Big Band Jazz: From The Beginning to The Fifties

The eight CDs that make up this collection document the second rise of Count Basie's big band. The second band had been created at the urging of Billy Eckstine, who convinced Basie that even though the era of the large jazz-swing orchestra – an era he was an architect of – was by all appearances over, he could make a real go of it with his brand of blues and swing.

Carl Fontana - The Fifties (2010) {Uptown UPCD 27-61 rec 1956-1960}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 260 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 155 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 31 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1956-60, 2010 Uptown Records | UPCD 27.61
Jazz / Cool / Bop / Trombone

Trombonist Carl Fontana spent the early part of his career playing with a number of different big bands, including groups led by Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman, and Stan Kenton, the latter being the leader with whom he grew his reputation. Tiring of travel, he settled in Las Vegas playing commercial music for several decades (still taking time out for some brief tours with jazz bands), though he started leading jazz gigs and occasionally recording as a leader beginning in the '80s. This compilation comes from several different radio and television broadcasts plus some studio dates. The first set features Fontana leading a quintet with tenorist Vido Musso (a last-minute substitute for an injured Charlie Ventura).

Duane Tatro - Jazz For Moderns (1955) {Contemporary OJCCD-1878-2 rel 1996}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 149 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 81 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 15 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1954-55, 1996 Contemporary Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-1878-2
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Third Stream

Jazz for Moderns is a wonderful experience. His use of polyphonic composition in the arrangement of the instruments creates a full and rounded sound between the various horns, the bass and drums. However, the pieces are not dry intellectual exercises, they are moving and filled with emotion.

This 10 CD set offers an exciting overview of some of the most important recordings made by American jazz stars in Paris in the Fifties. They are milestones of Modern Jazz, Bebop and Hard Bop recorded by some of the most important players of the time, including Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, Mary Lou Williams, Lester Young and Donald Byrd. Treated like second class citizens at home, many American jazz stars not only got more recognition and respect in the French capital, but found much better playing conditions as well. From concert-halls like "L'Olympia" to the clubs of the "Latin Quarter" they were appreciated and celebrated, and their music met with a glowing enthusiasm.