The Bebop Shop : Compilation Albums : General Jazz Compilations
Jazz, New Orleans style is the order of the day on these four classic albums of the genre. The difference being these albums were all recorded in 1961 by a bunch a disparate musicians who had had musical careers of varying success over the previous thirty years. On these albums you will meet some of the characters who populated the New Orleans of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s and who maybe never quite made it, in the sense of becoming worldwide familiar names in their chosen field of jazz and blues. Say "Hi" to Percy Humphrey, Albert Burbank and Emmanuel Sayles. Meet the lady with the bells down her legs, Sweet Emma Barrett, and trombonist Jim Robinson who pops up on two of our four albums including his own album with his New Orleans Band. Then there is Billie and Dede Pierce performing some of the oldest forms of New Orleans music with their blues in the classic tradition. That tradition being the singing of the blues to the accompaniment of cornet and piano, one of the earliest forms of negro jazz when it was first recoded in the 1920’s. Billie was 54 when this album was made but she could boast about how she had played piano for Bessie Smith when she was only 15!! They could also both boast that they had been chosen by none other than Ida Cox to support her on her final tour of the south!
All four albums plus have been digitally re-mastered for probably the finest ever sound quality! (AVID Entertainment)
Price: £8.99
Representative "classic" tracks from Tempo's British modern jazz recordings -- 1954-1960. A major label for emerging modernism in Britain, Tempo showcased the cream of new jazzmen: saxists Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Scott, Don Rendell and Harry Klein, vibesman Victor Feldman, trumpeters Dizzy Reece and Jimmy Deuchar, and a team of very competent rhythm men. This is lively jazz of the 50s (based largely around the London club scene) and suggests British jazz was in rude good health. Excellent value for money (though some tracks are faded), with full personnel details and a strong invite to "sample" Jasmine's reissues. (Andrew Clark, Editor, Riffs & Choruses: A New Jazz Anthology. Continuum Publishing.) Price: £3.49
July 1998 marked the 40th Anniversary of the filming of the legendary Newport Jazz Festival which resulted in arguably the greatest Jazz feature film ever made, 'Jazz On A Summer's Day'. Directed by Bert Stern and released to rave reviews in 1959, the film brilliantly captured the festive atmosphere of that festival's four days. This CD-reissue of musical highlights from the film's soundtrack comprises sixteen superb performances from some of the greatest jazz players and singers of the era, including Thelonious Monk, Louis Armstrong, Dinah Washington and Gerry Mulligan. It also features the peerless gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and the then-controversial appearance of Chuck Berry, performing his huge hit from 1958, 'Sweet Little Sixteen'. This re-issue will be welcomed by the film's many fans and jazz lovers alike, as well as by newcomers who wish to hear for themselves these legendary performances. (Snapper Music) Price: £9.99
