Search - Teddy Wilson :: Jumpin for Joy

Very interesting big band

JJA Kiefte | Tegelen, Nederland | 01/28/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Teddy Wilson was one of many former Benny Goodman sidemen who did not escape the big band fever (only a few were succesful: Harry James, Gene Krupa and Lionel Hampton; others like Wilson, Ziggy Elman, Jess Stacy, Bunny Berigan come to mind as those who didn't do very well).

A promising band with some very good instrumentalists such as Harold "Shorty" Baker and Doc Cheatham on trumpet, Rudy Powell on alto and Ben Webster on tenor sax and Al Casey, Fats Waller's erstwhile guitarist and drummer JC Heard in the rhythm section, the musicianship was clean and faultless, so much so that the critics labelled the band "the most white sounding black band", and that ultimately meant trouble. Black audiences were used to bands like Erskine Hawkins, Earl Hines, Chick Webb, Jimmy Lunceford, The Savoy Sultans etc, bands who took pride in their black identity and played accordingly (swinging though not always in tune, loud and showy, though not always in good taste) and Wilson's band did not live up to that expectation, while white audiences were far from ready in wholeheartedly accepting black bands.

About the music: many fine swing sides (the arrangement of "In the Mood" makes for a nice contrast with Glenn Miller's version, but is not as well developed and has slightly more foursquare statement by the saxes of the theme; JC Heard's driving drums are a treat though) and fortunately just a minor amount of commercial fare such as "Booly JaJa", "Lady of Mystery" and "Wham Rebop Boom Bam" (Glenn Miller's version is more relaxed (Miller relaxed???) and convincing). High spots are "The Man I Love" that sports a very moving Ben Webster solo and plaintive muted trumpet towards the end, both underpinned by luminous sax section work and "Sweet Lorraine" with it's marvelously executed coda for the full saxophone section (the saxophone work overall is peerless, except as noted on "In the Mood"). Wilson shines on all sides with his famous arpeggioes and runs on "Liza" and the obviously and, in the light of my former comments, aptly titled "Jumping on the Blacks and Whites".

The last four small band sides were made 11 months after the big band's last recording date and are very good too with excellent work by trumpeter Bill Coleman and trombonist Benny Morton.

Hep's remastering, informative liner notes and recording and personel details need no further recommendation.

Warmly recommended to admirers of big band music in general and Teddy Wilson in particular."