Classic Jazz

While there may never be an truly comprehensive, one-disc "introduction" to jazz in general, CLASSIC JAZZ does indeed come close–at least, regarding mainstream jazz of the 1960s and early '70s. Present are iconic drummer-bandleaders Buddy Rich and Elvin Jones, purveyors of blues-soaked hard bop Cannonball Adderley and Lee Morgan, vibes ace Bobby Hutcherson, soul-jazz stalwarts Gene Harris, Horace Silver, and Grant Green, and more!

From New Orleans to Harlem. The most important recordings of the golden age. Mit King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Dodds, Jimmie Noone, Sidney Bechet, Bix Beiderbecke, Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson, Earl Hines, Jack Teagarden, Red Nichols, Clarence Williams, Muggsy Spanier, Frank Teschemacher, Adrian Rollini u.a. 100-CD-Box with original recordings. From the early days to the late 1950s, the highlights of Swing are presented on these 100 CDs.

Classic Jazz Archive compilation album by Count Basie, was released in 2004 on the Classic Jazz Archive label. This a 1990 reissue of prime Basie cuts.

"Classic Jazz Archive: Woody Herman" compilation album by Woody Herman, was released on two CDs in 2004 on the Classic Jazz Archive label.

Ben Webster was considered one of the "big three" of swing tenors along with Coleman Hawkins (his main influence) and Lester Young. He had a tough, raspy, and brutal tone on stomps (with his own distinctive growls) yet on ballads he would turn into a pussy cat and play with warmth and sentiment. After violin lessons as a child, Webster learned how to play rudimentary piano (his neighbor Pete Johnson taught him to play blues). But after Budd Johnson showed him some basics on the saxophone, Webster played sax in the Young Family Band (which at the time included Lester Young). He had stints with Jap Allen and Blanche Calloway (making his recording debut with the latter) before joining Bennie Moten's Orchestra in time to be one of the stars on a classic session in 1932…

During the 1950s in Paris the traditional jazz cellars could call on American as well as French musicians and Classic Jazz at St Germain des Pres is a lively record of the music heard there. Clarinettist Albert Nicholas had grown up with Bechet in New Orleans and offered a more elegant, less forceful individualism within that city's reed-playing tradition. His eight tracks from 1954 comprise four in the New Orleans sextet format, two delightful ones with a trio and two welcome borrowings from the world of Ellingtonia. Trombonist Archey was a less sophisticated musician but had his own recognisable style and his six tracks with a band including Michel Attenoux (on Bechet-like soprano) and pianist Georges Arvanitas (at the beginning of his career) are full of enthusiastic vigour…

Earl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. Hines was one of the most influential figures in the development of jazz piano and, according to one major source, is "one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz"