Zeeba Neighba
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Henry "Red" Allen - The Chronological Classics 1929-1933
Much of this is on a comp on Spotify called Swing Out
Much of this is on a comp on Spotify called Swing Out
Journey Through The Penguin Jazz Guide
- Thread starter Zeeba Neighba
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Zeeba Neighba
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Coleman Hawkins - The Chronological Classics 1929-1934
As we come to the end of the 1920s in the Penguin guide, jazz is shifting to highlight the instrumental solos that would come to define it. Hawkins is one of the best, and we'll see his again. Here's his early stuff with Fletcher Henderson, Jack Purvis, the Mound City Blowers, and his own stuff
As we come to the end of the 1920s in the Penguin guide, jazz is shifting to highlight the instrumental solos that would come to define it. Hawkins is one of the best, and we'll see his again. Here's his early stuff with Fletcher Henderson, Jack Purvis, the Mound City Blowers, and his own stuff
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Jimmie Lunceford - Chronological Classics 1930-1934
Vacation has slowed my listening (and posting) down a bit. But, to quote Ah-nold “I’ll be back”
Vacation has slowed my listening (and posting) down a bit. But, to quote Ah-nold “I’ll be back”
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Cab Calloway - Jukebox Hits 1930-1950
Surprisingly not as much of Cab's material streaming on Spotify - Penguin Guide recommends the Chronological Cab Calloway: The Early Years 1930-1934 which at 100 tracks may be a bit too much - my own opinion about these recommendations is that each one should be nicely digested. When we get to the album era, there's not gonna be a choice "The Complete Miles Davis" so why not do shorter albums/comps for older artists.
That being said, this set - probably the best comp there covers a broader era and does focus on popular, fun songs rather than what made Cab a prominent 30s jazz figure. Still it's a great listen.
Surprisingly not as much of Cab's material streaming on Spotify - Penguin Guide recommends the Chronological Cab Calloway: The Early Years 1930-1934 which at 100 tracks may be a bit too much - my own opinion about these recommendations is that each one should be nicely digested. When we get to the album era, there's not gonna be a choice "The Complete Miles Davis" so why not do shorter albums/comps for older artists.
That being said, this set - probably the best comp there covers a broader era and does focus on popular, fun songs rather than what made Cab a prominent 30s jazz figure. Still it's a great listen.
Ojai Sam
Staff member
Cab sold very well, even during the depression, so they recorded him prolifically. However, those chronological albums can be a lot to absorb in one sitting. Nobody likes mega cd collections better than I do, but one of the casualties of the digital era has been the well curated compilation selected to fit comfortably within this space of an LP, say 45 minutes or less. If I recall correctly, Columbia did a nice one for Calloway.Cab Calloway - Jukebox Hits 1930-1950
Surprisingly not as much of Cab's material streaming on Spotify - Penguin Guide recommends the Chronological Cab Calloway: The Early Years 1930-1934 which at 100 tracks may be a bit too much - my own opinion about these recommendations is that each one should be nicely digested. When we get to the album era, there's not gonna be a choice "The Complete Miles Davis" so why not do shorter albums/comps for older artists.
That being said, this set - probably the best comp there covers a broader era and does focus on popular, fun songs rather than what made Cab a prominent 30s jazz figure. Still it's a great listen.
Unsomnambulist
Staff member
I'm always flummoxed when I listen to a classic album on streaming, only to discover it's 2 hours long because they added a bunch of B-sides and outtakes to it.
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
To continue the above thoughts, I always feel these recommended lists, should be somewhat reasonable. I (like Ojai I suspect) have been doing a lot of listening off the 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear list - they'll have a symphony or single piano sonata then as one of their selections, suggest the complete Mozart 23 string quartets - no doubt important works but kind of a cop out when, say, Sibelius' "Finlandia" or Barber "Adagio for Strings" counts as one selection then the complete string quartets counts as one selection.
List makers - ugh - they're the worst
List makers - ugh - they're the worst
axolotl
Nunquam non paratus
List makers - ugh - they're the worst
Wait a guldurn second thar, Borther.
Ojai Sam
Staff member
The 1001 Classical editor made some interesting choices. For most of the nine Beethoven symphonies, they chose the complete cycle for a separate conductor. So we got all nine by Barenboim, Karajan, et al. Yes, this is a bit excessive at times but it is a fine way to do a deep dive not only into the works but also into the stylistic nuances of each conductor.To continue the above thoughts, I always feel these recommended lists, should be somewhat reasonable. I (like Ojai I suspect) have been doing a lot of listening off the 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear list - they'll have a symphony or single piano sonata then as one of their selections, suggest the complete Mozart 23 string quartets - no doubt important works but kind of a cop out when, say, Sibelius' "Finlandia" or Barber "Adagio for Strings" counts as one selection then the complete string quartets counts as one selection.
List makers - ugh - they're the worst
Now if you’ll pardon me, I have to go listen to the 19th disc of The Angeles String Quartet’s Haydn cycle.
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang - Stringing the Blues - Their 52 Finest 1922-1933
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Casa Loma Orchestra - Casa Loma Stomp and Maniac's Ball
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Don Redman & His Orchestra - Shakin' the Africann (comp 1984)
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Art Tatum - Piano Starts Here
Art Tatum - Classic Early Solos (1934-1937)
No Chronological Classics - no problem for these impressive early Art Tatum piano sides - I have always loved the collection Piano Starts Here which combines his early 1933 solos with a live solo concert from 1940s. The Decca comp rounds out his 1933-1934 solo material. Always impressive.
Art Tatum - Classic Early Solos (1934-1937)
No Chronological Classics - no problem for these impressive early Art Tatum piano sides - I have always loved the collection Piano Starts Here which combines his early 1933 solos with a live solo concert from 1940s. The Decca comp rounds out his 1933-1934 solo material. Always impressive.
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Nat Gonella - The Young Nat Gonella 1930-1936
Going across the pond to England for the next comp - first time I've heard Gonella, an English trumpeter/bandleader whose career stretched from the 1930s to the 1970s
Going across the pond to England for the next comp - first time I've heard Gonella, an English trumpeter/bandleader whose career stretched from the 1930s to the 1970s
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Chick Webb - Rhythm Man and Strictly Jive
I actually own the Chronological Classics Chick Webb discs - only to have Penguin go with the Hep Records comps here
Luckily they're both on Spotify - Hep does a good job with these comps even if the artwork is bare bones.
Includes early Ella singing with the band
Ken Burns' Jazz documentary really gives Webb some good coverage here, and apparently his recordings don't do justice to his live drumming chops
I actually own the Chronological Classics Chick Webb discs - only to have Penguin go with the Hep Records comps here
Luckily they're both on Spotify - Hep does a good job with these comps even if the artwork is bare bones.
Includes early Ella singing with the band
Ken Burns' Jazz documentary really gives Webb some good coverage here, and apparently his recordings don't do justice to his live drumming chops
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Jack Teagarden - It's Time for T: Original Recordings 1929-1953
The Penguin compilation suggested I've Got a Right to Sing the Blues is a nice set but many of the tracks (with Teagarden playing with Red Nichols or Eddie Condon) have been covered in other sets here. I think this one is a nice overview of the trombonist's work.
The Penguin compilation suggested I've Got a Right to Sing the Blues is a nice set but many of the tracks (with Teagarden playing with Red Nichols or Eddie Condon) have been covered in other sets here. I think this one is a nice overview of the trombonist's work.
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Mills Blue Rhythm Band - Blue Rhythm
NYC-based band based at the Cotton Club. Manager Irving Mills also managed Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway and the Blue Rhythm Band would often take the dates that didn't interest those two bandleaders
Per Wiki, the band recorded 150 sides for various labels - wow! Amazed me how many sides some of these bands (who are hardly known today) recorded back in the day.
NYC-based band based at the Cotton Club. Manager Irving Mills also managed Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway and the Blue Rhythm Band would often take the dates that didn't interest those two bandleaders
Per Wiki, the band recorded 150 sides for various labels - wow! Amazed me how many sides some of these bands (who are hardly known today) recorded back in the day.
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Benny Carter - The Chronological Classics 1933-1936
Have listened to 1961's Further Definitions and other Benny Carter albums from that era often but I never realized Carter's career started in the 1920s as an arranger for Fletcher Henderson. He formed his own band in the 1930s, many tracks included here. His career spanned decades even teaching at Princeton in the 1970s. Carter would pass in 2003 at the ripe ol' age of 95.
Have listened to 1961's Further Definitions and other Benny Carter albums from that era often but I never realized Carter's career started in the 1920s as an arranger for Fletcher Henderson. He formed his own band in the 1930s, many tracks included here. His career spanned decades even teaching at Princeton in the 1970s. Carter would pass in 2003 at the ripe ol' age of 95.
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
The Spirits of Rhythm - 1932-1941
Interesting early jazz band primarily strings (including the 12-string tiple along with guitar) and percussion instruments, often homemade, with a nice share of scat integrated with their vocals.
Interesting early jazz band primarily strings (including the 12-string tiple along with guitar) and percussion instruments, often homemade, with a nice share of scat integrated with their vocals.
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Tiny Bradshaw - Walk That Mess! The Best of the King Years
Penguin recommends the 1987 comp Breaking the House, but this one covers the same material. Oddly though Penguin puts Tiny in the 1930s (when he started his jazz/swing band), the recommended comp covers his 1950s sax and piano fueled R&B material.
Still a good, rousing listen
Of note, Bradshaw recorded the first version of The Train Kept a Rollin' in 1951 (later made famous by Johnny Burnette, The Yardbirds, Aerosmith, etc)
Penguin recommends the 1987 comp Breaking the House, but this one covers the same material. Oddly though Penguin puts Tiny in the 1930s (when he started his jazz/swing band), the recommended comp covers his 1950s sax and piano fueled R&B material.
Still a good, rousing listen
Of note, Bradshaw recorded the first version of The Train Kept a Rollin' in 1951 (later made famous by Johnny Burnette, The Yardbirds, Aerosmith, etc)
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