Teddy Wilson

In the late '30s and early '40s, pianist Teddy Wilson was a big deal in the land of jazz. He had many opportunities to perform as a sideman, and eventually got his breaks. These sessions showcase of variety of his efforts with big bands, large ensembles, small groups, and a singer named Billie Holiday. Though none of his own compositions are credited ("Big Apple" should be,) he certainly had a hand in the arrangements, and was given space to play quite a bit of piano. The Hep label has generously provided 23 selections with Wilson and bandmates including stalwarts Hot Lips Page, Lester Young, Freddie Green, Red Norvo and Pee Wee Russell, as well as backing trombonist Benny Morton's All Stars. There are two takes of "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Just a Mood" (Blue Mood,) "When You're Smiling," and "I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me" for contrast sake. The sound reproduction of these vintage performances is excellent, and this one can easily be recommended to both fan and novice.

Between the years 1946 and 1952, pianist Teddy Wilson made few recordings as a leader, spending most of his time and energy teaching music at Juilliard, working as an all-purpose utility pianist at radio station WNEW, and gigging occasionally with Benny Goodman. On October 6, 1952, Wilson cut eight tracks for the Metronome label in Stockholm, Sweden with excellent support from bassist Yngve Akerberg and a feisty drummer by the name of Jack Noren. In keeping with personal artistic patterns established over his first 20 years of professional musicianship, Wilson concentrated upon jazz standards, breathing new life into each melody…

The Hep series of Teddy Wilson recordings has been largely superseded by the more complete Classics program. This release has 16 titles from Wilson's first four recording sessions as a leader of all-star bands (skipping his solo piano records). Since Billie Holiday has vocals on 14 of the 16 songs (every one except "Sweet Lorraine" and "Sugar Plum"); this material has been reissued numerous times, but the performances do contain their fair share of classics.

For this Classics CD (one in a series of Teddy Wilson releases that reissue all of the pianist's early recordings as a leader), Billie Holiday is featured on nine of the titles including "I'll Get By," "Mean to Me," "Foolin' Myself," and "Easy Living"; all of those gems also feature tenor saxophonist Lester Young. Much rarer are three songs with singer Helen Ward, a vocal by Frances Hunt ("Big Apple"), three by the forgotten vocalist Boots Castle, and five instrumentals. It is a pity that the selections without Holiday were not reissued separately since the Lady Day performances are generally quite common. Such immortal sidemen are heard from as Young, trumpeters Cootie Williams, Harry James and Buck Clayton, altoist Johnny Hodges, baritonist Harry Carney, and clarinetists Buster Bailey and Benny Goodman; this music is essential in one form or another.

Hep's Teddy Wilson series sticks to his all-star band sides (skipping his solo piano performances), many of which feature the vocals of Billie Holiday. This entry starts with a pair of vocals by the long-forgotten Redd Harper ("You Turned the Tables on Me" and "Sing, Baby, Sing"), has two spots for the talented singer Midge Williams and also a couple of instrumentals; otherwise, the set is comprised of Holiday vocals that are readily available in more complete form elsewhere. The highlight is Lady Day's first recorded meeting with tenor saxophonist Lester Young and trumpeter Buck Clayton which resulted in "He Ain't Got Rhythm," "This Year's Kisses," "Why Was I Born," and "I Must Have That Man."

This segment of the Teddy Wilson chronology contains 23 recordings made for the Columbia label in New York and Chicago between December 11, 1939 and September 16, 1941. The first eight tracks showcase Wilson's 12-piece big band, using arrangements by Wilson, Edgar Sampson and Buster Harding. This unusually upsized version of the Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra had Doc Cheatham and Harold "Shorty" Baker in the trumpet section, Ben Webster and Rudy Powell among the reeds, and Al Casey and J.C. Heard playing rhythm. Those who are accustomed to Wilson's customary small group sound will find this material pleasantly, perhaps surprisingly different from the norm. In December of 1940 Wilson led an octet with Bill Coleman, Benny Morton and Jimmy Hamilton in the front line…

The last years of pianist Teddy Wilson's career were productive, fruitful, energetic, and active ones. This 14-track 1980 live concert setting showcases Wilson playing standards written by Duke Ellington and the brothers Gershwin, and they give the pianist excellent vehicles to strut his stuff. While in a trio setting with the relatively obscure bassist Layman Jackson and drummer Billy Daniels, Wilson is the centerpiece, playing solo for long stretches before his rhythm mates chime in. Many of the Gershwin features are extended medleys with multiple tunes strung together, Wilson playing fast and strong or delicate and light at the snap of two fingers. The Ellington material is closer to Wilson's true heart and all of it is rendered beautifully. As was his style, you hear quite a few stride inflections, blues, ballads, and some fleet boppish lines. Teddy Wilson was precious, and this recording - one of the best in the Jazz Hour series - shows why.