Search - Teddy Wilson, Billie Holiday :: Partners in Jazz

Going out of print as mysteriously as it came

Greenlight | Vermont | 06/14/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Compared to the Teddy Wilson issued in the much-vaunted John RT Davies remasters on Hep, the sound quality of this disc is, if you can believe it, even better, with the notable vinyl hiss absent, but apparently none of the fidelity dampened. It looks like these tracks are licensed from Charly (UK), which leaves me puzzled about who did the remastering. From someone who thought he knew the difference, this certainly qualifies as a secret taste test, and, for once, Brand X really won out over Brand A.



This volume is a choice mix of tunes from 1934 ('Somebody Loves Me') up through 1940 (the relatively rare '71').



The emphasis is on Wilson as a leader. In particular, when the snapshots of these years are set side by side like they are on this disc, it opens the listener's ears to the transition from the early swing tunes, to his solo big band sound (1938 on).



I count 12 classic tunes here.



Three are Holiday's (1937's 'Why Was I Born?' and 'The Way You Look Tonight', as well as 1939's 'More Than You Know').



One is with a great, male big band vocalist I'm not familiar enough with (1939's 'WHAM (Re Bop Boom Bam)').



Then there are the many others that showcase Wilson and his players in their prime: 'Somebody Loves Me' (1934), 'Blues in C Sharp Minor' (1936), 'Sailin' (1936), 'Why Do I Lie to Myself about You?' (1936), 'I've Founda a New Baby' (1937), 'Don't Blame Me' (1938), 'Just a Mood' (1937), 'You Can't Stop Me from Dreaming' (1937), 'China Boy' (1939), and 'More Than You Know' (1939), and 'Jumpin' for Joy' (1939).



The disc is a mystery, though, as there are no dates or liner notes -- just this timeless music."