ELLA FITZGERALD – 1939-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 566 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This fifth in the six-CD series by the European Classics label documents Fitzgerald's recordings during a nine-month period starting shortly after she took over the late Chick Webb's Orchestra. During this era she was much better on the ballads than on the uptempo novelties, many of which (such as "My Wubba Dolly") were not worth saving. Fortunately this CD has a good sampling of ballads (such as "My Last Goodbye," "Moon Ray," "Sugar Blues" and "Imagination") along with two rare instrumentals by her big band. The music is not essential but fans will enjoy this look at her early days. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :

BENNY CARTER AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1929-1933 | The Classics Chronological Series – 522 (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The European Classics series has been reissuing on CD the complete output of many top jazz artists of the '20s and '30s. Benny Carter's music at last receives the treatment it deserves in this program. His first volume features the great altoist with a pickup group (the Chocolate Dandies) from 1929-30 that showcases sidemen from Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra, with his own orchestra in 1932-33 (three of the five numbers have rare vocals from Carter) and on 11 sides with Spikes Hughes's all-star band, an orchestra that also features trumpeter Red Allen, trombonist Dicky Wells, Wayman Carver on flute and the tenors of Coleman Hawkins and Chu Berry. This is wonderful and, in many cases, formerly rare music. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    The Little Chocolate Dandies–    That's How I Feel Today 2:57
Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter
Alto Saxophone, Written-By – Don Redman
Banjo – Unknown Artist
Drums – George Stafford
Piano – Fats Waller
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – J.C. Higginbotham
Trumpet – Leonard Davis, Rex Stewart
Tuba – Cyrus St. Clair
2    The Little Chocolate Dandies–    Six Or Seven Times 3:20
Alto Saxophone, Vocals – Benny Carter, Don Redman
Banjo – Unknown Artist
Drums – George Stafford
Piano, Written-By – Fats Waller
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – J.C. Higginbotham
Trumpet – Leonard Davis, Rex Stewart
Tuba – Cyrus St. Clair
Written-By – Mills
3    Chocolate Dandies–    Goodbye Blues 3:17
Alto Saxophone, Arranged By, Vocals, Written-By – Benny Carter
Bass – John Kirby
Guitar – Benny Jackson
Piano – Horace Henderson
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – Jimmy Harrison
Trumpet – Bobby Stark
4    Chocolate Dandies–    Cloudy Skies 2:55
Alto Saxophone, Arranged By – Benny Carter
Guitar – Benny Jackson
Piano – Horace Henderson
Tenor Saxophone, Written-By – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – Jimmy Harrison
Trumpet – Bobby Stark
Tuba – John Kirby
5    Chocolate Dandies–    Got Another Sweetie Now 2:58
Alto Saxophone, Arranged By – Benny Carter
Guitar – Benny Jackson
Piano – Horace Henderson
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone, Vocals, Written-By – Jimmy Harrison
Trumpet – Bobby Stark
Tuba – John Kirby
6    Chocolate Dandies–    Bugle Call Rag 2:49
Alto Saxophone, Arranged By – Benny Carter
Guitar – Benny Jackson
Piano – Horace Henderson
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – Jimmy Harrison
Trumpet – Bobby Stark
Tuba – John Kirby
Written-By – Schoebel, Mills, Pettis
7    Chocolate Dandies–    Dee Blues 2:54
Clarinet, Arranged By, Written-By – Benny Carter
Guitar – Benny Jackson
Piano – Horace Henderson
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – Jimmy Harrison
Trumpet – Bobby Stark
Tuba – John Kirby
8    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Tell All Your Day Dreams To Me 2:54
Alto Saxophone, Flute – Wayman Carver
Bass [String Bass] – Richard Fullbright
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Directed By – Benny Carter
Drums – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Unknown Artist
Piano – Teddy Wilson
Tenor Saxophone – Chu Berry
Trombone – Dickie Wells
Trumpet – Frank Newton, Louis Bacon, Unknown Artist
Vocals – Unknown Artist
Written-By – James, Seitter
9    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Swing It 3:11
Alto Saxophone – Howard Johnson
Bass [String Bass] – Ernest Hill
Drums, Vibraphone – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Piano – Rod Rodriguez
Tenor Saxophone – Chu Berry
Trombone – George Washington, Wilbur De Paris
Trumpet – Bill Dillard, Leonard Davis, Shad Collins
Trumpet, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Vocals, Directed By – Benny Carter
Written-By – Bretz, Weitz
10    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Synthetic Love 3:28
Alto Saxophone – Howard Johnson
Bass [String Bass] – Ernest Hill
Drums, Vibraphone – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Piano – Rod Rodriguez
Tenor Saxophone – Chu Berry
Trombone – George Washington, Wilbur De Paris
Trumpet – Bill Dillard, Leonard Davis, Shad Collins
Trumpet, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Vocals, Directed By, Written-By – Benny Carter
Written-By – Mills, Washington
11    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Six Bells Stampede 2:39
Alto Saxophone – Howard Johnson
Bass [String Bass] – Ernest Hill
Drums, Vibraphone – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Piano – Rod Rodriguez
Tenor Saxophone – Chu Berry
Trombone – George Washington, Wilbur De Paris
Trumpet – Bill Dillard, Leonard Davis, Shad Collins
Trumpet, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Directed By – Benny Carter
Written-By – Hughes
12    Benny Carter And His Orchestra–    Love, You're Not The One For Me 3:32
Alto Saxophone – Howard Johnson
Bass [String Bass] – Ernest Hill
Drums, Vibraphone – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Piano – Rod Rodriguez
Tenor Saxophone – Chu Berry
Trombone – George Washington, Wilbur De Paris
Trumpet – Bill Dillard, Leonard Davis, Shad Collins
Trumpet, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Vocals, Directed By, Written-By – Benny Carter
13    Spike Hughes And His Negro Orchestra–    Nocturne 2:57
Bass [String Bass] – Ernest Hill
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter, Howard Johnson, Wayman Carver
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Directed By, Arranged By, Written-By – Spike Hughes
Drums – Kaiser Marshall
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Piano – Rod Rodriguez
Trombone – Dicky Wells, George Washington, Wilbur De Paris
Trumpet – Bill Dillard, Leonard Davis, Shad Collins
14    Spike Hughes And His Negro Orchestra–    Someone Stole Gabriel's Horn 3:03
Bass [String Bass] – Ernest Hill
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Howard Johnson, Wayman Carver
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Vocals – Benny Carter
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Directed By, Arranged By – Spike Hughes
Drums – Kaiser Marshall
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Piano – Rod Rodriguez
Trombone – Dicky Wells, George Washington, Wilbur De Paris
Trumpet – Bill Dillard, Leonard Davis, Shad Collins
Written-By – Hayes, Mills, Washington
15    Spike Hughes And His Negro Orchestra–    Pastorale 3:10
Bass [String Bass] – Ernest Hill
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter, Howard Johnson, Wayman Carver
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Directed By, Arranged By, Written-By – Spike Hughes
Drums – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Piano – Rod Rodriguez
Trombone – Dicky Wells, George Washington, Wilbur De Paris
Trumpet – Bill Dillard, Leonard Davis, Shad Collins
16    Spike Hughes And His Negro Orchestra–    Bugle Call Rag 2:51
Bass [String Bass] – Ernest Hill
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter, Howard Johnson, Wayman Carver
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Directed By, Arranged By – Spike Hughes
Drums – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Piano – Rod Rodriguez
Trombone – Dicky Wells, George Washington, Wilbur De Paris
Trumpet – Bill Dillard, Leonard Davis, Shad Collins
Written-By – Meyer, Schoebel, Pettis
17    Spike Hughes And His Negro Orchestra–    Arabesque 3:03
Bass [String Bass] – Ernest Hill
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter, Howard Johnson
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Wayman Carver
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Directed By, Arranged By, Written-By – Spike Hughes
Drums – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Tenor Saxophone – Chu Berry
Trombone – Dicky Wells, George Washington, Wilbur De Paris
Trumpet – Bill Dillard, Leonard Davis
Trumpet, Vocals – Henry Allen
18    Spike Hughes And His Negro Orchestra–    Fanfare 2:52
Bass [String Bass] – Ernest Hill
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter, Howard Johnson
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Wayman Carver
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Directed By, Arranged By – Spike Hughes
Drums – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Piano – Luis Russell
Tenor Saxophone – Chu Berry
Trombone – Dicky Wells, George Washington, Wilbur De Paris
Trumpet – Bill Dillard, Leonard Davis
Trumpet, Vocals – Henry Allen
Traditional
19    Spike Hughes And His Negro Orchestra–    Sweet Sorrow Blues 3:02
Bass [String Bass] – Ernest Hill
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter, Howard Johnson
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Wayman Carver
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Directed By, Arranged By – Spike Hughes
Drums – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Piano – Luis Russell
Tenor Saxophone – Chu Berry
Trombone – Dicky Wells, George Washington, Wilbur De Paris
Trumpet – Bill Dillard, Leonard Davis
Trumpet, Vocals – Henry Allen
Written-By – Traditional
20    Spike Hughes And His Negro Orchestra–    Music At Midnight 2:42
Bass [String Bass] – Ernest Hill
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter, Howard Johnson
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Wayman Carver
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Directed By, Arranged By – Spike Hughes
Drums – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Piano – Luis Russell
Tenor Saxophone – Chu Berry
Trombone – Dicky Wells, George Washington, Wilbur De Paris
Trumpet – Bill Dillard, Leonard Davis
Trumpet, Vocals – Henry Allen
Written-By – Unknown Artist
21    Spike Hughes And His Negro Orchestra–    Sweet Sue - Just You 2:59
Bass [String Bass] – Spike Hughes
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Wayman Carver
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Drums – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Piano – Rod Rodriguez
Tenor Saxophone – Chu Berry
Trombone – Dicky Wells
Trumpet, Vocals – Henry Allen
Written-By – Young, Harris
22    Spike Hughes And His Negro Orchestra–    Air In D Flat 3:00
Bass [String Bass] – Ernest Hill
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Howard Johnson
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Wayman Carver
Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Directed By, Arranged By – Spike Hughes
Drums – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Piano – Rod Rodriguez
Tenor Saxophone – Chu Berry
Trombone – Dicky Wells, George Washington, Wilbur De Paris
Trumpet – Howard Scott
Trumpet [Possibly] – Bill Dillard, Leonard Davis
Trumpet, Vocals – Henry Allen
Written-By – Unknown Artist
23    Spike Hughes And His Negro Orchestra–    Donegal Cradle Song 3:00
Bass [String Bass] – Ernest Hill
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Howard Johnson
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Wayman Carver
Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Directed By, Arranged By, Written-By – Spike Hughes
Drums – Sid Catlett
Guitar – Lawrence Lucie
Piano – Rod Rodriguez
Tenor Saxophone – Chu Berry
Trombone – Dicky Wells, George Washington, Wilbur De Paris
Trumpet – Howard Scott
Trumpet [Possibly] – Bill Dillard, Leonard Davis
Trumpet, Vocals – Henry Allen