnel and you'll meet less famous players of considerable merit, such as Lady Day's father Clarence Holiday who sat in with his guitar during the session of October 21, 1935. The bassist on the next session was Grachan Moncur, the father of modern jazz trombonist Grachan Moncur III. With the exception of one or two strong jazz standards, most of the material is 1930s Tin Pan Alley pop. Dandridge's version of "A Little Bit Independent" compares interestingly with Fats Waller's treatment of the same song dating from the same year. Maybe if Fats hadn't been working for Victor Records he could have gotten away with singing the naughty "Sweet Violets." Putney sounds pleased as punch to be able to pull it off.  arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist
1 You're A Heavenly Thing 2:43
 Jack Little / Joe Young
2 Mr. Bluebird 2:49
Carmichael
3 Nagasaki 2:45
 Mort Dixon / Harry Warren
4 Chasing Shadows 2:38
 Benny Davis / Oliver Silver
5 When I Grow Too Old To Dream 2:41
 Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
6 I'm In The Mood For Love 2:49
 Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
7 Isn't This A Lovely Day 3:13
 Irving Berlin
8 Cheek To Cheek 3:05
 Irving Berlin
9 That's What You Think 2:43
 Pinky Tomlin
10 Shine 3:01
 Pinky Tomlin
11 I'm On A See-Saw 3:06
 Benny Carter / Vivian Ellis
12 Eeny Meeny Miney Mo 2:55
 Matty Malneck / Johnny Mercer
13 Double Trouble 3:00
 Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin / Richard A. Whiting
14 Santa Claus Came In The Spring 2:54
 Johnny Mercer
15 You Hit The Spot 2:52
 Irving Gordon / Harry Revel
16 No Other One 2:59
 Vee Lawnhurst / Tot Seymour
17 A Little Bit Independent 3:17
 Joe Burke / Edgar Leslie
18 You Took My Breath Away 2:51
 Richard A. Whiting
19 Sweet Violets 3:06
 Cy Coben
20 Dinner For One Please, James 3:12
 Michael Carr
21 A Beautiful Lady In Blue 3:13
 J. Fred Coots / Al Lewis
22 Honeysuckle Rose 3:11
 Andy Razaf / Fats Waller