LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1942-1944 | The Chronogical Classics – 803 (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Lionel Hampton Big Band made it big during the period covered by this CD. "Flying Home," which Hampton had recorded at least twice earlier with combos, became a sensation thanks to Illinois Jacquet's honking tenor (which largely launched R&B) and the excitement generated by Hampton and his band (including the screaming trumpet section). This disc covers most of the war years, has a few V-discs (including the hit version of "Flying Home" and a two-part remake), and such numbers as "Loose Wig," "Hamp's Boogie-Woogie," "Overtime," and "Tempo's Boogie." Jacquet was actually with Hampton for a relatively brief period of time, but Arnett Cobb proved to be a perfect replacement. Also quite notable in the band is pianist Milt Buckner (whose block chords became influential) and such high-note trumpeters as Ernie Royal, Cat Anderson, and Snooky Young. Scott Yanow
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LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1945-1946 | The Chronogical Classics – 922 (1997) FLAC (tracks), lossless

The sixth CD in Classics' series of Lionel Hampton records documents his music during a one-year period. Hampton's big band, riding high after "Flying Home," continued to grow in popularity during this era. The vibraphonist's showmanship and his sidemen's extroverted solos generated constant excitement, as can be heard throughout these 20 selections. With the exception of Dinah Washington's lone vocal on "Blow Top Blues" and the original version of "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop," most of the selections were formerly a bit rare, including a pair of rollicking V-disc performances ("Vibe Boogie" and "Screamin' Boogie"). Hampton is heard on 14 numbers with his big band (which included such key sidemen as trumpeter Joe Morris, tenorman Arnett Cobb, the eccentric Herbie Fields on alto and clarinet, and pianist Milt Buckner), four workouts with a septet, and two tunes (including a pair of vocals) with a rhythm quartet. Bing Crosby guests on so-so versions of "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street" (sounding very much out of place), but otherwise, everything works. Stirring and accessible music. Scott Yanow
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LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1946 | The Chronogical Classics – 946 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The bulk of this CD features the Lionel Hampton Big Band, an exciting orchestra that had roots in swing and was open to the influence of bebop, but also helped set the stage for somewhat exhibitionistic R&B. With a screaming trumpet section that included Jimmy Nottingham, Joe Wilder, and Leo "The Whistler" Shepherd (all who could play first trumpets) and both Arnett Cobb and Johnny Griffin on tenors, along with such soloists as trombonist Booty Wood, pianist Milt Buckner, and Hampton himself, this must have been a very difficult ensemble to defeat in "battle of the bands" contests. Best among the big band selections are "Cobb's Idea," "Adam Blew His Hat," and "Playboy." Also on this easily enjoyable disc are a quintet set that showcases Hampton's vibes and an octet session drawn from the big band that plays four songs, including "Double Talk" and "Jack the Fox Boogie."  Scott Yanow
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LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1947 | The Chronogical Classics – 994 (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

All of Lionel Hampton's studio recordings from 1947 (before the second recording strike) are on this intriguing CD. Hampton's big band at the time mixed together R&B with bebop, swinging hard and putting on exciting shows. "Hamp's Got a Duke," "Three Minutes on 52nd Street," and "Red Top" are typical of the ensemble's work, but there is also Charles Mingus' futuristic "Mingus Fingers" along with the original version of Hampton's classic ballad "Midnight Sun." In addition, there are three fairly obscure small-group sessions that mostly showcase Hampton's vibes but also include pianist Milt Buckner, tenor saxophonist Morris Lane, trumpeter Benny Bailey, and pianist Dodo Marmarosa. Well worth picking up by fans of 1940s jazz. Scott Yanow
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LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1950 | The Chronogical Classics – 1193 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

While most big bands broke up by 1950, Lionel Hampton was able to keep his orchestra together due to being exciting, R&B-oriented, and putting on very colorful shows. The selections on this CD, which covers the first nine months of 1950, include the rambunctious two-part "Turkey Hop," Little Jimmy Scott's vocal feature on "I Wish I Knew," a few small-group numbers (including a session featuring Jerome Richardson's flute and Doug Duke's organ), and a sextet date that showcases Hampton's vibes and Buddy Cole's organ. Most of this music was formerly rare and has been overlooked by domestic reissue programs. Scott Yanow
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LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1950-1951 | The Chronogical Classics – 1262 (2002) FLAC (tracks), lossless

The 11th installment in the complete chronological works of Lionel Hampton opens with a series of recordings made for the Decca label in Los Angeles during October of 1950. With flashy arrangements and topical vocals, these records have more than a little in common with what Johnny Otis was cooking up in L.A. during this same time period. The big difference lies in Hampton's occasional use of smooth crooners and instrumentation that shone with a Hollywood sheen. By the time he commenced recording for MGM in New York on April 17, 1951, Hamp was ready to slip into a much hipper groove with "Air Mail Special" and several scintillating originals: "Cool Train," "Gates Steps Out," and "Gladysee Bounce." Hampton's band also backed vocalist Irma Curry on "A Kiss Was Just a Kiss," with a melodramatic speech delivered by Eve Lynn in shameless imitation of R&B heartthrob Larry Darnell's famous recitation during his 1949 masterpiece "I'll Get Along Somehow." The instrumental "Alone" is a fine example of Hampton's ability to play a slow ballad on the vibraphone in front of a lacquered big band. The session of May 21, 1951, stands among the most unusual episodes in Hampton's entire career. Here the big band is yoked into service behind a very white choir that sings the Jewish folk melodies "Hannah, Hannah" and "Shalom, Shalom." This creates a wholesome if slightly cheesy atmosphere that one would expect to find in a Broadway musical. The session finishes off with a much stronger instrumental interpretation of a traditional Jewish melody, "Eli, Eli." The closing tracks come from a session that took place on October 16, 1951, using a smaller band, electric guitarist Chuck Norris, and R&B vocalist Sonny Parker. Jazz heads will best appreciate this compilation for the presence of many fine instrumentalists, including trumpeters Idrees Sulieman and Benny Bailey, trombonists Al Grey and Jimmy Cleveland, saxophonist Jerome Richardson, organist Milt Buckner, and R&B piano legend Floyd Dixon. arwulf arwulf
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LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1951-1953 | The Chronogical Classics – 1429 (2006) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Here is the 12th volume in the complete chronological recordings of Lionel Hampton as reissued by the Classics label. It opens with Hamp's final five recordings for the MGM label, waxed in Los Angeles on October 17, 1951. This was a 20-piece big band using charts written by Quincy Jones, and the music it made feels much different from what's to be heard in the next leg of Lionel Hampton's odyssey, a Norman Granz-produced quartet session with Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown and Buddy Rich, recorded in New York on September 2, 1953. While the big band sides are exciting and fun, with a hip vocal by Sonny Parker on "Don't Flee the Scene Salty" and a singalong routine led by Hamp on "Oh Rock," the quartet swings cohesively, stretching out for six, seven or nearly eleven minutes, for the LP era had begun and Norman Granz encouraged extended improvisations. The combination of Oscar Peterson and Lionel Hampton, whether cooking together on "Air Mail Special" or savoring the changes of a ballad like "The Nearness of You" made spirits to soar and sparks to fly. arwulf arwulf  
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ARNETT COBB AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1946-1947 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1071 (1999) FLAC (tracks), lossless

For many, Arnett Cobb is the prototypical "Texas Tenor." His robust tone and aggressive playing were highlighted both with Lionel Hampton's band and later on his own recordings. This 20-track set chronicles all of Cobb's work under his own name, as well as sides with Milt Buckner and Herbie Fields with the Hamptone All Stars. Highlights include the bluesy "Down Home," "Still Flyin'," "Running With Ray," and "Cobb's Idea." Cub Koda
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WYNONIE HARRIS – 1945-1947 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1013 (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second Classics CD to feature blues singer Wynonie Harris' recordings as a leader finds him in the period right before he signed with the King label. The five four-song sessions on this disc (all quite jazz oriented) were cut for Hamp-Tone, Bullet, and Aladdin. First, Harris (who sounds quite enthusiastic in every setting) sings three numbers (including a two-part "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop") with a combo taken from the Lionel Hampton big band. The Bullet date was quite rare. Recorded in Nashville, it finds Harris backed by local players including Sun Ra in his first recording. Ra's piano is well featured throughout including on "Dig This Boogie." Harris is also heard with a Leonard Feather-organized band that includes trumpeter Joe Newman, altoist Tab Smith, and tenor-saxophonist Allen Eager ("Mr. Blues Jumped the Rabbit" is the best-known selection), with an obscure backup band in New York (including for "Ghost of a Chance," an odd departure with a vocal group) and sharing the spotlight with Big Joe Turner on three numbers (including a slightly disorganized two-part "Battle of the Blues"). Throughout, Wynonie Harris sounds like he was ready for stardom. Recommended. Scott Yanow
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WYNONIE HARRIS – 1950-1952 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1289 (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Wynonie Harris specialized in driving jump blues numbers that celebrated the party side of urban life, and his tales of whiskey-soaked nights and relentless hangovers reached its peak during his long stay at King Records. This collection covers his last years at the label, and while a couple of his biggest hits are here, like the cranked-up version of Hank Penny's country classic "Bloodshot Eyes" and the engaging novelty number about trying to outsmart the IRS, "Good Morning Judge," Harris by this time was on the sundown side of his zenith, and even though he would seem like an artist ready-made for the emerging rock & roll craze, he never really made the transition. The song "All Night Long" included here is actually by Detroit group the Royals (who later morphed into Hank Ballard & the Midnighters), with Harris doing a guest vocal on the bridge. "All Night Long," in an interesting bit of music trivia, was the flip side to the original version of "Every Beat of My Heart," which Gladys Knight & the Pips turned into a huge hit nearly a decade later. Steve Leggett  
Tracklist
1     Rock Mr. Blues 2:41
Henry Bernard / Lois Mann
2     Stormy Night Blues 2:45
Henry Bernard / Sam Theard
3     Good Morning Judge 2:40
Wynonie Harris / Louis Innis
4     Be Mine My Love 2:52
Henry Bernard / Sydney Mann
5     Mr. Blues Is Coming to Town 3:02
Henry Glover
6     I Want to Love You Baby 2:35
Henry Glover / Lois Mann
7     Put It Back 2:47
Henry Glover
8     Oh Babe! 2:57
Milt Kabak / Louis Prima
9     Teardrops from My Eyes 2:54
Rudy Toombs
10     A Love Untrue 2:54
Henry Glover
11     Triflin' Woman 2:38
Henry Bernard / Lois Mann / Moon Mullican
12     Man, Have I Got Troubles 2:58
Mossman / Carlson
13     Confessin' the Blues 2:50
Walter Brown / Jay McShann
14     Tremblin' 2:28
Annisteen Allen / Henry Glover
15     Just Like Two Drops of Water 2:35
Joe Greene
16     I'll Never Give Up 2:32
Henry Glover / Sam Theard
17     Bloodshot Eyes 2:42
Wynonie Harris / Hank Penny
18     Here Comes the Night 2:36
Henry Glover
19     Lovin' Machine 2:27
Henry Glover / Lois Mann
20     My Playful Baby's Gone 2:30
Henry Glover / Wynonie Harris / Lois Mann
21     Luscious Woman 2:51
Henry Glover / Lois Mann    
22     All Night Long 2:18
Alonzo Tucker    
23     Keep on Churnin' (Till the Butter Comes) 2:55
Henry Glover
24     Married Woman - Stay Married 2:50
Henry Glover    
25     Rot-Gut 2:19
Henry Glover / Lois Mann