Morton was the first great jazz composer. This dream set catalogues his prime on tracks made with the Red Hot Peppers for the Victor label in 1926-27. Other legendary performers here include clarinetist Johnny Dodds and trombonist Kid Ory. Morton controversially (and very wrongly) claimed to have invented jazz in 1902.
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The 25 Greatest Hot Fives & Hot Sevens Louis Armstrong 1925-29 [ASV Living Era]
A veritable treasure-trove of the best tracks Armstrong recorded with The Hot Five and The Hot Seven in the latter half of the 1920s. Armstrong, the most influential figure in jazz history, recorded prolifically in his early years. All 25 tracks on this superb collection are indispensable. Somehow, the budget label ASV has done it again.
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At the Jazz Band Ball Bix Beiderbecke 1924-28 [ASV Living Era]
The 1920s' other great cornetist was nothing like Louis Armstrong. He was a white rebel without a cause who had a nasty drinking problem. This record has his top jazz tracks and is a good sampling of a range of early styles. We even get cameos from the likes of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa and Bing Crosby!
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Dippermouth Blues Joe "King" Oliver 1923-30 [ASV Living Era]
A superb overview of a 1920s jazz giant - New Orleans cornetist/trumpeter King Oliver. The 1923 Creole Jazz Band sessions with protégé Louis Armstrong and Johnny Dodds are essential. When the band broke up a year later things started going downhill. Regardless, what ASV assembles here is certainly the best on offer.
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Snowy Morning Blues James P Johnson 1930-44 [Decca]
Johnson's playing in the 1920s earned him a reputation as the king of the stride piano. A mentor to Fats Waller, these recordings revive some of Johnson's best known compositions - including 'Carolina Shout', 'Old Fashioned Love' and 'Snowy Morning Blues'. The record features solo recordings and duets with drummer Eddy Dougherty.
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The Very Best Of Fats Waller Fats Waller 1926-40 [RCA]
Topnotch stride pianist noted for showmanship and stage humour. Most of his best recordings were made with his band Fats Waller & His Rhythm for the Victor label. This CD contains 20 remastered tracks recorded between 1926-40 - including the classic original compositions 'Honeysuckle Rose', 'Ain't Misbehavin'' and 'Jitterbug Waltz'.
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The Legendary Sidney Bechet Sidney Bechet 1932-1941 [RCA Bluebird]
Bechet's improvisational skill is comparable to Louis Armstrong's. A multi-instrumentalist who made his name on the soprano sax, Bechet's early career playing New Orleans Jazz is poorly catalogued. A brilliant 1932 session with his New Orleans Feetwarmers and his three years at Bluebird up to 1941 are the best of what survives.
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Piano Man! Earl Hines 1927-41 [ASV Living Era]
The first truly great jazz pianist got his start playing in Louis Armstrong's Hot Five from 1927-28. Hines was fully ambidextrous, which gave him a unique range of abilities the envy of all other stride players. This unbeatable collection goes right through to 1941 and includes a healthy sampling of Hines' swinging big band of the 1930s.
