The Archivist
October 2008 By Scott Yanow
Fleischmann’s Yeast Show & Louis’ Home-Recorded Tapes
Jazz Heritage Society
One of Louis Armstrong’s favorite hobbies was taping things that interested him, including his own performances, his thoughts and sometimes historic events and the music of others. When he died in 1971, Armstrong left behind an extensive collection of tapes...
October 2008 By Scott Yanow
Eight Bar Riff ’43-’50
HEP Records
The U.K.-based Hep label has been steadily reissuing valuable swing-era recordings (in addition to recording new sessions) since 1974. Its most recent batch contains a few gems. Although criticized by some for his pop hits, Harry James was one of the great...
October 2008 By Scott Yanow
Charlie Parker & Arne Domnerus in Sweden
Oktav
The Swedish Oktav label has two recent reissues of strong interest. Charlie Parker & Arne Domnerus in Sweden includes four selections featuring Bird (formerly out on a Xanadu LP) and three with altoist Arne Domnerus in his place on the same day. Recorded...
October 2008 By Scott Yanow
Here ’Tis
Blue Note Records
Most of the vintage Blue Note catalog has now been reissued, although one hopes that Mosaic will eventually compile a box by the Three Sounds. Two former rarities that have returned recently are altoist Lou Donaldson’s Here ’Tis, a highly enjoyable quartet...
October 2008 By Scott Yanow
Whippin’ the Keys
Delmark Records
Bob Koester’s Delmark label may be most famous for its groundbreaking AACM recordings and its important blues dates, but it has also reflected Koester’s interest in early jazz, ragtime and bop. Wally Rose, best known for his playing with Lu Watters’ Yerba...
October 2008 By Scott Yanow
Percussion Ensemble
ESP-Disk
In recent times, nearly the entire catalog of the 1960s avant-garde ESP-Disk label has been getting reissued (although Ran Blake Plays Solo Piano never seems to return). Percussion Ensemble features drum duets by Milford Graves and the forgotten Sunny Morgan...
August 2008 By Scott Yanow
First Giant Steps
Rare Live
John Coltrane was already 29 when he took the first step toward fame and influence in the jazz world by joining the Miles Davis Quintet in 1955. There are relatively few examples of Trane’s playing before that year: He took a solo with Dizzy Gillespie on...
August 2008 By Scott Yanow
Classic Columbia, OKeh and Vocalion Lester Young with Count Basie (1936-1940)
Mosaic Records
The four-CD limited-edition boxed set from Mosaic, Classic Columbia, OKeh and Vocalion Lester Young with Count Basie (1936-1940), celebrates the Basie Orchestra of 1939-40 and its innovative tenor saxophonist Lester Young. Compared with the tough-toned...
August 2008 By Scott Yanow
All Aglow Again
Collectors' Choice
Collector’s Choice, which has recently reissued nearly the entire Nat “King” Cole Capitol catalog of the 1950s and early ’60s (with an emphasis on Cole’s cheerful ballad and pop singing), has now launched a Peggy Lee series. All Aglow Again spotlights Lee’s...
August 2008 By Scott Yanow
Ornette Coleman Town Hall 1962
ESP-Disk
The steady reissue of releases from Bernard Stollman’s ESP-Disk label (when will they get to their long-elusive Ran Blake Plays Solo Piano date?) is quite welcome. ESP was one of the top free-jazz/avant-garde labels during the second half of the 1960s, and...
