To say that this limited-edition six-LP Mosaic box is overflowing with classics is an understatement. Included are a variety of small-group sessions (with overlapping personnel) from the early days of Blue Note. The Edmond Hall Celeste Quartet has five songs that are the only existing examples of Charlie Christian playing acoustic guitar; clarinetist Hall, Meade Lux Lewis (on celeste), and bassist Israel Crosby complete the unique group. The king of stride piano, James P. Johnson, is heard on eight solos; other combos are led by Johnson, Hall (who heads four groups in all), trumpeter Sidney DeParis, and trombonist Vic Dickenson (heard in a 1952 quartet with organist Bill Doggett). Among the other key soloists are vibraphonist Red Norvo, pianist Teddy Wilson, tenor great Ben Webster, baritonist Harry Carney, clarinetist Omer Simeon, and trombonist Benny Morton. But more important than the all-star personnel is the fact that the musicians are consistently inspired, and that the performances (ranging from Dixieland to advanced swing) are well-planned yet spontaneous. The accompanying 26-page booklet is a major plus too. Essential music; get this box while you can.
Musicians:
Edmond Hall, clarinet ; James P. Johnson, piano ; Sidney De Paris, trumpet ; Vic Dickenson, trombone ; in various combinations and with supporting performers.
Recorded in New York City Feb. 5, 1941-June 24, 1952; most selections previously issued on 78 rpm.
Disc I (65:40)
01. Jammin' In Four (4:22)
02. Edmond Hall Blues (4:19)
03. Profoundly Blue (4:10)
04. Profoundly Blue #2 (4:20)
05. Celestial Express (3:56)
06. Rompin' In '44 (alt) (4:00)
07. Rompin' In '44 (4:01)
08. Blue Interval (4:18)
09. Smooth Sailing (alt) (3:33)
10. Smooth Sailing (3:48)
11. Seein' Red (4:15)
12. It's Been So Long (alt) (2:35)
13. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (alt) (3:43)
14. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (3:04)
15. Big City Blues (4:16)
16. It's Been So Long (3:10)
17. Steamin' And Beamin' (3:49)
Disc II (66:55)
01. High Society (alt 1) (4:12)
02. High Society (alt 2) (4:07)
03. High Society (4:05)
04. Blues At Blue Note (alt) (5:02)
05. Blues At Blue Note (4:17)
06. Night Shift Blues (alt) (4:13)
07. Night Shift Blues (4:11)
08. Royal Garden Blues (alt) (3:57)
09. Royal Garden Blues (4:10)
10. Blue Note Boogie (3:58)
11. Blue Mizz (3:55)
12. Blue Mizz (alt) (3:50)
13. Victory Stride (alt) (4:01)
14. Victory Stride (4:03)
15. Joy Mentin' (4:29)
16. After You've Gone (4:25)
Disc III (57:09)
01. Everybody Loves My Baby (3:37)
02. Everybody Loves My Baby (alt) (4:22)
03. Ballin' The Jack (4:45)
04. Who's Sorry Now (alt) (4:29)
05. Who's Sorry Now (4:18)
06. The Call Of The Blues (4:21)
07. Tishomingo Blues (alt) (5:00)
08. Tishomingo Blues (4:35)
09. Walkin' The Dog (alt) (4:38)
10. Walkin' The Dog (4:33)
11. Easy Rider (4:39)
12. At The Ball (alt) (3:44)
13. At The Ball (4:08)
Disc IV (74:16)
01. J. P. Boogie (3:49)
02. Backwater Blues (4:02)
03. Carolina Balmoral (3:39)
04. Gut Stomp (3:32)
05. Mule Walk (4:04)
06. Arkansas Blues (3:56)
07. Caprice Rag (3:17)
08. Improvisations On Pinetop's Boogie Woogie (4:03)
09. When You Wore A Tulip (alt) (4:15)
10. When You Wore A Tulip (4:16)
11. Moose March (4:24)
12. Panama (4:00)
13. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone (3:58)
14. A Good Man Is Hard To Find (4:05)
15. Weary Blues (3:50)
16. Tenderly (3:19)
17. Gettin' Sentimental Over You (2:48)
18. Lion's Den (alt) (3:00)
19. Lion's Den (3:08)
20. In A Mellotone (2:51)
