Happy Birthday, Duke! the Birthday Sessions, Vols. 1-5
Artist: Duke Ellington

These five CDs of material, available separately or in a box, were cut at two successive birthday celebrations for Ellington in 1953 and 1954 at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, OR. They capture Ellington during his period with Capitol Records, which is usually not regarded as one of his better eras, mostly because he and the label never really... Read More

Roy Eldridge in Paris
Artist: Roy Eldridge

In 1950, trumpeter Roy Eldridge was having a bit of an identity crisis. Once considered one of the pacesetters, the emergence of Dizzy Gillespie and the bop stylists left Eldridge unsure what to do. But that year, when he travelled to France with Benny Goodman, the future seemed clearer. The Parisian audiences demanded that Eldridge play himself... Read More

The Concert Years
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald

On this four-CD set are some of Ella Fitzgerald's finest live performances during the years she was managed by Norman Granz. All of the material (which is taken from ten different performances in 1953, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1983) was previously released on various Pablo albums. Since this is a best-of collection and... Read More

Yale Recordings, Vol. 8: Never Before Released Recordings from Benny Goodman's Private
Artist: Benny Goodman

The eighth volume of previously unreleased material willed by Benny Goodman to Yale continues the series with some very interesting selections. Martha Tilton gets to redo her hit "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon" in 1958 with a big band, Goodman's clarinet is well-featured with a quintet that includes pianist Andre Previn on three tracks, and BG has his... Read More

Basie and Eckstine, Inc.
Artist: Count Basie

This rare big band outing for singer Billy Eckstine (which has been reissued on CD) is one of Mr. B's best ever recordings. Heard in prime voice, Eckstine was clearly inspired by the Count Basie Orchestra on the jazz-oriented set and he can be heard swinging in top form on such numbers as "Stormy Monday Blues," a remake of his early hit "Jelly... Read More

With the Oscar Peterson Trio - VERVE
Artist: Lester Young

Defying what has become conventional wisdom, tenor saxophonist Lester Young (when he was reasonably healthy) actually cut some of his greatest recordings in the 1950s. On this wonderful effort with pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer J.C. Heard, Prez performs definitive versions of "Just You, Just Me"... Read More

Cootie Williams in Hi Fi
Artist: Cootie Williams

With the possible exception of cornball trumpeter Clyde McCoy, nobody could impart humanistic sounds to a plunger mute like Cootie Williams. Certainly nobody could make a trumpet growl like he did, full of feral shrieks and blasts and vocal tones galore. As a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra during its heyday, Williams was big enough... Read More

Groovin' with Buddy Tate
Artist: Buddy Tate
This One's for Basie
Artist: Buddy Rich & His Orchestra

Drummer Buddy Rich put together an interesting 11-piece group for this tribute to Count Basie. The only Basie alumnus present is trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison but the other soloists (trombonist Frank Rosolino and Bob Enevoldsen, Bob Cooper on tenor and pianist Jimmy Rowles) easily fit into the setting. Marty Paich contributed the arrangements,... Read More

Walking Down
Artist: Bennie Green

The third of Bennie Green's three Prestige albums from 1955-1956 features the personable trombonist in a quintet with the young tenor-saxophonist Eric Dixon (here showing a strong Paul Gonsalves influence), and an obscure but swinging rhythm section (composed of pianist Lloyd Mayers, bassist Sonny Wellesley, and drummer Bill English). The solos... Read More

Yale Recordings, Vol. 2: Live at Basin Street
Artist: Benny Goodman

The second CD to be compiled from the valuable tapes that Benny Goodman willed to Yale features one of his strongest groups from the '50s, a septet with trumpeter Ruby Braff, tenorman Paul Quinichette and pianist Teddy Wilson. Recorded at the same period as a Book-of-the-Month collection but not duplicating any of the performances, Benny Goodman... Read More

Yale Recordings, Vols. 1-5
Artist: Benny Goodman

In his will, Benny Goodman gave to Yale not only all of his band arrangements (over 1, 500) but 400 ten-inch master tapes of unreleased studio and concert recordings. Some of the more rewarding sessions have now been issued by Music Masters and this particular box set includes the first five volumes (and a 40-page booklet), six CDs in all (since... Read More

Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Community Score: 7.00

Volume 1 is with Ellington's orchestra, Volume 2 is with smaller groups including Ben Webster, Stuff Smith, and Oscar Peterson. Outstanding recordings, worthwhile both as documents of a fertile period for her, and simply as the great music they are. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide Read More

Story 1929-1945
Artist: Barney Bigard

For years Bigard was woefully served by the CD age, but recently there has been a host of excellent collections highlighting the work of Ellington's greatest clarinetist. 1928-1948 is a wonderful release, and this is an excellent companion. There's such a wealth of sublime performances with Ellington (especially during the late '30s) that many... Read More