CD-Charts Position 81
Average Rating:

The Engine Room: A History of Jazz Drumming from Storyville to 52nd Street

CD-Charts > Music > Dixieland
by: Various Artists

Release Date June 22, 1999
This is a great CD that show a complete panorama about the
history of drums and drummers. They are 4 CD's selected by themes like:
1.New Orleans Style/ 2.Swing is Here/ 3.Big Band's / 4. Modernism.
Have an excellent book with a short history of each drummer, with
good pictures from the greatest drummers.
It has great's drums solos from Ray Bauduc, Baby Dodd's, Zutty Singleton, Sony Greer(very rare), Chick Webb, Sid Cattlet, Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson and some others not so famous, but very important to the history of the drums. And good executions from Tony Sbarbaro (his name are incorrect on cd: "Sharbaro"), Cozy Cole, Krupa, Manzey Johnson, Art Blakey playing on a big band, and more...
I miss more drums solos. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 82
Average Rating:

Cotton Candy/Sugar Lips

CD-Charts > Music > Dixieland
by: Al Hirt

Release Date July 27, 1999
For some people, Al Hirt stands pejoratively for a kind of trumpet playing that is less than artistic. It is important to realize that Hirt is a type of artist who was part of his time, and that time was the '60's, in its adult contemporary mode. If you're familiar with the brass and voices arrangements from this period by Ray Conniff, these two Al Hirt albums from 1964 will fit nicely into that mode. The arrangements are spare sounding and peppy, with lovely vocals by the Anita Kerr singers. The albums were produced by Chet Atkins, the master of the "countrypolitan" sound of that era. Hirt plays as only Hirt can, with zest, wonderful rhythm, and golden tone. The most touching moment, for me, is Hirt's vocal on Willie Nelson's "Night Life," ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 83
Average Rating:

Blues Masters, Vol. 11: Classic Blues Women

CD-Charts > Music > Dixieland
by: Various Artists

Release Date August 17, 1993
A perfect introduction to now-forgotten period of music,when women were the first blues stars,this CD is also great company for a book "Black Pearls:Blues Queens of the 1920's" by Daphne Duvall Harrison.While in the book we could find historical and economical background that shaped women like Bessie Smith,Ma Rainey and Ida Cox,on this CD we can hear their voices - through the limitations of primitive recording equipment,spirit of Mamie Smith explodes in our ears from 1920.when her hit "Crazy Blues" started avalanche of blues recordings and opened a door for a new market,as then unknown teritory of "race music" whose first pioneers were women.It's interesting to compare this women to their white sisters from the same era (check ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 84
Average Rating:

Cocktail Mix, Vol. 3: Swingin' Singles

CD-Charts > Music > Dixieland
by: Various Artists

Release Date January 23, 1996
This cd has been one of my favorites since the day I bought it nearly 10 years ago. The standards are classic, but some of the artists' interpretations of those standards are rare finds indeed. This cd is worth the price for Della Reese's "The Lady is a Tramp" alone. Although this is called volume 3, it should be number one as it is certaily the best of the series.

Highly recommended!

CD-Charts Position 85
Average Rating:

Hipsters' Holiday: Vocal Jazz & R&B Classics

CD-Charts > Music > Dixieland
by: Various Artists

Release Date July 31, 1989
I love Christmas albums and I have them all from Mathis to Motown, Sinatra to Connick and Buble, Phil Spector's epochal classic to Whitney and Luther Vandross etc.,but this is the most fun Xmas music ever. Louis Armstrong is the undisputed star of this collection with not only 3 great tracks but is also the cover boy on the CD artwork. One thing this relentlessly joyous, ebullient music captures well is the dichotomy of Christmas-the mass consumerism mixed with partying and tree decorating and oh yeah, the birth of Christ! Eartha Kitt has probably the best known track here with her kittenish "Santa Baby" but is topped by Pearl Baily's "5 Pound Box Of Money" and Mile Davis' uber cynical "Blue Xmas(To Whom It May Concern"). There is zany over the top scat singing ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 86
Average Rating:

Pete's Beat

CD-Charts > Music > Dixieland
by: Pete Fountain

Release Date December 01, 1995
A showcase for Fountain's clarinet, this album should appeal more to fans of Pete than of New Orleans' music. Pete's claim that his primary influence was BG, especially the Goodman of the trios and quartets, is fully demonstated on this session. The accompaniment is swinging, crisp, and rather lean, thanks in some measure to the absence of a piano, but none of the supporting musicians measures up to the capabilities of the leader during the solos. Wonder if Pete planned it that way.

CD-Charts Position 87
Average Rating:

Deep River: The Spirit of Gospel Music in Jazz

CD-Charts > Music > Dixieland
by: Jim Cullum Jazz Band

Release Date December 15, 1998
This album is SO WONDERFUL that I can't find words great enough!
It is soulful, brilliant, jazzy, -- timeless.
I have many albums, and several by Jim Cullum's band, but this is
my favorite.
EVAN CHRISTOPHER is THE best clarinetist I have ever heard!
Such a variety of tone, from sweet to raucous, slow and mournful to
quick, free, and gleeful.
The Ave Maria is my favorite of ALL arrangements I have ever heard of
that piece.
Arrangements on all of the album are done by a real genius, as well
as by a group of very skilled professionals, able to produce the "once in a lifetime" performance, typical of true Dixieland music.
Eddina Symns, Hutchinson, Kansas
.

CD-Charts Position 88
Average Rating:

Jazz: The Definitive Performances

CD-Charts > Music > Dixieland
by: Various Artists

Release Date October 12, 1999
I bought this as a gift for my son. It will be my last purchase at Amazon as long as they promote products that encourage animal fighting.

CD-Charts Position 89
Average Rating:

Let's Do It: The Best of the Verve Years

CD-Charts > Music > Dixieland
by: Louis Armstrong

Release Date September 26, 1995
This is one of the greatest jazz album sets of all time. What you have here is some great standards sung wonderfully sung by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, many as duets, with Louis blasting out some great trumpet solos, and the peerless Oscar Peterson trio providing the backing.

Louis and Ella were recorded a lot together and clearly they enjoyed working together. This comes through in every song.

Louis Armstrong practically invented the jazz solo and jazz singing as well, after his lip split and put some limits on his trumpet playing. Here you have one of the greatest American figures of the twentieth century on absolute top form, as is Ella.

This is absolutely essential listening. It will probably make you cry, but afterward ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 90
Average Rating:

The Sidney Bechet Story

CD-Charts > Music > Dixieland
by: Sidney Bechet

Release Date February 26, 2001
A short while ago I found a 4-disc collection of Louis Armstrong's hot fives and sevens. Seeing the gems that were in this collection, I was surprised at the low price. Shortly thereafter I came upon this collection. It has been said that if any New Orleans soloist could ever match Louis Armstrong, it was Sidney Bechet. His work on Blue Horizon alone would have been enough for me to justify getting this collection, but it is filled with dozens of wonderful selections from the career of this musical genius.