BEN WEBSTER – 1944-1946 | The Chronogical Classics – 1017 (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Most Ben Webster albums on the market today seem to be reissues from his magnificent autumnal years, majestically lush or bearishly brusque. It's good to have a chronological sampling of Webster's work from the mid-'40s, in order to appreciate exactly how he developed into the Ben Webster of 1959 and 1969. After popping up on early big band swing records by Bennie Moten and Willie Bryant, Webster came into his own as the first really exceptional tenor saxophonist to be featured with Duke Ellington's Orchestra. What we have here is the post-Ellington Ben Webster. His tone has gotten bigger and wider, grittily sensuous and invariably warm like a pulse in the jugular. The first eight tracks were made for radio broadcast purposes in February of 1944. The combination of Hot Lips Page and Ben Webster is a bitch. There are strolling romps with titles like "Woke Up Clipped," "Dirty Deal" and "'Nuff Said," lively stomps built on to the changes of "Tea for Two" and "I Got Rhythm," and two choice examples of Webster developing his ballad chops. "Perdido," from a quartet session recorded near the end of March 1944, is positively stunning. Webster has definitely tapped into something primal, and no one can hear him without being at least partially transformed by the sounds of his saxophone. April Fool's day, 1944 found Webster in the company of tenors Budd Johnson and Walter "Foots" Thomas, with trumpeter Emmett Berry and a modern rhythm section. "Broke but Happy" is a sweet jaunt, real solid, especially when the saxes take over in unison. But the main reason to get your own copy of Classics 1017 is to have the Savoy session of April 17th, 1944. Gracefully accompanied by Johnny Guarnieri, Oscar Pettiford and David Booth, Webster blows four of the greatest three-minute recordings of his entire career. "Kat's Fur" is a goosed up, improved version of "'Nuff Said." "I Surrender Dear" runs even deeper than the two other versions included on this disc. "Honeysuckle Rose" and especially "Blue Skies" each represent Ben Webster at his toughest and truest. This is a rare blend of musk, and it's not synthetic. It's the real thing. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist + Credits :

BUCK CLAYTON – 1949-1953 | The Chronogical Classics – 1362 (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

It wasn't until Buck Clayton made the European scene in 1949 that he had a chance to begin making records as a leader. Clayton cooked up 13 exceptionally fine tracks before heading back to New York. "High Tide" was a modern notion of Count Basie's. "Swingin' at Sundown" is immediately recognizable as "At Sundown," an old Walter Donaldson tune dating from the 1920s. The composer does not receive credit. Saxophonist Don Byas interacts busily with Clayton on "Who's Sorry Now" and the venerable "Sugar Blues." The trumpet is solely featured on "Blues in First," while "Blues in Second" is taken at almost exactly the same tempo, amounting to little more than a second take. "Don's Blues" is based on "Lester Leaps In." The second of the Parisian sessions brought in saxophonists Armand Conrad and Alix Combelle, trumpeter Bill Coleman, and the young pianist André Persiany. Clayton and Coleman interact on "Uncle Buck" and blend dazzlingly during "B.C. and B.C.," a walking blues for two in which they are billed as Duo de Trompettes. The ensemble's third-chair trumpeter, Merrill Stepter, is brought in to form the Trio de Trompettes on "Sweet Georgia Brown." Crucial support throughout all of these developments is provided by bassist Georges Hadjo. The four tracks recorded back in New York in September of 1951 seem strangely foolish by comparison. Vocalist Johnny Davis comes across as a bit of a twit, although it is interesting to hear the lyrics to "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise." During "Whispering" he keeps whispering the word "whisper" and is loudly answered by the band hollering "Don't shout!," "Don't scream!," and "Don't yell!" It's really kind of stupid. "Sixty Minute Man" is not the R&B hit, but "The Syncopated Clock" is played by the rhythm section only. Davis tries scatting like early Babs Gonzales on "Smooth Sailing," an easygoing boppish bit of blues. The saving graces on this date are the presences of trombonist Kai Winding, clarinetist Peanuts Hucko, and pianist Bernie Leighton, who held the somewhat dubious distinction of being the leader. In February of 1953, Buck Clayton sat in with the Marlowe Morris Trio, an early modern organ combo. Morris sounds uncannily like later-period Fats Waller as he tickles the upper registers of the Hammond organ on "I Want a Little Girl." Organ and guitar devise an ostinato backdrop for Clayton's horn on "Blue Moon." The guitar handles the bridge and the organ solo is tough. The final two tracks are extended jams. "Basic Organ Blues" walks an exceedingly cool path with Clayton in fine, sassy form. The electrified guitar lays down a boogie and commences to rock. The piece even turns into "Night Train" for a while. This smart little band's take on "'S Wonderful" gradually comes to a boil as Clayton enunciates the melody with elegant precision. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist + Credits :

LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1940-1941 | The Chronogical Classics – 624 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In the period covered by this disc, Lionel Hampton led the last of his swing-era all-star sessions, left Benny Goodman's orchestra, and formed his own exciting big band. "Flying Home" was still in the near future, but there are a fair number of exciting selections on this transitional disc. Hampton's vibes are heard featured with the Nat King Cole Trio on four numbers (two of which also have the Hampton River Boys taking vocals) and the vibraphonist also jams with the 1941 version of the Spirits of Rhythm. After leaving Goodman, Hampton at first led a few small-group dates that included musicians drawn from his orchestra, including altoist/clarinetist Marshall Royal, pianist Sir Charles Thompson, and trumpeter Karl George. The big band's first, mostly uneventful session concludes this interesting disc. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

SID CATLETT – 1944-1946 (1997) The Classics Chronological Series – 974 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

It's been said that Big Sid Catlett was the complete drummer, able to play with boppers and moldy figs alike and any kind of musician that fell in between those two opposite poles. Certainly his sense of time was impeccable and his soloing always flowed from the most musical of impulses. This collection brings together all the titles that were issued under his name during the '40s, featuring names like Illinois Jacquet, Ben Webster, Charlie Shavers, Oscar Pettiford, Willie Smith, Al Casey, Barney Bigard, Art Tatum, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and Pete Johnson in the various lineups. Kicking off with a spoken introduction from Sid and a live recording of "Rose Room" taken from a V-Disc, these are delightful recordings in a variety of settings that show off the versatility and innate musicality of Catlett's swinging ways. Cub Koda
Tracklist :
1    Esquire Metropolitan Opera House Jam Session–    Rose Room     5:53
Art Hickman / Harry Williams
2    Big Sid Catlett Quartet Featuring Ben Webster–    Sleep     3:30
 Earl Lebeig / Earl Lebieg
3    Big Sid Catlett Quartet Featuring Ben Webster–    Linger Awhile     3:06
 Harry Owens / Vincent Rose
4    Big Sid Catlett Quartet Featuring Ben Webster–    Memories Of You     3:45
 Eubie Blake / Andy Razaf
5    Big Sid Catlett Quartet Featuring Ben Webster–    Just A Riff     3:57
 Big Sid Catlett
6    Sid Catlett Quartet–    1-2-3 Blues     3:09
 Traditional
7    Sid Catlett Trio–    I Found A New Baby    2:41
 Jack Palmer / Spencer Williams
8    Ed Hall And The Big City Jazzmen–    Blues In Room 920 3:14
 Big Sid Catlett
9    Ed Hall And The Big City Jazzmen–    Sweet Georgia Brown 2:41
 Ben Bernie / Kenneth Casey / Maceo Pinkard
10    Sid Catlett And The Regis All Stars–    Blue Skies 3:07
 Irving Berlin
11    Sid Catlett And The Big City Jazzmen–    Blue Skies 3:07
 Irving Berlin
12    Sid Catlett And The Big City Jazzmen–    Thermo-Dynamics 3:00
 Irving Berlin
13    Big Sid Catlett's Band–    I Never Knew     2:53
 Gus Kahn / Ted Fio Rito
14    Big Sid Catlett's Band–    Love For Sale 3:04
Arranged By – Horace Henderson
15    Big Sid Catlett's Band–    Justiz You, Just Me     2:45
 Jesse Greer / Raymond Klages
16    Big Sid Catlett's Band–    Henderson Romp     2:39
 Fletcher Henderson / Horace Henderson
17    Al Casey And His Sextet–    Sometimes I'm Happy    2:54
 Irving Caesar / Vincent Youmans
18    Al Casey And His Sextet–    How High The Moon     2:39
 Nancy Hamilton / Morgan Lewis
19    Sid Catlett And His All Stars–    Organ Boogie     2:28
 Big Sid Catlett
20    Sid Catlett And His All Stars–    Organ Blues     3:28
 Big Sid Catlett
21    Sid Catlett And His All Stars–    Sherry Wine Blues 3:20
 Traditional
Vocals [?] – Bill Gooden
22    Sid Catlett And His All Stars–    Open The Door Richard 2:54
 Dusty Fletcher / Dan Howell / John Mason / Jack McVea
Vocals – Band Members
23    Sid Catlett And His All Stars–    Shirley's Boogie     2:31
 Big Sid Catlett
24    Sid Catlett And His All Stars–    Humoresque Boogie     2:37
 Antonin Dvorák
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Ben "Bull Moose" Jackson (tracks: 13 to 16), Willie Smith (tracks: 17, 18)
Bass – Gene Ramey (tracks: 21 to 24), John Simmons (tracks: 2 to 7, 13 to 18), Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 1, 8 to 12)
Clarinet – Barney Bigard (tracks: 1), Edmond Hall (tracks: 8 to 10)
Drums – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Al Casey (tracks: 1, 13 to 18), Jimmy Shirley (tracks: 19, 21 to 24)
Organ – Bill Gooden (tracks: 19, 20)
Piano – Art Tatum (tracks: 1), Eddie Heywood (tracks: 8 to 12), Horace Henderson (tracks: 13 to 18), Marlowe Morris (tracks: 2 to 7)
Piano, Celesta – Pete Johnson (tracks: 19 to 24)
Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster (tracks: 2 to 6), Hubert "Bumps" Myers (tracks: 13 to 16), Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tracks: 21), Frankie Socolow (tracks: 8 to 12), Illinois Jacquet (tracks: 13 to 18)
Trumpet – Charlie Shavers (tracks: 8 to 12), Gerald Wilson (tracks: 17, 18), Joe Guy (tracks: 13 to 16)