ARTIE SHAW AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1940-1941 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1167 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Artie Shaw kept his third jazz orchestra (his Stardust band) together into early 1941 before he decided to break it up. Included on this CD are the big band's last recordings (including "Prelude in C Major," "Dancing in the Dark," and the exciting two-part "Concerto for Clarinet") plus the second session by Shaw's Gramercy Five, featuring trumpeter Billy Butterfield and Johnny Guarnieri on harpsichord. Concluding this CD are four songs with a studio orchestra and four others with a very interesting interracial group that includes trumpeter Henry "Red" Allen, trombonist J.C. Higginbotham, altoist Benny Carter, Lena Horne (taking two vocals), and a string section. There are lots of stimulating and surprising performances heard throughout this pleasing program by the great clarinetist. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

ARTIE SHAW AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1941-1942 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1206 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In the summer of 1941, Artie Shaw organized yet another big band, his fourth in five years. This particular ensemble was one of his most fun groups, featuring trumpeter/singer Hot Lips Page, trombonist Jack Jenney, tenor saxophonist Georgie Auld, pianist Johnny Guarnieri, drummer Dave Tough, and a full string section with some arrangements by trombonist Ray Conniff. All but the last six recordings of this big band are on this CD, including "Blues in the Night," the adventurous "Nocturne," "Take Your Shoes off, Baby," "Just Kiddin' Around," "Dusk," and the two-part "St. James Infirmary." The music alternates between swing, Hot Lips Page features, and classical-oriented works, succeeding on all levels. But shortly after Pearl Harbor, Artie Shaw called it quits again, enlisting in the navy. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

ARTIE SHAW AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1942-1945 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1242 (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Lenny Bruce was a devoted fan of the Artie Shaw Gramercy Five. He also went out of his way to make fun of Georgia Gibbs, the vocalist on Artie Shaw's January 20, 1942 recording of "Absent-Minded Moon." Lenny was playing up his preference for the hipper side of Shaw, as demonstrated on "Hindustan" and every track recorded at the session which took place the following day. These remarkable sides, which sound better every time they are played back, were the last studio recordings Shaw would make before joining the navy. Composer and arranger Paul Jordan crafted a number of transitionally modern-sounding charts for this band. There are several heavies in the lineup: Dave Tough and Johnny Guarnieri worked well together under any circumstances. Georgie Auld, Ray Conniff and Max Kaminsky were fortunate to be blowing their horns alongside Hot Lips Page, a seasoned trumpeter who conveyed the lyrical potency of ten ordinary musicians. The string section provides just the right amount of lilt without injecting too much fluff. There is a gorgeous rendition of "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child," with Shaw's clarinet in full blue cry and a gutsy vocal by Page. The Shaw discography, interrupted by a world war, resumes nearly three years later with Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer's famous "Accentuate the Positive." Vocalist Imogene Lynn, dutifully intoning Mercer's imitation Afro-American revival lyrics, sounds a bit affected after the soulful gravity of Hot Lips Page. But it is important to place this popular hit record within historical context. By November of 1944 America needed a straight shot of optimism, and this catchy, morale-boosting number did more for the war against fascism than any number of giddy or poker-faced exercises in rhetorical patriotism. This is Artie Shaw & His Orchestra at their finest. Roy Eldridge gave the band extra punch, and the records he made with Shaw are uniformly solid, melodious and attractive. Billie Holiday, who had worked with Shaw in 1938, is invoked in Jimmy Mundy's "Lady Day." Poetically, its chord progressions seem to reference Billie's difficult life and maybe even the abusive racism she encountered while touring with Shaw at a time when black women simply did not appear with white bands. Buster Harding's "Little Jazz" is the definitive portrait of Eldridge. "Summertime" is exceptionally fine, with magical tonalities provided by Dodo Marmarosa and Barney Kessel. This special chemistry is all the more evident on two sides by the Gramercy Five. Certainly one of the best Artie Shaw reissues, and well-worth seeking out. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist + Credits :

ARTIE SHAW AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1945 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1277 (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :

BOBBY HACKETT AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1943-1947 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1047 (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

When Bobby Hackett's band is in the house and presents a pretty tune at a relaxed tempo, the spirit within the song has a chance to climb out of its shell and perch for a few minutes over the front door like one of William Blake's pigmented angels. Hackett's sensitivity turns every ballad into a magical daydream. When the band turns on the heat, you're getting Chicago-style, Eddie Condon-approved traditional jazz, right straight out of the bottle. Condon in fact played guitar on the session of December 23, 1943, along with a swell tenor saxophonist named Nick Caiazza and no-nonsense trombonist Ray Conniff. Pianist Frank Signorelli, composer of "Serenade in Blue" and cardinal member of the Original Memphis Five, takes an occasional break during some of the stomps but really gets to shine with a full-length solo during his magnum opus, "I'll Never Be the Same." Some may feel that this one track is reason enough to seek out the entire album. It all depends on how much respect you have for Signorelli, and for the Art of Melody. The Commodore session of 1944, presented in part as "Jam Session at Commodore No. 6," makes lots of room for Ernie Caceres' magnificent baritone saxophone, with a few diversions supplied by Pee Wee Russell. Lou McGarity was a trombonist comparable to George Brunies. Jess Stacy's piano chemistry worked exceptionally well when combined with Hackett's dignified persona. These excellent jams also perfectly illustrate the artistry of George Wettling, Eddie Condon's preferred percussionist. Wettling drove a substantially different band through four sides for the Melrose label in May of 1945. The ballads are gorgeous; the hot numbers really rip. Both of the sessions from February 1946 utilize a big-band sound intended for slow dancing, with sentimental arrangements by ex-Paul Whiteman anesthesiologist Bill Challis. Lush reeds hover behind Hackett's romantic horn with brief spotlights on clarinetist Hank d'Amico and guitarist Carl Kress. Johnny Guarnieri noodles gently on a celeste, sweetening up an already honey-drenched confection. A nice four-minute V-Disc trio performance is provided to clear the palette. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist

BUNNY BERIGAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1937-1938 | The Classics Chronological Series – 785 (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Trees 3:17
Rasbach / Arranged By – Abe Osser
2    Russian Lullaby     3:04
Berlin
3    Can't Help Lovin' That Man     2:35
Kern / Hammerstein
4    Piano Tuner Man 3:31
Rose / Duke
Vocals – Gail Reese
5    Heigh-Ho (The Dwarfs' Marching Song) 2:43
Churchill / Morey
Vocals – Gail Reese
6    A Serenade To The Stars 3:14
Adamson / McHugh
Vocals – Gail Reese
7    Outside Of Paradise 2:57
Tinturin / Lawrence
Vocals – Gail Reese
8    Down Stream 3:20
Lawrence / Nieson / Milton
Vocals – Gail Reese
9    Sophisticated Swing 3:30
Hudson / Parish
Vocals – Gail Reese
10    Caravan Lovelight In The Starlight 3:04
Freed / Hollander
Vocals – Gail Reese
11    Rinka Tinka Man 3:15
Shelton
Vocals – Gail Reese
12    An Old Straw Hat 3:16
Gordon / Revel
Vocals – Gail Reese
13    I Dance Alone 2:45
Kessler / Sillman
Vocals – Gail Reese
14    Never Felt Better, Never Had Less 3:13
Baer / Heff
Vocals – Ruth Gaylor
15    I've Got A Guy 3:01
Sunshine
Vocals – Ruth Gaylor
16    Moonshine Over Kentucky 3:00
Mitchell / Pollack
Vocals – Ruth Gaylor
17    Round The Old Deserted Farm 3:21
Robison
Vocals – Ruth Gaylor
18    Azure     3:15
Duke Ellington
19    Somewhere With Somebody Else 2:55
Leslie / Burke
Vocals – Dick Wharton
20    It's The Little Things That Count 3:23
Gillespie / Simmons
Vocals – Ruth Gaylor
21    Wacky Dust 2:52
Adams / Levant
Vocals – Ruth Gaylor
22    The Wearin' Of The Green 3:31
Arranged By – Joe Lippman
Credits :    
Bass – Hank Wayland
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Joe Dixon, Mike Doty
Drums – Dave Tough (tracks: 4 to 13), George Wettling (tracks: 1 to 3), Johnny Blowers (tracks: 14 to 22)
Guitar – Dick Wharton (tracks: 14 to 22), Tom Morgan (5) (tracks: 1 to 13)
Piano – Fulton McGrath (tracks: 4 to 7), C. Graham Forbes (tracks: 8 to 13), Joe Bushkin (tracks: 19 to 22), Joe Lippman* (tracks: 1 to 3, 14 to 18)
Tenor Saxophone – Clyde Rounds, George Auld
Trombone – Al George (tracks: 1 to 18), Nat Lobovsky (tracks: 14 to 22), Ray Conniff (tracks: 19 to 22), Sonny Lee (tracks: 1 to 13)
Trumpet – Bunny Berigan, Irving Goodman, Steve Lipkins

BUNNY BERIGAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1938 | The Classics Chronological Series – 815 (1995) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Here's the Berigan band arguably at its peak, taking the music of Bix Beiderbecke to the next level, almost making these sides a case study in "what would Bix have sounded like had he lived and worked with a big band"? Although sides like "The Pied Piper" and "Ten Easy Lessons' feature vocals by Ruth Gaylor (herself a knockoff of Benny Goodman vocalist Helen Ward), instrumentals like "Jelly Roll Blues," "In a Mist," and "Livery Stable Blues," stress the Bix connection and bring these tunes into the big band age. On all but four tracks, the drumming chores are handled by a young Buddy Rich, swinging the band for all he's worth. Cub Koda
Tracklist :
1    The Pied Piper 3:30
Bernard Arnold / Jack Gould
2     Tonight Will Live 3:04
Agustín Lara / Ned Washington
3     (A Sky of Blue and You) And So Forth 3:02
Joseph M. Davis / Howard Johnson
4     (How to Make Love in) Ten Easy Lessons 3:25
George Bailey / Mark Fisher
5     When a Prince of a Fella Meets Cinderella 3:21
James Van Heusen
6     Livery Stable Blues 3:24
Marvin Lee / Ray Lopez / Alcide "Yellow" Nunez
7     Let This Be a Warning to You 3:02
Mack David
8     Why Doesn't Somebody Tell Me These Things? 2:50
Jim Eaton / Terry Shand
9     High Society 2:43
Walter Melrose / Porter Steele
10     Father, Dear Father 2:47
Dacosta / McCarthy
11     Simple and Sweet 3:12
Abel Baer / Green Baer / Bud Green
12     Button, Button (Who's Got the Button?) 2:41    
13     I Won't Tell a Soul (I Love You) 3:10
Hughie Charles / Ross Parker
14     Rockin' Rollers' Jubilee 2:30
Joe Davis    
15     Sobbin' Blues 3:18
Vic Berton / Victor Burton / Art Kassel
16     I Cried for You 3:15
Gus Arnheim / Arthur Freed / Abe Lyman
17     Jelly Roll Blues 3:21
Jelly Roll Morton
18     'Deed I Do 2:49
Walter Hirsch / Fred Rose
19     In a Mist 3:07
Bix Beiderbecke
20     Flashes 2:47
Bix Beiderbecke
21     Davenport Blues 3:17
Bix Beiderbecke    
22     Candlelights 3:10
Bix Beiderbecke

BUNNY BERIGAN – 1938-1942 | The Classics Chronological Series – 844 (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

After the banner years of 1937-1938, Bunny Berigan's output took a serious downturn. Due to his alcoholism and bad management decisions, he had to break up his band and rejoin Tommy Dorsey's group in order to make a living. Berigan did rebound long enough to form his last band, which only survived until he passed away in 1942 at the age of 33. This Classics disc -- the last of several charting Berigan's career -- takes in the 1940-1942 last stand, along with a few sides from 1938. While there are some quality songs here, the majority of the disc is disappointing, especially alongside earlier triumphs like "I Can't Get Started" and Berigan's Ellington and Bix Beiderbecke covers. Stalwarts like tenor saxophonist George Auld, drummer Buddy Rich, and trombonist Ray Conniff add some spark, but for the most part the tunes lumber along. Best left for completists. Stephen Cook
Tracklist :
1     In the Dark 2:43
Bix Beiderbecke
2     Walkin' the Dog 3:03
Shelton Brooks
3     Patty Cake, Patty Cake (Baker Man) 3:27
J.C. Johnson / Andy Razaf / Fats Waller     
4     Jazz Me Blues 3:12
Tom Delaney    
5     Ya Had It Comin' to Ya 3:24
Alan Jay Lerner / Ben Oakland
6     There'll Be Some Changes Made 3:01
Billy Higgins / W. Benton Overstreet    
7     Little Gate's Special 3:02
Ray Conniff
8     Gangbusters' Holiday 3:17
Ray Conniff    
9     Peg O' My Heart 2:54
Alfred Bryan / Fred Fisher
10     Night Song 3:02
Juan Tizol    
11     Ain't She Sweet 2:35
Milton Ager / Jack Yellen
12     Ay Ay Ay 3:25    
Perez / Freire   
13     I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 3:12
Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster
14     The White Cliffs of Dover 3:29
Nat Burton / Walter Kent    
15     'Tis Autumn 3:18
Henry Nemo    
16     Two in Love 2:32
Spencer Williams    
17     Skylark 2:44
Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer    
18     My Little Cousin 2:50
Steve Prizant / Arthur Schwartz    
19     Somebody Else Is Taking My Place 2:26
Bob Ellsworth / Richard Howard / Russ Morgan    
20     Me and My Melinda 3:10
Irving Berlin

EILEEN RODGERS - Blue Swing -Bonus Tracks- (1958-2004) Mp3

Tracklist:
1 Wabash Blues 2:59
Fred Meinken / Dave Ringle
2 Am I Blue 3:07
Harry Akst / Grant Clarke
3 Some of These Days 3:36
Shelton Brooks
4 Don't Get Around Much Anymore 2:37
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell
5 Solitude 3:18
Eddie DeLange / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
6 I Guess I'll Have to Dream the Rest 2:34
Martin Block / Harold Green / Michael Stoner
7 Sunday 2:09
Chester Cohn / Chester Conn / Nick Drake / Benny Krueger / Ned Miller / Jule Styne
8 I'd Climb the Highest Mountain 2:21
Lew Brown / Sidney Clare
9 I Ain't Got Nobody 2:35
Roger Graham / Dave Peyton / Spencer Williams
10 The Lonesome Road 2:28
Gene Austin / Nat Shilkret / Nathaniel Shilkret
11 I Cried for You 2:48
Gus Arnheim / Arthur Freed / Abe Lyman
12 After You've Gone 2:48
Henry Creamer / Turner Layton
- Bonus Tracks -
13 I Don't Want to Walk Without You 2:53
Frank Loesser / Jule Styne
14 Love Letters 3:09
Edward Heyman / Victor Young
15 My Foolish Heart 3:12
Ned Washington / Victor Young
16 An Affair to Remember (Our Love Affair) 2:59
Harold Adamson / Leo McCarey / Harry Warren