Storyville Masters Of Jazz: The Sampler
Label: STORYVILLE Catalog: 1091011 Format: CD Take the "A" Train - 3:02 (Ellington, Duke) / Things Ain't What They Used to Be - 2:44 (Ellington, Duke) / Caravan [Live] - 7:26 (Smith, Stuff Quartet) / As Long as I Live - 5:58 (Hines, Earl) / When It's Sleepy Time Down South - 2:48 (Armstrong, Louis All Stars) / C'est Si Bon - 3:37 (Armstrong, Louis All Stars) / Rhythm-A-Ning [Live] - 5:48 (Griffin, Johnny Quartet) / How High the Moon - 3:58 (Wilson, Teddy Trio) / Easy Living - 2:44 (Wilson, Teddy Trio) Loverman - 2:37 (Holiday, Billie) / Billie's Blues - 3:12 (Holiday, Billie) / Mack the Knife [Live] - 6:14 (Terry, Clark Quartet) / The Jeep Is Jumpin' - 2:53 (Hodges, Johnny) / Bouncing with Ben - 2:51 (Hodges, Johnny) / Cotton Tail - 3:36 (Webster, Ben) / Stompy Jones - 3:38 (Webster, Ben) / Tiger Rag - 2:12 (Tatum, Art) / 18 Sweet Lorraine - 2:12 (Tatum, Art) / Out of the Gallion - 3:22(Mezzrow-Bechet Quintet) / Perdido Street Stomp - 2:17 (Mezzrow-Bechet Quintet) Founded in the early '50s in Denmark by Karl Emil Knudsen, Storyville Records developed into Europe's prestige jazz and blues label. Storyville earned a reputation as a record company with integrity, one that treated musicians fairly, particularly in the financial arena, and Knudsen was able to license a great deal of truly vintage jazz and blues material because of it, which has given Storyville's back catalog the kind of depth and quality that few other labels can match. This fine sampler doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of that catalog, and shouldn't be taken as anything more than an introduction to it, but it still makes for a wonderful little anthology on its own terms. Among the many classics here are versions of Duke Ellington's "Take the 'A' Train," Ben Webster's signature "Cotton Tail," Art Tatum's absolutely stunning "Tiger Rag," Louis Armstrong's brilliantly sung and nuanced "When It's Sleepy Time Down South," and a wonderful take on "Caravan" by Stuff Smith. Consider this a gateway disc to the wonders of Storyville Records. You'll want more. Guaranteed. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide Price: $9.98 |