Best of the Big Bands
Artist: The Dorsey Brothers

The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra was actually just a series of studio groups until Jimmy And Tommy decided to hit the road in 1934. This strong jazz-oriented CD covering the 1932-34 period actually finds the exciting trumpeter Bunny Berigan consistently stealing solo honors. Highlights include Bill Challis's torrid arrangement of "Someone Stole... Read More

1933-1939
Artist: Freddy Johnson

Freddy Johnson was a talented swing-oriented pianist who spent the 1930s playing in Europe. This Classics CD contains all five of his sessions, a song ("Wo Ist Der Mann?") on which his band accompanies Marlene Dietrich, plus a date with trumpeter Louis Bacon's septet. In addition to Johnson's many piano solos, the top players are trumpeter... Read More

75th Birthday Celebration
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald

This attractive two-CD set, released to celebrate Fitzgerald's 75th birthday, is a perfect greatest-hits collection spanning the first half of her very productive career. All 39 songs are winners, highlighted by "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," "Undecided," "Flying Home," "Lady Be Good," "How High the Moon," "Smooth Sailing," "Airmail Special," "Lullaby of... Read More

1938
Artist: Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra

In addition to ten Billie Holiday vocals that are easily available elsewhere (best is "They Say"), this CD has some Wilson piano solos, a few rare Nan Wynn vocals and a band instrumental of "Jungle Love" with cornetist Bobby Hackett, clarinetist Pee Wee Russell and altoist Johnny Hodges. Excellent music, but the best tracks have been reissued... Read More

1937-1938
Artist: Teddy Wilson

This Classics CD traces pianist Teddy Wilson's recordings during a seven-month period. He backs singer Billie Holiday on eight memorable performances (including "My Man," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "When You're Smiling" and "I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me"), is showcased on a pair of piano solos, accompanies singer Sally Gooding... Read More

1934-1935
Artist: Teddy Wilson

There have been several overlapping reissue programs covering the material in the Classics series, especially the many Teddy Wilson recordings in which the pianist accompanied Billie Holiday. This particular CD has Wilson's first five sessions as a leader. He is heard on four fairly rare piano solos from 1934 (a year before he became a member of... Read More

Of Thee I Swing
Artist: Teddy Wilson

Hep's Teddy Wilson series sticks to his all-star band sides (skipping his solo piano performances), many of which feature the vocals of Billie Holiday. This entry starts with a pair of vocals by the long-forgotten Red Harper ("You Turned the Tables on Me" and "Sing, Baby, Sing"), has two spots for the talented singer Midge Williams and also a... Read More

Red Norvo, Featuring Mildred Bailey
Artist: Red Norvo

This CD reissue by Columbia in their Legacy series is a bit of a hodgepodge, covering a 2 1/2 year period in the bandleading career of xylophonist Red Norvo. Unfortunately the music is not programmed in chronological order but since most of these largely enjoyable 18 titles (including two never previously released) have rarely been reissued,... Read More

The Complete Benny Goodman, Vol. 4 (1936-1937)
Artist: Benny Goodman

The fourth of eight volumes (all are two-LP sets) documenting Benny Goodman's highly influential Victor studio sides, the 1936-37 period covered by this set found BG's amazing popularity still on the rise (he was now a household name), Harry James joining the orchestra and Martha Tilton settling in as the band's regular vocalist. Among the many... Read More

Duke's Men: The Small Groups, Vol. 1
Artist: Duke Ellington

In the '30s, Ellington started recording prolifically with small groups taken from his big band. It gave him an opportunity to both debut new works and to let his sidemen stretch out and act as leaders once in awhile (under his direction). This two-disc set contains 45 recordings, almost all of them brilliant, including sessions ostensibly under... Read More

1935-1936
Artist: Fats Waller

By the time of this ninth volume of French label Classics' chronological series, Fats Waller was among the most popular recording artists in the U.S., and the 24 selections here, drawn from sessions recorded in November and December 1935 and February and April 1936, reflect both that popularity and the kind of material necessary to maintain it.... Read More