Louis Armstrong Collection, Vol. 5: Louis in New York
Artist: Louis Armstrong

By 1929, Louis Armstrong had switched from New Orleans jazz to fronting a variety of larger orchestras, widening his repertoire to include pop tunes but always leaving room for closing trumpet solos. This set includes all known versions (including a few new alternates) of his recordings of this era, including appearances by backing singers Seger... Read More

A Perfect Match: A Tribute to Hodges & Wild Bill Davis
Artist: Bob Wilber

In the 1960s altoist Johnny Hodges and organist Wild Bill Davis recorded eight albums together, several of which included trombonist Lawrence Brown. This 1997 set sounds very similar to that band and would probably confuse listeners in a blindfold test. Bob Wilber, normally a soprano saxophonist and clarinetist, always did sound a bit like... Read More

Legendary New Orleans Trumpet Story 1923-1939
Artist: Tommy Ladnier
Dr. Jazz Series, Vol. 13
Artist: Jimmy Archey

Trombonist Jimmy Archey spent most of his career as a sideman, but he had an opportunity in the early 50s to lead the remnants of a unit formerly headed by Bob Wilber. The performances on this 1997 CD are taken from the Dr. Jazz radio series of 1952. In addition to Archey and trumpeter Henry Goodwin (who was rarely featured at greater length... Read More

Something Tells Me
Artist: John Sheridan

A member of Jim Cullum's band since 1979 and the main arranger for the Riverwalk, Live From the Landing radio series, pianist John Sheridan has spent most of his career exploring pre-bop styles. A big fan of the swing era, when Sheridan was given the opportunity to lead this date for Arbors, he quickly put together a list of favorite songs that... Read More

1927-1928
Artist: Clarence Williams

The fifth CD in Classics' "complete" Clarence Williams program (all are highly recommended to collectors of 1920s jazz) has 22 selections from 11 separate recording sessions, all of the pianist/bandleader's dates for a ten-month period. There are a pair of piano solos, two numbers in which Williams's vocals (including an eccentric "Farm Hand... Read More

1928-1929
Artist: Clarence Williams

The sixth volume in the very valuable Classics Clarence Williams reissue program contains 22 numbers in its attractive CD, mostly from a four-month period. There is a lot of variety on these sessions with many of the best tracks featuring both King Oliver and Ed Allen on cornets along with tenorman Benny Waters. There are also numbers by... Read More

1926-1927
Artist: Clarence Williams

The third CD in the Classics label's Clarence Williams program reissues all of the pianist/bandleader's dates from a ten-month period, 23 selections in all. Such groups as Joe Jordan's Ten Sharps and Flats (performing a memorable version of "Morocco Blues"), The Dixie Washboard Band, The Blue Grass Foot Warmers and Clarence Williams's Stompers... Read More