RADIO JAZZ THE BEST BROADCASTS 1937-1953

The aim of the excellent two CD set is to provide a slightly different look at the jazz of the time period by sing radio transcriptions and V-Disc (records made solely for the armed forces) instead of commercially issued sides. when this time span also includes he years of the petrillo ban (1942- 1944), When no record were allowed to be made, this is doubly valuable. Long term anthousiast should note there is nothing here previously unissued, but musically, most readers should find plenty to enjoy. Paradoxally, the most recent side – from October 1953- is also stylistically the oldest, New Orleans’ veteran Trombonist Kid Ory covering King Oliver’s’ Snag It ‘in San Francisco With the like of saxman Teddy Buckner, piannist Don Ewell and others. In general, there is plenty of hot jazz and blasting swing, and many performance strech beyond the confines standard of  78 disc, some running to way other three and a half minutes – wich also means that soloist get a littel longer to strech out. This can be particulary valuable ; a good example is count Basie’s King Porter stomp’, wich includes a rare solo by tenor saxman Hershel Evans, the aknowlege major influence on the texas tenor tradition of Arnett cobb, Illinois Jacquet and many others . Mention of jacquet also brings to mind Hampton’s’Flyin’Home’, here present in  a wonderful 1940 version made whith manbers of The spirit Of the Rythm and a little slower than exepted. Hamp’s two boogies are also noteworthy,and I write as one  who is normally allergic to the vibraphone – even if it’s Johnny Otis or indeed Hamptobn waving the mallets. Benny Goodman may seem somthing of an outsideer in this company but his lone side here is with his integrated sextet, wich included Hampton and electric guitar pioneer Charlie Christian – Who does shine on an instrumental break . As that paragraphe hints, there is plenty here for the student of  of early R&B. The list is Sidemen on these sides who went onto establish reputations in the later from is staggering : let’s mention saxmen Buddy Tate, Bumps Myers, ‘Sax’ Mallard, Jimmy Forrest, Paul Bascomb, Heywood Henry, Joe Thomas, Sam ‘the Man’ Taylor, Teddy Mac Rae, Tab Smith and Al Sears, for starters – and that just a cursory Trawl throught the line-ups. The Blues proper present via T-Bones’s track with a big band from this session and I can only concur !) thoug this has turned up on more than one reissue previously. Pete Johnson’s sides are from 1940 and 1943 respectively and lucky Millinder’s brace, from a 1943 V- Disc, feature one vocal from Sister Rosetta Thrape (‘Rock Daniel’) and one with Trevor Bacon and the band vocalising on the Millinder/bill Doggett composition, ‘Savoy’, though it is parhaps most notable for its wonderful Jive introduction. Singer june Richmond romps her way through andy Kirk’s cover of Roosvelt Sykes’ ’47 th Street Jive’. Louis Jordan  of course needs  no further comment. Other delights are occasinal spocken introductions from the original radio shows - ‘The boys are Champing at the bit’ etc.- Wich certainly add flavour. But this is a release full of delights and one I will return to again and gain.

Norman DARWEN – BLUES & RYTHM