Back Room Romp
Artist: Duke Ellington

Fine late-30s small-band cuts, many of them hard to find. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide Read More

The Complete Small Group Recordings
Artist: Benny Goodman

The music of the Benny Goodman Trio and Quartets (with the clarinetist, pianist Teddy Wilson, drummer Gene Krupa and sometimes vibraphonist Lionel Hampton) has been put out many times through the years, including in other, earlier "complete" sets. This 1997 three-CD reissue not only has all of the regular recordings, but 20 alternate takes, two... 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

Ivie Anderson With Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra - EPM
Artist: Ivie Anderson

Jazz Archives' summation of Ivie Anderson's stint with Duke Ellington's Famous Orchestra covers eight years and nearly two dozen sides of wonderful vocal swing. Though most of the tracks obviously aren't quite standards on the same level as her famous "It Don't Mean a Thing," the collection does include some great standards ("Stormy Weather,"... Read More

A Tribute to Lew Stone: The Legendary Monseigneur Band
Artist: Lew Stone

The English bandleader Lew Stone's Orchestra receives quite a tribute on this set, a three-CD reissue that contains 70 selections, some of which are medleys. In addition to the dozens of studio sides, there are a few excerpts from radio broadcasts. Stone's orchestra was quite versatile and their wide range of styles and unusual repertoire is... Read More

The Complete Small Combinations, Vols. 1-2 (1935-1937)
Artist: Benny Goodman

This two-CD set from the French RCA Jazz Tribune series (a straight reissue of a two-LP set) has the first 30 recordings by Benny Goodman and His Trio and his Quartet, groups featuring the leader-clarinetist, pianist Teddy Wilson, drummer Gene Krupa, and sometimes-vibraphonist Lionel Hampton. A special bonus of this historic set is the inclusion... Read More

Ella: The Legendary Decca Recordings
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald

The four-CD retrospective The Legendary Decca Recordings represented both an attempt to present the essence of Ella Fitzgerald's two-decade tenure at Decca Records and to defend that period against the conventional wisdom that not until she moved to Verve Records in the mid-'50s was her talent given full rein. Divided into four sections, the... Read More

On the Air - EPM MUSIQUE/JAZZ ARCHIVES
Artist: Glenn Miller

Three LPs (which were originally available separately) are combined in this box set. The performances by Glenn Miller's Orchestra (dance music, vocal features and a bit of jazz) are taken from radio broadcasts and over half of the selections were not recorded by the band commercially. Since most of this music (released for the first time in 1963... Read More

1937-1941
Artist: Eddie South

The 20 recordings on the 1937-1941 volume were cut variously in Paris during 1937; Hilversum, Holland, in 1938; and New York in 1940 and 1941. The French and Dutch recordings represent South's final European sessions before his return to the United States in 1938 -- that's Django Reinhardt strumming along on the two Parisian sides, "Fiddle... 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

Solos, Duets and Trios
Artist: Duke Ellington

This CD puts the focus on Duke Ellington the piano player, featuring the genius in several different settings. He is heard playing two duets with Billy Strayhorn, taking rare piano solos in 1932, 1941 and 1967, meeting up with Earl Hines in 1965 and leading a trio in 1945. However the real reason to acquire this set are the four duets (plus five... Read More

Swing Guitar Masterpieces 1937-1957
Artist: Oscar Alemán

Oscar Alemán is one of the great unknown talents in jazz history. A brilliant guitarist who sounded very close to Django Reinhardt at times, Alemán was overshadowed in Europe by Reinhardt in the 1930s and spent much of the rest of his career in his native Argentina, remaining well known only in that country. This 1998 double CD from Dave... Read More