Boogie Woogie Music

The best thing Jools has got going for himself is the singer SAM BROWN who sings on all his albums. Sam Browm has not been heard of in a long time till she dueted with the brilliant FISH on the hit single called JUST GOOD FRIENDS from his album YIN. While she could of capitalised on this publicity she instead decided to hang in the shadow of Jools Holland. This is a great shame as she has a magnificent voice. Perhaps she'll get back with FISH after he finishes promoting RAINGODS WITH ZIPPOS, we'll see.

Here is one of the finest Jools Holland albums yet... a sumptuous blend of raw boogie, soulful ballads and witty jazz. The big band is on fine form, with Gilson Lavis performing a stunning drum solo on the very first track. Other notable moments are the jazz waltz, "June Rose Lane", the story of "Loutette" and the particularly exciting "Panic Attack". The album also features Jamiroqui and Sam Brown.

If you're already even half interested in Jools Holland, this is an essential buy. If you have yet to witness the wonder of the Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, wait no longer. Buy it at once, and enjoy every minute of it.

Dan Morgenstern put this together from a very clean collection of this matrerial. New Orleans and Chicago artists recording all over, but based in New York. Excellent Ed Hall, fine Art Hodes, peak-era James P Johnson. An intellectual's fodder. As well-recorded as the classic cool and bop recordings on which the fame of the Blue Note label resides. A lot of sptrit left in these boys. Not a swing album, no swing -- just straight trad from some unexpected musical voices -- like Charlie Christian and Josh White. Morgenstern's notes on the lives of these men makes fascinating and informative reading. Five stars for conception and execution.

This is a compilation of jazz on the Blue Note label roughly between 1944 and 1955. Although a little too focused on Sidney Bechet, this is an excellent collection of musicians in their prime, and includes, Wild Bill Davidson, Art Hodes, Edmond Hall, Sidney De Paris and Wilber De Paris, and of course Sidney Bechet. The sound quality is good with none of the scratches, pops, and hisses usually associated with recordings from that period. The enclosed book with stories and photos is an added bonus. This collection is definitely a "must have" for anyone interested in hot jazz from this period. The recording of "Cake Walking Babies" alone is worth the cost of the entire package!