Jazz Nostalgia at its Best
David Norman | USA | 12/10/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a compilation of jazz on the Blue Note label roughly between 1944 and 1955. Although a little too focused on Sidney Bechet, this is an excellent collection of musicians in their prime, and includes, Wild Bill Davidson, Art Hodes, Edmond Hall, Sidney De Paris and Wilber De Paris, and of course Sidney Bechet. The sound quality is good with none of the scratches, pops, and hisses usually associated with recordings from that period. The enclosed book with stories and photos is an added bonus. This collection is definitely a "must have" for anyone interested in hot jazz from this period. The recording of "Cake Walking Babies" alone is worth the cost of the entire package!"
An excellent compilation, excellent notes
Clark Dimond | Gardner, CO United States | 06/25/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Dan Morgenstern put this together from a very clean collection of this matrerial. New Orleans and Chicago artists recording all over, but based in New York. Excellent Ed Hall, fine Art Hodes, peak-era James P Johnson. An intellectual's fodder. As well-recorded as the classic cool and bop recordings on which the fame of the Blue Note label resides. A lot of sptrit left in these boys. Not a swing album, no swing -- just straight trad from some unexpected musical voices -- like Charlie Christian and Josh White. Morgenstern's notes on the lives of these men makes fascinating and informative reading. Five stars for conception and execution."