Search - Freddy Gardner :: Essential Collection

EVERY TRACK A WINNER

Barry McCanna | Normandy, France | 12/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Freddy Gardner was a master of the reed family, possessed of a ravishing tone, and at ease in any setting. He came to the general public's attention late in his all-too-brief career, by way of the solos he recorded with Peter Yorke's Concert Orchestra, six of which are included here. They demonstrate why he was in such demand, but beautiful as his playing was, there was nothing precious about it. On the contrary, he was the mainstay of the small groups with which he played, swinging lustily without hogging the proceedings. There are many compilations available but as can be seen this one, which is an expansion of an earlier Avid release entitled "Sweet `n' Hot", has cast its net wider than most.



As a result, there are some real gems on offer here, including all four sides by the Four Stars, whose instrumentation and style was clearly based upon the Venuti-Lang Blue Four, five sides by the Six Swingers (all new to CD), and one each of the sides recorded with visiting Americans Benny Carter, Valaida Snow, and Ike "Yowsah" Hutch. Add to that half a dozen of the wartime medley recordings he made with his Mess Mates for Decca's Music While You Work label, and a similar number from the Blue Mariners including three rare ENSA broadcast titles, and the result is an exemplary compilation at a mind-boggling budget price. Every track is a winner, and there can be no greater praise than that.

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