All Star Jazz Quartets CD - Import

Personnel: Eddie South (vocals, whistling, violin); Eddie Condon (vocals, banjo); Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet, cornet); Hot Lips Page (vocals, trumpet); Clarence Williams, Willie "The Lion" Smith (vocals, piano); Django Reinhardt, Jimmy Miller , Teddy Bunn, Bernard Addison, Roger Chaput, Carmen Mastren, Charlie Christian (guitar); Ikey Robinson (banjo); Stéphane Grappelli (violin, piano); Joe Venuti, Michel Warlop (violin); Garvin Bushell (clarinet, bassoon, alto saxophone); Frank Teschemacher, Sidney Bechet (clarinet, soprano saxophone); Buster Bailey (clarinet, alto saxophone); Cecil Scott (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Pete Pumiglio (clarinet, baritone saxophone); Jabbo Smith, Muggsy Spanier (clarinet, cornet); Barney Bigard (clarinet, drums); Edmond Hall, Joe Marsala, Johnny Dodds, Omer Simeon, Bennie Moten, Benny Goodman (clarinet); Frankie Trumbauer (bassoon, C-melody saxophone); Coleman Hawkins (tenor saxophone); Adrian Rollini (bass saxophone); Harry James, Charlie Gaines, Roy Eldridge, Tommy Dorsey (trumpet); Ed Allen, Eddie Allen, Herb Morand, Natty Dominique, Rex Stewart (cornet); Dicky Wells, Geechie Fields (trombone); Itzy Riskin, Antonia Spaulding, Frank Melrose, Frank Signorelli, Cass Simpson, Sam Allen, James P. Johnson, Jelly Roll Morton, Jimmy Blythe, Joe Sullivan, Lennie Hayton, Leonard Feather, Rube Bloom, Arthur Schutt, Bob Zurke, Earl Hines (piano); Meade "Lux" Lewis (celesta); Fats Waller (organ); Lionel Hampton (vibraphone); Red Norvo (xylophone); Marcus Norman, Baby Dodds (drums, washboard); Wilbert Kirk, Gene Krupa, Ray Bauduc, Big Sid Catlett, Tommy Benford, Bill Beason, Wallace Bishop, Stan King (drums); Jimmy Bertrand, Floyd Casey, Willie Mae Williams (washboard).
Liner Note Author: Nevil Skrimshire.
Recording information: Camden, NJ (04/21/1927-02/05/1941); Chicago, IL (04/21/1927-02/05/1941); Hollywood, CA (04/21/1927-02/05/1941); Los Angeles, CA (04/21/1927-02/05/1941); New York, NY (04/21/1927-02/05/1941); Paris, France (04/21/1927-02/05/1941).
Director: Eddie South.
Unknown Contributor Role: Adrian Rollini.
This delightful four-CD box set contains a smorgasbord of early- to mid-20th century three- and four-piece jazz combos, mostly ad hoc ensembles formed just for the pure pleasure of playing. Consequently, the sides heard here, from groups like Benny Goodman's groundbreaking multi-racial quartet, featuring pianist Teddy Wilson and Lionel Hampton on vibes, and the early-'40s Sidney Bechet-Muggsy Spanier Big Four, are relaxed, swinging, and sometimes revelatory, unearthing treasures like Clarence Williams' Washboard Band's "Whip Me With Plenty of Love" as well as renowned jazz pianist Willie "The Lion" Smith's "Swing, Brother, Swing."