JIMMIE NOONE – 1934-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 651 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

On the fifth of Jimmie Noone's five CDs on the Classics label, the New Orleans clarinetist is heard on his final 24 selections as a leader (with the exception of a slightly later live session). The first six numbers close the book on his Apex Club Orchestra, featuring Eddie Pollack (in Joe Poston's old place) playing the melody on alto and sometimes baritone behind Noone's solos; trumpeter Jimmy Cobb and pianist Zinky Cohn get some solo space. Noone is also heard in 1936 with a freewheeling New Orleans group featuring trumpeter Guy Kelly and trombonist Preston Jackson, holding his own the following year with the dynamic young trumpeter Charlie Shavers and altoist Pete Brown, and doing his best in 1940 to overcome the weak cornet playing of Natty Dominique. The final four numbers (also from 1940) are dominated by Ed Thompson's dated vocals. No matter what the setting, Noone (who passed away in 1944) is heard in prime form. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist + Credits :

RICHARD M. JONES – 1923-1927 | The Classics Chronological Series – 826 (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Richard M. Jones was more important as a talent scout and an organizer of bands than as a pianist. This Classics CD features Jones as a soloist on two numbers from 1923 ("Jazzin' Babies Blues" and "12th Street Rag"); with the Chicago Hottentots backing the mediocre singer Lillie Delk Christian; playing with Nelson's Paramount Serenaders and Hightower's Night Hawks; and leading his own Jazz Wizards. Among the other players are clarinetist Albert Nicholas, banjoist Johnny St. Cyr, cornetist Shirley Clay, and trombonist Preston Jackson. Although the music is generally not all that classic, this formerly rare material has its strong moments and gives one a good example of middle-of-the-road Chicago jazz of the mid-'20s. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

RICHARD M. JONES – 1927-1944 | The Classics Chronological Series – 853 (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second of two CDs that reissue every recording led by pianist Richard M. Jones is drawn from three periods and has diverse material. The early band sides are often a bit disappointing, particularly the ones from 1927-28 with clarinetist Artie Stalks and a fairly obscure cast. Two numbers with his "Jazz Wizards" in 1929 are better, due to the participation of trombonist Roy Palmer and clarinetist Omer Simeon. Quite rare are six swinging big-band sides from 1935 on which Jones merely directs (although he does sing "Bring It On Home to Grandma"). Also on this CD are a pair of examples of the pianist singing blues in 1936 (assisted by trumpeter Lee Collins on his famous "Trouble In Mind") and four decent blues-oriented Dixieland numbers from 1944 with trumpeter Bob Shoffner and clarinetist Darnell Howard. The music is not essential overall, but since Classics did include everything, one cannot fault the packaging. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist + Credits :

LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1930-1931 | The Classics Chronological Series – 547 (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

On May 4, 1930, Louis Armstrong cut a lively version of "Dinah" and a fierce little bit of "Tiger Rag" for the OKeh label in New York. His next recordings were made in Los Angeles several months later. Percussionist Lionel Hampton and trombonist Lawrence Brown, fresh from their tenure with Paul Howard's Quality Serenaders, show up in Armstrong's Sebastian New Cotton Club Orchestra, a tight session band named after a glorified saloon in Culver City. "Memories of You" contains what is said to be Hampton's first recorded solo on the vibraphone. "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy (From Dumas)" perfectly demonstrates Armstrong's incredible ability to transform a fairly silly novelty into a glorious jazz performance that still endures even in a jaded age of humorlessness and postmodern cynicism. "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal You" is the perfect Louis Armstrong record, packed with warmth, ingenuity, rowdiness, raunchy humor, and red-hot trumpeting. Armstrong also demonstrated a remarkable ability to sing pretty love songs without copping out or diluting any of his wonderful potency. Many people are still ignorant of the fact that he was an accomplished crooner years before maturing into the famous contrabass chortler of the 1950s and '60s. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1     Dinah 3:20
Harry Akst / Sam M. Lewis / Joe Young
2     Tiger Rag 3:12
Harry Da Costa / Eddie Edwards / Nick LaRocca / Henry W. Ragas / Tony Sbarbaro / Larry Shields
3     I'm a Ding Dong Daddy (From Dumas) 3:11
Phil Baxter
4     I'm in the Market for You 3:17
James F. Hanley / Joseph McCarthy
5     I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) 3:26
Doc Daugherty / Al J. Neiburg / Ellis Reynolds
6     If I Could Be with You (One Hour Tonight) 3:42
Henry Creamer / James P. Johnson
7     Body and Soul 3:17
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
8     Memories of You 3:11
Eubie Blake / Andy Razaf
9     You're Lucky to Me 3:24
Eubie Blake / Andy Razaf
10     Sweethearts on Parade 3:20
Carmen Lombardo / Charles Newman
11     You're Drivin' Me Crazy! 3:09
Walter Donaldson
12     The Peanut Vendor 3:33
Louis Wolfe Gilbert / Moisés Simóns / Marion Sunshine
13     Just a Gigolo 3:15
Julius Brammer / Irving Caesar / Leonello Casucci
14     Shine 3:17
Lew Brown / Ford Dabney / Cecil Mack
15     Walkin' My Baby Back Home 3:07
Fred E. Ahlert / Roy Turk
16     I Surrender, Dear 3:07
Harry Barris / Gordon Clifford
17     When It's Sleepy Time Down South 3:21
Clarence Muse / Otis Rene / Leon René
18     Blue Again 3:09
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
19     Little Joe 3:09
Joselito
20     (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You 3:11
Sam Theard
21     Them There Eyes 3:03
Maceo Pinkard / Doris Tauber / William Tracey
22     When Your Lover Has Gone 3:06
Einar A. Swan

LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1931-1932 | The Classics Chronological Series – 536 (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

During the long cold winter of 1931-1932, Louis Armstrong stationed himself in Chicago, where he spun out the last of his OKeh recordings. This volume of vintage jazz opens with 16 of these marvelous sides. Backed by nine resilient players, the trumpeter sings on each and every track, handling light novelties and romantic ballads with relative ease. He makes "Lazy River" sound like he wrote it himself. "Chinatown" has a magnificent spoken intro and vocal by the leader, followed by what he describes as "a little argument between the saxophones and the trumpet," culminating of course in a dazzling display of Armstrong's unsurpassed virtuosity. Brimming with humorous commentary and theatrical patter, "The Lonesome Road" represents a special subgenre of sanctified church burlesques. After Armstrong asks aloud "What kind of church is this?," someone can't resist interjecting a flippant salute to "you vipers." Apparently limbered up and in the mood for conversation, Armstrong introduces his musicians with relish all throughout a fine version of "I Got Rhythm." His handling of "Kickin' the Gong Around" is less theatrical but swings more solidly than Cab Calloway's hyperventilated version. Always ready to outdo even himself, Armstrong recorded a sequel to his "Tiger Rag" with someone loudly counting off the number of choruses as he blew them. What appears to have been his last OKeh record, "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" backed with "Lawd, You Made the Night Too Long," was recorded in Chicago on March 11, 1932, and given the serial number 41560. His next opportunity to record in front of his own band occurred in Camden, NJ, on December 8th. Armstrong was now officially working for the Victor record company. His 11-piece band included trombone legend Big Charlie Green, reedman and composer Edgar Sampson, and percussion wizard Chick Webb, who provided amazing locomotive effects on his snare drum on "Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train." Mezz Mezzrow is said to have been responsible for ringing the bells on this track. This excellent segment of the Louis Armstrong chronology ends with a four-and-a-half-minute "Medley of Armstrong Hits," with a nine-piece Victor studio band backing him every step of the way. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1     Lazy River 3:08
Sidney Arodin / Hoagy Carmichael
2     Chinatown, My Chinatown 3:21
William Jerome / Jean Schwartz
3     Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away) 3:43
Harry Barris / Ted Koehler / Billy Moll
4     Stardust 3:35
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish
5     You Can Depend on Me 3:24
Charles Carpenter / Louis Dunlap / Earl Hines
6     Georgia on My Mind 3:26
Hoagy Carmichael / Stuart Gorrell
7     The Lonesome Road 3:39
Gene Austin / Nat Shilkret
8     I Got Rhythm 3:10
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
9     Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 3:06
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
10     Kickin' the Gong Around 3:17
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
11     Home (When Shadows Fall) 3:11
Harry Clarkson / P. V. Steeden Jr / Peter Van Steeden
12     All of Me 3:03
Gerald Marks / Seymour Simons
13     Love, You Funny Thing 3:47
Fred E. Ahlert / Roy Turk
14     The New Tiger Rag 3:29
Nick LaRocca
15     Keepin' Out of Mischief Now 3:38
Andy Razaf / Fats Waller
16     Lawd, You Made the Night Too Long 3:11
Patrick Lewis / Victor Young
17     That's My Home 3:11
Ben Ellison / Otis Rene / Leon René
18     Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train 3:01
Louis Armstrong
19     I Hate to Leave You Now 3:11
Dick / Dorothy Dick / Harry Link / Fats Waller
20     You'll Wish You'd Never Been Born 3:16
Louis Armstrong
21     Medley of Armstrong Hits, Pt. 2: When You're Smiling/St. James ... 4:32
Harry Akst / Joe Goodwin / Patrick Lewis / Joe Primrose / Larry Shay / Victor Young