Verve Jazz Masters series Vol. 51-60

 Jazz Masters is a series of mainly single artist compilations released by Polygram/Verve between 1994 and 1996. The compilations collect material that was originally released on Verve or on one of the labels that became part of the Polygram group. The 20th and 60th releases in the series were various artist collections.

VJM 51 - Blossom Dearie

VJM 52 - Maynard Ferguson

VJM 53 - Stan Getz

VJM 54 - Woody Herman

VJM 55 - Harry James

VJM 56 - Herbie Mann

VJM 57 - George Shearing

VJM 58 - Nina Simone 

VJM 59 - Toots Thielemans

VJM 60 - The Collection

 

Gene Krupa & Harry James - Complete Capitol Recordings of Gene Krupa & Harry James (7 CD, 1999/FLAC)

 

Big bands were on their way out by the late '40s, which left bandleaders and musicians who had played swing in a quandary: embrace bebop or become a nostalgia act. Certain wise musicians like Gene Krupa and Harry James, however, found a middle course by modernizing swing with new arrangements and selling it to ballroom dancers. The Complete Capitol Recordings of Gene Krupa and Harry James collects a multitude of splendid performances from both players as they transitioned from one era to the next.