JOHNNY GUARNIERI – 1946-1947 | The Chronogical Classics – 1063 (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Johnny Guarnieri first attracted attention as a wonderfully facile pianist -- and harpsichordist -- with Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five. He then became the Keynote record label's all-purpose piano man. Classically trained, then strongly influenced at any early age by Fats Waller and James P. Johnson, Guarnieri was a gifted improviser whose bag of tricks was never empty. This disc delivers a deep dose of the pianist's work for the Majestic label. Fresh from many months of active service at Keynote, Johnny sails into "All the Things You Are" almost as if running Jerome Kern through a set of Beethoven variations. The rest of the quartet enters, the song develops into a tidy bounce, and Johnny renders up a majestic unaccompanied finale. "Carioca" is a very cool demonstration of this excellent quartet in action. "Swing for Yourself, John" walks in 4/4, its early modern harmonic runs sounding exactly contemporary for 1946. "My Gal Sal" deliberately references 1890s saloon piano, then chucks it for ultra-modern cool swing, bristling with boppish licks. Eloquently cool, "Temptation" receives an almost film noir treatment, and guitarist Tony Mottola gets most of "Guilty" to himself. Bassist Trigger Alpert is spotlighted on his own invention, "Trigger Fantasy." Accompanied only by his brother Leo and drummer Morey Feld, Johnny demonstrates what Fats Waller might have done with "Flying Home." Waller was undoubtedly on his mind as he launched "Believe It, Beloved" and chased it down with two lovely ballads. Just imagine what kind of four-handed piano records the two men could have made together had Fats lived longer than 39 years. Luckily, Johnny thrived for decades as a living extension of his Harlem stride piano heroes. Sitting in with the Tony Mottola Four, the pianist provided backing for two unnecessarily cutesy vocals by Rosemary Calvin and a bop-flavored feature for the guitar. The rest of this package consists of unaccompanied piano solos. "Nice Work" and "Mean to Me" sound to some extent like the work of Art Tatum. "Exactly Like You" has full-tilt James P. Johnson passages nestled between Tatum-like arpeggios. "Sorry, I Lost My Head" continues this fascinating blend of styles. After a couple of reflective reveries, Johnny bravely sings "Bobo the Bowery Barber" in his thin little voice. He sounds at first a lot like Fats Waller, then mimics Jerry Colonna lampooning Italian opera at the top of his lungs, and finally anticipates the weirdly cornball humor of Lenny Bruce as a homicidal Bobo brandishes his razor! The song ends with a loud, high-pitched scream and maniacal laughter. This side of Guarnieri's personality would surface periodically in the form of strange originals like "Santa Claus Is Smoking Reefers." The rest of the tracks on this album are 110 percent piano. "Plenty of Money" is delightful, "Stardust" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" are ethereal, and "Tiger Rag" clearly references its French quadrille origins, with lovely embellishments similar to what he did with "All the Things You Are" but even more stunning, as this old-time stomp would naturally demand. This, then, is a precious stash of rare recordings by an unjustly neglected master of traditional swing and transitional early modern jazz piano. arwulf arwulf    Tracklist + Credits :

BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1945 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1355 (2004) FLAC (tracks), lossless

It's easy to understand why Benny Goodman's recordings were so popular during the 1940s. The music was uplifting, the orchestra ran like a top, the leader was an exceptionally fine clarinetist, and he regularly employed pop vocalists with varying degrees of jazz ability, represented here by Jane Harvey, Bob Hayden, Kay Penton, and Dottie Reid. From the jazz head's point of view, this segment of the Goodman chronology is greatly enhanced by the presence of trombonist Trummy Young on all of the big-band tracks. Furthermore, Fletcher Henderson wrote the arrangements for "It's Only a Paper Moon" and "You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me." On the initial recording of Sunny Skylar's swanky "Gotta Be This or That," Goodman shared the vocal with Jane Harvey. The well-known two-part master take was sung by Goodman alone with a Red Norvo vibe solo and a brief episode for bowed bass and voice by Slam Stewart, whose every passage was mimicked vocally by Kay Penton and members of the band. A previously unreleased take, featuring a trombone solo and smooth vocal by Trummy Young, swings for five frowsy minutes and tapers off suddenly as the engineer runs out of room on the record. There are five excellent instrumental tracks on this compilation. Two sides played by the Sextet feature Teddy Wilson, Slam Stewart, and Red Norvo. Entrusted with the tasks of composing and arranging for the large ensemble, Mel Powell devised an intricate feature for Goodman's clarinet and called it "Clarinade"; this package contains a V-Disc version and the familiar Columbia take. The other big-band instrumental is a gorgeous rendition of "Love Walked In" arranged by Eddie Sauter. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :

JOE BUSHKIN – 1947-1950 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1459 (2008) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In 2007 the Classics Chronological Series began reissuing every recording known to have been made by pianist Joe Bushkin (1916-2004), starting with the Commodore and Savoy sessions of 1940-1946. Released in 2008, the sequel to that amazing collection delves even deeper into the discographical dilemma of Bushkin's recording activities by tracing his movements during the years 1947-1950, beginning with six sides by Joe Bushkin & His Rhythm that originally appeared on 10" Royale and Rondo-lette LPs. This grab bag of obscure delights includes V-Disc jams, collaborations with cornetist Bobby Hackett and trumpeters Buck Clayton and Roy Eldridge, a smart take of "I May Be Wrong" sung by Liza Morrow, and a two-part romp through "Indiana" drawn from an MGM sampler called Maggie Fisher's Piano Playhouse. Tracks 15-24 are piano solos, recorded on February 24 and 25, 1950, and issued on one of the first-ever Atlantic LPs, I Love a Piano. A marvelous improviser and a skilled interpreter of popular melodies with a background in both Chicago-style and big-band swing, Joe Bushkin was now helping to establish the great mid-20th century genre of keyboard mood music. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist + Credits :

SLAM STEWART – 1945-1946 | The Classics Chronological Series – 939 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For all the appearances Slam Stewart made on other people's records, there weren't a whole lot of recordings issued under his name. What you get in this package are five different bands, each operating with one foot in the swing tradition and the other firmly planted on the new ground that critics and journalists called "be-bop." The Savoy session of January 30, 1945, is precious for the presence of Erroll Garner. "Play Fiddle Play" closely resembles "Bassology," recorded a few years earlier with Slim Gaillard. The resemblance comes during the last minute or so, as Stewart gradually works his way into the highest notes obtainable on the instrument until he has it sounding like a viola. "Laff Slam Slam" grows out of a simple set of variations on "Volga Boat Men." A quintet recording for the Continental label in May and July of 1945 featured Johnny Guarnieri and Red Norvo. The pianist sings "Honeysuckle Rose" in close imitation of Fats Waller, saying "Yaz!" so much that it almost becomes irritating. This mimetic act was probably entertaining at cocktail parties, but like most Waller impersonations, it probably won't feel right to anyone who really knows and loves Fats Waller. Still and all, Guarnieri was one hell of a piano player. Leonard Feather composed quite a number of the tunes heard here. His "Mood to Be Stewed" is a wistful walk, while "The Voice of the Turtle" moves boldly over modern bop terrain, something with which Norvo was quite comfortable at the time. "On the Upside Looking Down" is remarkably cool and magnetically charged. "A Bell for Norvo" is quite an excursion -- they really cook! "Haw Haw" sounds like it was based on "Paper Moon," "Dozin'" is an ethereal reverie, and "The One That Got Away" is fast and frisky, with Guarnieri demonstrating his ability to produce first-rate stride piano. Garner returned for a trio session with Harold "Doc" West in September of 1945, creating four sides that fit in nicely with everything else being recorded for the tiny Manor record label (see Dizzy Gillespie 1945, Classics 888). "Blue, Brown and Beige" feels a little bit like "Satin Doll" and the eccentric "Three Blind Micesky" is pure delight. The last four tracks on this wonderful collection were recorded in April of 1946 for the Musicraft label, with young Billy Taylor at the piano. The bop element is stronger than ever. "Doctor Foo" seems only circumstantially related to Coleman Hawkins' "Meet Doctor Foo," although a closer comparison of the two compositions is probably in order. "Coppin' Out" shares many modern characteristics with Dizzy Gillespie's "Be Bop" and with certain ideas then being developed by Bud Powell. "Oh Me, Oh My, Oh Gosh," with a vocal by Stewart and the band, is a rare example of Stewart taking a vocal without simultaneously bowing the bass. It comes as a pleasant surprise and a tasteful conclusion to this most enjoyable portrait of Leroy Elliott "Slam" Stewart. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist + Credits :

BUD FREEMAN – 1939-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 811 (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second Bud Freeman Classics CD has all of the studio sessions (the master takes, but not the alternates) by Freeman's short-lived all-star Summa Cum Laude Orchestra. The Dixieland octet sounds very much like a well-organized Eddie Condon band, and the rhythm guitarist is among the personnel. Teaming up with Freeman (one of the first early tenormen to form a distinctive sound of his own) are such notable players as trumpeter Max Kaminsky, valve trombonist Brad Gowans, clarinetist Pee Wee Russell, pianist Dave Bowman and a rhythm section; the final set has the great trombonist Jack Teagarden (who takes a notable vocal on "Jack Hits the Road") in Gowans' place. The music, which includes eight titles originally recorded by Bix Beiderbecke's Wolverines, has more than its share of high points, and this CD is highly recommended to Dixieland fans. All of the musicians (many of whom would be performing a similar repertoire for the next few decades) sound fresh, enthusiastic, young and at the peak of their powers. Scott Yanow
Tracklist  :
1 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra I've Found A New Baby 2:38
Bass [String Bass] – Clyde Newcomb
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Danny Alvin
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone, Directed By – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
2 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Easy To Get 2:42
Bass [String Bass] – Clyde Newcomb
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Danny Alvin
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone, Directed By – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
3 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra China Boy 2:36
Bass [String Bass] – Clyde Newcomb
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Danny Alvin
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone, Directed By – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
4 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra The Eel  2:40
Bass [String Bass] – Clyde Newcomb
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Danny Alvin
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone, Directed By – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
5 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra As Long As I Live  2:28
Bass [String Bass] – Clyde Newcomb
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Al Sidell
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone, Directed By – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
6 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra The Sail Fish  2:33
Bass [String Bass] – Clyde Newcomb
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Al Sidell
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone, Directed By – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
7 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Sunday 2:59
Bass [String Bass] – Clyde Newcomb
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Al Sidell
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone, Directed By – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
8 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Satanic Blues 3:13
Bass [String Bass] – Clyde Newcomb
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Al Sidell
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone, Directed By – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
9 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Oh! Baby 2:56
Bass [String Bass] – Pete Peterson
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Morey Feld
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone, Directed By – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
10 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra I Need Some Pettin' 2:38
Bass [String Bass] – Pete Peterson
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Morey Feld
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone, Directed By – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
11 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Susie  2:58
Bass [String Bass] – Pete Peterson
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Morey Feld
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone, Directed By – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
12 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Big Boy  2:43
Bass [String Bass] – Pete Peterson
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Morey Feld
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone, Directed By – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
13 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Sensation  2:48
Bass [String Bass] – Pete Peterson
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Morey Feld
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
14 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Fidgety Feet  2:50
Bass [String Bass] – Pete Peterson
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Morey Feld
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
15 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Tia Juana  2:38
Bass [String Bass] – Pete Peterson
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Morey Feld
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
16 –Bud Freeman And His Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Copenhagen  2:44
Bass [String Bass] – Pete Peterson
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Morey Feld
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
Valve Trombone – Brad Gowans
17 –Bud Freeman And His Famous Chicagoans Jack Hits The Road  2:59
Bass [String Bass] – Mort Stuhlmaker
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Dave Tough
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman
Trombone, Vocals – Jack Teagarden
18 –Bud Freeman And His Famous Chicagoans Forty  Seven And State 2:53
Bass [String Bass] – Mort Stuhlmaker
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Dave Tough
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman
Trombone – Jack Teagarden
19 –Bud Freeman And His Famous Chicagoans   Muskrat Ramble 2:50
Bass [String Bass] – Mort Stuhlmaker
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Dave Tough
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman
Trombone – Jack Teagarden
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
20 –Bud Freeman And His Famous Chicagoans   That Da-Da Strain 2:39
Bass [String Bass] – Mort Stuhlmaker
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Dave Tough
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman
Trombone – Jack Teagarden
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
21 –Bud Freeman And His Famous Chicagoans   Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble  2:53
Bass [String Bass] – Mort Stuhlmaker
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Dave Tough
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman
Trombone – Jack Teagarden
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
22 –Bud Freeman And His Famous Chicagoans   At The Jazz Band Ball 2:50
Bass [String Bass] – Mort Stuhlmaker
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Dave Tough
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman
Trombone – Jack Teagarden
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
23 –Bud Freeman And His Famous Chicagoans   After Awhile  3:01
Bass [String Bass] – Mort Stuhlmaker
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Dave Tough
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman
Trombone – Jack Teagarden
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky
24 –Bud Freeman And His Famous Chicagoans   Prince Of Wails  2:28
Bass [String Bass] – Mort Stuhlmaker
Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell
Drums – Dave Tough
Guitar – Eddie Condon
Piano – Dave Bowman
Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman
Trombone – Jack Teagarden
Trumpet – Max Kaminsky