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

Dance With His NBC Orchestra
Artist: Teddy Hill & His Orchestra

It would not be an exaggeration to call this French CD "definitive" of Teddy Hill's band, since it includes all 26 of his orchestra's recordings. Hill led an excellent big band during 1935-1937 that, although overshadowed by its competitors, featured such major soloists as trumpeters Roy Eldridge, Frankie Newton, and Dizzy Gillespie (heard on... Read More

1937-1938
Artist: Edgar Hayes

Whatever happened to Orlando Roberson? He recorded with Fats Waller & His Buddies in December of 1929 and with Claude Hopkins in 1933 and 1934, then resurfaced in March 1937 crooning away in practically the same voice in front of a band led by Edgar Hayes -- but billed this one time as Orlando Roberson & His Orchestra. Many jazz fans would... 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

1938-1939
Artist: Cab Calloway & His Orchestra

The seventh of the Classics label's 12 Cab Calloway CDs traces his progress during an 11-month period through 24 recordings. The band's main soloists at the time included trumpeters Shad Collins and Irving Randolph, trombonists Claude Jones and Keg Johnson and especially tenor great Chu Berry (the band gets four instrumentals on this set).... Read More

1937-1938
Artist: Cab Calloway & His Orchestra

The swing era may have been at its height during the time covered by this CD (the sixth of 12 put out by the Classics label that reissue all of Cab Calloway's 1930-42 recordings) but the colorful vocalist held onto his audience and remained a household name. With such soloists as Ben Webster or Chu Berry on tenor, trumpeters Shad Collins and... Read More

1932
Artist: Cab Calloway & His Orchestra

The third of 12 Cab Calloway CDs put out by Classics (which on a whole reissues the master takes of all of the popular singer's recordings from 1930-42) covers a busy six-month period. His big band (which tended to be greatly overshadowed) was actually quite excellent with good soloists in trumpeter Lammar Wright, clarinetist Eddie Barefield,... Read More

1931-1932
Artist: Cab Calloway & His Orchestra

The second of 12 Classics CDs that reissue all of Cab Calloway's recordings from 1930-42 has 23 performances that trace the singer's success during an 11-month period. He shows what he learned from his older sister Blanche on some of the songs, but on "You Rascal You," "Aw You Dawg" and "Kickin' the Gong Around," the singer could be mistaken for... 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

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