Swing's premier vibraphonist shows he knows how to bop. Hampton rose to fame in the mid-30s as a flamboyant member of Benny Goodman's bands. His post-war Decca recordings are generally regarded as his best work as a leader in his own right. Future stars appearing include Charles Mingus, Johnny Griffin and Kenny Dorham.
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New Concepts Of Artistry In Rhythm Stan Kenton 1952 [Capitol]
Cult figure Kenton fronts one of his best bands - sporting some topnotch players like Maynard Ferguson, Lee Konitz and Frank Rosolino. Kenton was a controversial figure because of his refusal to submit to conventional Ellington/Basie style big band formats. New Concepts showcases all the trademarks of a truly progressive big band.
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Count Basie Swings - Joe Williams Sings Count Basie & Joe Williams 1955 [Verve]
Joe Williams brought a whole new life to Basie's orchestra, handling the slower numbers much better than his predecessors. This one also features the orchestra in full flight, especially on Williams' signature tune 'Every Day I Have the Blues'. The biggest hit on the record is the redoubtable 'All Right, OK, You Win'. Basically brilliant Basie.
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Ellington At Newport Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1956 [Columbia] 2CDs
The Duke's commercial and artistic revival is often credited to a staggering 27-chorus blues solo by tenor Paul Gonsalves on 'Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue'. The performance quite understandably drove the crowd into a frenzy and made headlines all around the world - making Gonsalves "the star of Newport" for time eternal.
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The Complete Atomic Basie Count Basie Orchestra 1957 [Roulette]
This Cold War classic sports the memorable atom bomb cover, leaving little doubt as to what one can expect to find when delving within. Basie's legendary swing piano is in fine form, while the standouts in the support crew include tenor Lockjaw Davis and guitarist Freddie Green. Undoubtedly the best later-period Basie available on CD.
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Jazz in Silhouette Sun Ra & His Arkestra 1958 [Evidence]
For a time Sun Ra's eccentricities (he claimed he was born on Saturn) saw his recorded output largely resigned to the scrapheap. Thankfully, small label Evidence is in the process of reissuing his most important work. This is the pick of the bunch - a relatively straightforward effort considering his later avant-garde experimentalism.
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Out of the Cool The Gil Evans Orchestra 1960 [Impulse!]
Out of the Cool and into the post-bop. Up until this record arranger/pianist Evans was best known for his work with Miles Davis, but here he makes a lasting impression with his own superb 14-piece band. The highlights include original tracks 'La Nevada' and 'Sunken Treasure'. In fitting with the times, Cool is vibrant and progressive.
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Big Swing Face The Buddy Rich Big Band 1967 [Pacific Jazz]
Drummer Buddy Rich defied the odds by putting together a conventional big band at time when most were downsizing. Recorded live at the Chez Club in Hollywood, the CD includes nine bonus tracks from the same date. Rich made no bones about being a popular stylist and this set is a classic example of terrific straightahead swing.
