Vintage Jazz Vol.4 - Various Artists

Vintage Jazz Volume 4 is another of my all-time favourite jazz CDs, as it does exactly what it sys on the label, it IE.. it contain some really fine examples of some of the best classic jazz.

Coleman Hawkins as his All Star Jam Band, featuring every example of the best jazz instruments, guitar, drums, clarinet, all performing together as one on Honeysuckle Rose. And please note the use of the word "jam" in the name of the ...
...something that is undeniably reall vintage and classic jazz. It is Ballin' the Jack by one of the best jazz musicians of all time, Jelly Roll Morton. One of the greatest jazz pianists, singers and arrangers ever, he worked his way form playing ragtime piano in whorehouses to being one of the top jazz pianists of his day.

I was lucky. I found this CD in an HMV sale at £1.99. For current the price, check with the ciao price comparison ... more

Vintage Jazz Volume 4 is another of my all-time favourite jazz CDs, as it does exactly what it sys on the label, it IE.. it contain some really fine examples of some of the best classic jazz.

Coleman Hawkins as his All Star Jam Band, featuring every example of the best jazz instruments, guitar, drums, clarinet, all performing together as one on Honeysuckle Rose. And please note the use of the word "jam" in the name of the band. As they say, there really is nothing new under the sun!

The next track is also by Coleman Hawkins and His All Star Jam Band, but is a totally different style of jazz as they give a rip-roaring, jumping version of Sweet Georgia Brown.

Crazy Rhythm is the next track an is also from Coleman Hawkins and His All Star Jam Band. Crazy Rhythm? Well, no all that crazy, and it is another example of the multi-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, That Old Feeling is an example of laid back jazz, with Frankie Laine singing. Frankie Laine? Yep. Frankie Laine was a mean exponent of the jazz idiom in the early days of his career. At one point jazz outfits such as Buck Clayton and his Orchestra was the only real way that singers such as Frankie Laine could get gigs.

If You Were Mine, also by Buck Clayton and his Orchestra (featuring Frankie Laine) is an example of sophisticated jazz, starting with some brilliant piano playing which soon gives way to some soulful trumpet playing, which is then joined by the rest of the orchestra, playing in a subdued, lilting style. In keeping with many jazz songs of the era, Frankie Laine's singing does not come in until a good deal into the piece.

Buck Clayton and his Orchestra (still featuring Frankie Laine!) next perform Stars Fell on Alabama. Although equally sophisticated as If You Wee Mine, it is a somewhat different, more melancholy style. The lyrics are slightly corny, it has to be said, though Frankie does well with them.

The next song is also by Buck Clayton and his Orchestra and Frankie Laine. It is a version of My Old Flame. I am sorry, but since I heard the spike Jones version of My Old Flame, I really haven't been able to take this song as seriously as it deserves. (Spike Jones mangled the song to include a psychotic killer (sung as a passable impersonation of Peter Lorrie) Although somewhat bizarrely, Frankie Laine remains totally mute during the Buck Clayton version of My Old Flame!

The next track is by the Benny Goodman Quartet, featuring Benny Goodman on clarinet, with fantastic swinging backing from the rest of his band, including jazz xylophone.

Stompin' at the Savoy is also by Benny Goodman and his Quartet, which is a little slower and more really for dancing. Perhaps that was were the Savoy came in to the title?

Benny Goodman and his Quartet next give us Moonglow, which starts with some sophisticated piano, which is soon joined by Goodman and the rest of his band. The style is somewhat muted. And, I suppose if you consider the jazz of the 1920s as being like bright sunlight, then, yes, I would guess that you could call this tune an example of Moonglow. Pretty, though not as bright as real jazz.

Benny Goodman and his Quartet are featured again with a song called Body and Soul. Re Again, it is more "sophisticated" and is best described as lift music for the more discerning type of building.

Louis Armstrong (thank God! We are back to some real jazz!) is next with I Want a Big Butter and Egg Man. Strange, it is equally as sophisticated as Benny Goodman and his Quartet, yet it seems to be more vibrant and alive. Louis' singing as well as his trumpet playing really helps to kick this into a higher gear.

The next track is Mame by Louis Armstrong. Jazz? Well, yes, it does still have a darn fine collection of jazz musicians backing Louis, so even though I would not call this particular piece "vintage jazz" it is still pleasant enough.

Well, for the last track it is back to something that is undeniably reall vintage and classic jazz. It is Ballin' the Jack by one of the best jazz musicians of all time, Jelly Roll Morton. One of the greatest jazz pianists, singers and arrangers ever, he worked his way form playing ragtime piano in whorehouses to being one of the top jazz pianists of his day.

I was lucky. I found this CD in an HMV sale at £1.99. For current the price, check with the ciao price comparison service.
 

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