Herb Ellis Nothing But The Blues

Various Artists - The Complete Norman Granz Jam Sessions (2004) {5CD Box Set Verve B0003252-02 QS01 rec 1952-1954}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 985 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 695 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 44 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1952-54, 2004 Verve / Universal | B0003252-02 QS01
Jazz / Bop / Bebop / Standards

The historic Norman Granz Jam Sessions, recorded between 1952-1954 for Clef and Mercury, are among the most treasured jam sets of all time. The nine separate albums featured the crème de la crème of New York's jazz community from Charlie Parker to Roy Eldridge, Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges, Oscar Peterson, Lionel Hampton and Max Roach and dozens of others. This box set simply collects all nine LPs on five remastered CDs, containing original artwork in a slipcase that fits inside a handsome metal display box. The individual volumes are of consistently very high quality and are utterly indispensable to jazz aficionados. For those who already have the discs, this is merely superfluous. For those who don't, this is a pricey buy but a hell of a way to begin a jazz education.

This is a tremendous recording of Joe Pass at his most elegant. His selection of tunes is marvelous and his live improvisations are sublime. Recorded just a few years before his passing he is at best, relaxed and having fun as witnessed by some of his comments included on the CD. If there is one criticism to make it's that the volume levels are a bit low, but nothing to downgrade the music itself. this was a very difficult recording to acquire but worth it if one can find it.

This is a great collection of rare and hard to find tunes compiled by Jeffrey Glenn. Hundreds of odds & ends by little known groups, famous singers, and famous singers before they became famous.