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

Djangology - CAPITOL
Artist: Django Reinhardt

This massive ten-CD set of Django Reinhardt's recordings covers some of the same ground as the earlier 20-LP Djangology EMI series, duplicating the music on Vols. 2-15 along with three tracks from the first LP and ten from Vol. 16. However, there are 34 additional selections that were formerly overlooked (on some of those songs Reinhardt only... Read More

Wrappin' It Up: The Harry James Years, Vol. 2
Artist: Benny Goodman & His Orchestra

The second of two volumes highlighting the Goodman band's history with Harry James is missing one major ingredient from the first -- Gene Krupa, who exited in March of 1939. Lionel Hampton fills in, followed by Dave Tough, who held the spot for a short time, only to be supplanted by Hampton and Buddy Schultz. The sound is looser and more... Read More

Lester Young Story, Vol. 4
Artist: Lester Young

This odd but valuable two-LP series features all of Lester Young's sideman appearances for Columbia in which he takes a solo. The fourth of five volumes features four selections with organist Glenn Hardman's Hammond Five and three numbers from Billie Holiday but the bulk of the set features Prez's tenor with Count Basie orchestra. There are... 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

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

Carnegie Hall Concert (1938)
Artist: Benny Goodman

Although it has been superceded by the remastered, more extensively researched, and longer running Live at Carnegie Hall: 1938 Complete, this two-CD set issued in 1987 is still very worthwhile to the casual listener, and it has virtues that the reissue lacks. Mastered from a triple-LP set that had been cleaned up and edited at the time of... Read More

Air Play
Artist: Benny Goodman

By virtue of both its content and the implication of its title, Air Play is the perfect companion disc to Columbia's double-disc On the Air set. Drawn from the personal collection of producer Bob Thiele, Air Play consists of performances from radio broadcasts dating between December 1936 and 1938, a period in which Goodman and his band were at... 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