Big Band Swing Blues And All That Jazz - Columbus Jazz Orchestra

Advantages: Some really good tracks
Disadvantages: Some are "so-so"

...-talented and multi-styled Coleman Hawkins and His All Star Jam Band. It is still a swinging example of jazz, yet has more than a touch of elegant sophistication about it. The next track on the CD is by Nat King Cole and the Jazz All Stars. What's that? Nat King Cole? Singing jazz? Wasn't he a sophisticated crooner? Well, yes, towards the later years of his illustrious career, yet here we have a fine, stomping prime example of jazz with the Bugle Call Rag. In fact, Nat (Nathanial) Cole does not sing on this tune, he provides some of the hottest jazz piano I have heard in ages. Nat was, first and foremost, a fantastic jazz pianist. This version of the tune was recorded in 1944. Listen to this and you will now EXACTLY where Bill Hailey and the rest of the rock and rollers got their inspiration from! And also some of their licks, too! The next track... Read review

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Advantages: Great jazz tunes from the Golden Age
Disadvantages: None

...Parker. Doggin' Around, is another By Royal Appointment tune, this time from the orchestra of Count Basie. A rather lush, full sound, perhaps a little less avant-garde than Duke Ellington? Out of Nowhere by Coleman Hawkins makes use of jazz guitar (many of the jazz bands didn't) but this, combined with the other "traditional" instruments make for a satisfying jazz classic. Eventually Jango Rhinehart, the Gypsy/Roma jazz guitarist would change all that… Lester Young's Sad Eyes, is a no-nonsense jazz piece, with more than a nod to the Blues. Moving, firm piano, which moves round a central theme, soon joined by the other instruments to show how to make Sad Eyes glad again. Whose Honey Are You, by Fats Waller and his Rhythm starts with a smattering of scat singing, and then uses piano, rhythm, and jazz guitar to back a song sung by man asking... Read review

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Advantages: The price of the Album was good and within my budget
Disadvantages: The music store had to order the Album in, did not have it in stock

...This was an excellent Album, made easy listening. I have long been a Billy Holiday fan but to those people who have not heard her soulfull voice, I would recommend this album as an intro into the ninteen thirties blues scene. Backed by the Ken Burns Jazz Band, Billy's voice is so sypathetically handled and allowed to blend with each mellow note. Its a rare combination of orchestra and voice, that is simply so in harmony with each other that the listener is lulled into the whole pre war American Night Club ethos. On listening to tracks three and four, " Me Myself and I " and "Without Your Love" with thier slight swing rhythm, you almost feel you are part of the audience, sitting at one of the tables. A drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other, smoke filling the sultry air of the room, disturbed only by the background murmer... Read review

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