Jimmy Dorsey - Contrasts

Styles: Big Band, Swing
Year: 1993
File: MP3@128K/s
Time: 62:32
Size: 58,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:07) 1. Parade of the Milk Bottle Caps
(3:02) 2. In a Sentimental Mood
(3:11) 3. Stompin at the Savoy
(3:05) 4. I Got Rhythm
(3:16) 5. I Can't Face the Music
(3:00) 6. Don't Be That Way
(4:20) 7. I Cried for You
(3:14) 8. John Silver
(2:27) 9. Darktown Strutters Ball
(2:31) 10. Dusk in Upper Sandusky
(3:08) 11. All of Me
(3:02) 12. Contrasts
(3:16) 13. Dolemite
(3:06) 14. Turn Left
(2:26) 15. Turn Right
(3:21) 16. When the Sun Comes Out
(3:22) 17. Charleston Alley
(3:12) 18. Tangerine
(3:24) 19. Sorghum Switch
(2:52) 20. King Porter Stomp

This CD puts the emphasis on the Jimmy Dorsey orchestra's jazz sides rather than the vocal best-sellers. Popular singer Helen O'Connell does make three appearances (including the hit "Tangerine"), but most of these selections are instrumentals, with Dorsey's alto and clarinet in outstanding form (it was easy to forget how talented an instrumentalist he was during these commercial years).

Most of the other fine soloists are lesser names, although they include future bandleaders Ray McKinley (on drums) and pianist Freddie Slack. Highlights are "Parade of the Milk Bottle Caps," "I Got Rhythm," "John Silver," "Ducks in Upper Sandusky," "Contrasts" (Dorsey's theme), and "King Porter Stomp," although there isn't a weak track on this release. Recommended this is Dorsey's definitive set. By Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/contrasts-decca--mw0000099464

Personnel: Alto Saxophone – Bill Covey (tracks: 20), Dave Matthews (2) (tracks: 1 to 7), Frank Langone (tracks: 17 to 20), Fud Livingston (tracks: 1 to 3), Jimmy Dorsey, Leonard Whitney (tracks: 4, 8 to 10), Milt Yaner (tracks: 8 to 19), Noni Bernardi (tracks: 5 to 7), Sam Rubinwich* (tracks: 11 to 16);

Baritone Saxophone – Bob Lawson (tracks: 20), Chuck Gentry (tracks: 19), Sam Rubinwich* (tracks: 12 to 16); Bass – Bill Miller (17) (tracks: 20), Jack Ryan (tracks: 4 to 12, 19), Slim Taft (tracks: 1 to 3);

Clarinet – Jimmy Dorsey; Drums – Buddy Schutz (tracks: 12 to 20), Ray McKinley (tracks: 1 to 11); Guitar – Allan Reuss (tracks: 19), Guy Smith (2) (tracks: 12 to 18), Roc Hillman (tracks: 1 to 11), Tommy Kay (tracks: 20); Piano – Bobby van Eps (tracks: 1 to 3), Dave Mann* (tracks: 20), Freddie Slack (tracks: 4 to 11), Joe Lippman* (tracks: 12 to 18), Johnny Guarnieri (tracks: 19);

Tenor Saxophone – Babe Russin (tracks: 19, 20), Billy Frazier (2) (tracks: 4 to 20), Don Hammond (tracks: 17, 18), Fud Livingston (tracks: 4), Herbie Haymer (tracks: 8 to 16), Jack Stacy* (tracks: 1 to 3), Leonard Whitney (tracks: 5 to 7), Skeets Herfurt (tracks: 1 to 3);

Trombone – Al Jordan (tracks: 15 to 19), Andy Russo (tracks: 19, 20), Bobby Byrne (tracks: 1 to 11), Bruce Squires (tracks: 4 to 7), Don Mattison (tracks: 1 to 16), Jerry Rosa (tracks: 12), Joe Yukl (tracks: 1 to 3), Nat Lobovsky (tracks: 13, 14), Mick DiMaio (tracks: 20), Phil Washburn (tracks: 17 to 19), Sonny Lee (tracks: 8 to 20), Billy Pritchard* (tracks: 20);

Trumpet – Bill Oblak (tracks: 19), Bob Alexy (tracks: 20), George Thow (tracks: 1 to 3), Jimmy Campbell (tracks: 17, 18), Joe Meyer (tracks: 4), Johnny Napton (tracks: 12 to 16), Marky Markowitz (tracks: 20), Nate Kazebier (tracks: 12 to 19), Shorty Solomson* (tracks: 12 to 20), Paul McCoy (2) (tracks: 19), Phil Napoleon (tracks: 20), Ralph Muzillo (tracks: 8 to 11), Ray Linn (tracks: 20), Shorty Sherock (tracks: 5 to 11), Toots Camarata* (tracks: 1 to 4), W. C. Clark (2) (tracks: 5 to 7).

Contrasts

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Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey - Swingin' In Hollywood

Styles: Jazz, Swing, Big Band
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:14
Size: 176,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:13)  1. We'll Get It
(2:53)  2. Song Of India
(5:52)  3. So Long, Sarah Jane
(3:28)  4. If I Had You
(3:19)  5. Thunder And Blazes
(3:52)  6. Katie Went To Hati
(3:17)  7. Hawaiian War Chant
(2:38)  8. You Dear
(3:52)  9. One O'Clock Jump
(2:50) 10. Noche De Ronda
(3:06) 11. Milkman Keep Those Bottles Quiet
(2:58) 12. I Know Its Wrong
(2:29) 13. Battle Of The Balcony Jive
(3:23) 14. I Should Care
(3:01) 15. National Emblem March
(3:16) 16. John Silver
(3:16) 17. The Guy With The Slide Trombone
(3:25) 18. Boy! What Love Has Done To Me!
(5:06) 19. Star Eyes
(5:26) 20. Fascinating Rhythm
(3:23) 21. Opus One

Although credited to the Dorsey Brothers, this is not a collection of collaborations or duets, just an anthology of tracks that one or the other of the brothers filmed and recorded for MGM soundtracks in 1942-1945. It's actually much more weighted toward Tommy (who has 13 of the 21 sides) than Jimmy; it's mostly instrumental, but vocalists like Bob Eberly, Helen O'Connell, and Nancy Walker are featured on some of the selections. The sound is good, and as a dozen of the items were previously unreleased (with 13 appearing for the first time in stereo), Dorsey collectors will consider this indispensable. For the more general fan, it's not the first place to get acquainted with their work, but it's quite respectable early-'40s swing. In general, it's more effective the harder and faster it swings  as on Jimmy's extended version of "One O'Clock Jump," and Tommy's "Battle of the Balcony Jive" and "Opus One"  and the less it resembles movie musicals.~ Richie Unterberger https://www.allmusic.com/album/swingin-in-hollywood-mw0000599571

Swingin'In Hollywood

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Jimmy Dorsey - The Complete Standard Transcriptions

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 73:55
Size: 171.1 MB
Styles: Big Band, Swing
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[ 3:04] 1. Stop, Look and Listen
[ 3:00] 2. Tangerine
[ 3:16] 3. All of Me
[ 3:32] 4. On the Alamo
[ 3:14] 5. In a Little Spanish Town
[ 2:57] 6. Out of Nowhere
[ 3:29] 7. Green Eyes
[ 3:16] 8. Don’t Blame Me
[ 2:00] 9. Contrasts
[ 2:29] 10. A You’re Adorable
[ 2:30] 11. Everywhere You Go
[ 2:39] 12. Careless Hands
[ 2:40] 13. Bali Hai
[ 2:39] 14. Some Enchanted Evening
[ 2:40] 15. Always True to You In My Fashion
[ 2:39] 16. Once and for Always
[ 3:14] 17. Similau
[24:29] 18. Jimmy Dorsey Interview (With Guy Knight)

Seventeen radio transcription recordings made by Jimmy Dorsey around 1949, and particularly priceless as studio documents by a band that hardly ever had a chance to record. The vocalists are Claire Hogan and Larry Noble, taking over for Helen O'Connell and Bob Eberly, respectively, on such classics as "Tangerine" and "Green Eyes," both of which are handled in a slower -- and, in this reviewer's outlook, more successful -- tempo than the originals. "All of Me" gets a gorgeous alto sax solo from Dorsey himself. A lot of the rest of the repertory includes the band's versions of such contemporary compositions as "Some Enchanted Evening" from the then new musical South Pacific. Charlie Teagarden, Herb Winfield, and pianist Al Waslohn all get their good solo moments as well, in what was a surprisingly fresh and lively-sounding band (with Carl Kress on the guitar and Ray Bauduc at the drums). If the audience for big band music was declining, you'd never know that the music was on the ropes by 1949 from the bright and spirited playing on these sides. Additionally, sound quality is a major virtue on these tracks -- they compare favorably, in fidelity and volume, with any 1949-vintage recordings that one cares to name, all apparently drawn from clean, or carefully cleaned up, sources. The disc concludes with an extended May 1956 interview with Jimmy Dorsey, 13 months before his death, in which he addresses a multitude of subjects concerning his career, including his past disputes with his brother and the 1947 biographical film in which they both participated. ~Bruce Eder

The Complete Standard Transcriptions

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