The Big 18 - Live Echoes Of The Swinging Bands (2-Disc Set)

Buck Clayton, Charlie Shavers, Rex Stewart, Billy Butterfield (tp), Lawrence Brown, Lou McGarity, Dickie Wells, Vic Dickenson (tb), Peanuts Hucko (cl), Sam Donahue, Ernie Caceres (saxes), Johnny Guarnieri (p), Milt Hinton (b), Jimmy Crawford (d). Tracks from CD 1, from the 12" album "Live Echoes of the Swinging Bands" (RCA Victor LSP-1921). Tracks from CD 2, from the 12" album "More Live Echoes of the Swinging Bands" (RCA Victor LSP-1983).

The Big 18 was an all star big band that pays tribute to the swinging big bands of the thirties. The original idea came from Fred Reynolds, musical director of RCA Victor at the end of the fifties. He called his library to select numbers that would be characteristic of the orchestras of the swing era. He then commissioned arranger Charles Shirley to listen to the original recordings and transcribe them, keeping as much as possible of the flavor of the original band, leaving space in the arrangements for much longer solos than the original short recordings allowed for. Some of the greatest musicians in each band selected the tunes that were chosen to produce these wonderful sessions. It resulted in some very fine solos and an exciting ensemble sound, plus a superb recording that faithfully captured their spirit.

Album: Live Echoes Of The Swinging Bands (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:41
Size: 95.4 MB
Styles: Swing, Big band
Year: 2011

[4:00] 1. Swingtime In The Rockies
[5:12] 2. Easy Does It
[5:46] 3. Five O'clock Drag
[5:35] 4. Feet Draggin' Blues
[4:19] 5. Summit Ridge Drive
[4:33] 6. Tuxedo Junction
[4:46] 7. Blues On Parade
[3:37] 8. Okay For Baby
[3:48] 9. March Of The Toys

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Album: Live Echoes Of The Swinging Bands (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:09
Size: 91.9 MB
Styles: Swing, Big band
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[4:39] 1. Skyliner
[3:50] 2. Parade Of The Milk Bottle Caps
[4:10] 3. Celery Stalks At Midnight
[2:56] 4. I'm Prayin' Humble
[4:42] 5. Hors D'oeuvre
[3:30] 6. Liza
[3:48] 7. The Cambells Are Swinging
[4:32] 8. Organ Grinder's Swing
[5:30] 9. Ton O'rock Bump
[2:27] 10. Quaker City Blues

Live Echoes Of The Swinging Bands (Disc 1)(Disc 2)

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Coleman Hawkins - Hollywood Stampede

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:42
Size: 114,2 MB
Art: Front

(2:57)  1. April In Paris
(2:56)  2. Rifftide
(3:16)  3. Stardust
(3:03)  4. Stuffy
(3:11)  5. Hollywood Stampede
(3:15)  6. I'm Thru With Love
(3:21)  7. What Is There To Say?
(3:08)  8. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
(2:54)  9. Too Much Of A Good Thing
(3:07) 10. Bean Soup
(2:51) 11. Someone To Watch Over Me
(3:07) 12. It's The Talk Of The Town
(3:06) 13. Isn't It Romantic?
(2:36) 14. Bean-A-Re-Bop
(2:50) 15. The Way You Look Tonight
(2:56) 16. Phantomesque

Hawkins led one of his finest bands in 1945, a sextet with the fiery trumpeter Howard McGhee that fell somewhere between small-group swing and bebop. This CD contains all of that group's 12 recordings, including memorable versions of "Rifftide" and "Stuffy"; trombonist Vic Dickenson guests on four tracks. 

This CD concludes with one of Hawkins' rarest sessions, an Aladdin date from 1947 that finds the veteran tenor leading a septet that includes 20-year-old trumpeter Miles Davis. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/hollywood-stampede-mw0000203302

Personnel:  Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins; Alto Saxophone – Howard Johnson (6) (tracks: 13 to 16); Bass – John Simmons (tracks: 9 to 12), Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 1 to 8); Bass [Probably] – Curley Russell (tracks: 13 to 16); Drums – Denzil Best (tracks: 1 to 12); Drums [Probably] – Max Roach (tracks: 13 to 16); Guitar – Allan Reuss (tracks: 1 to 12); Piano – Hank Jones (tracks: 13 to 16), Sir Charles Thompson (tracks: 1 to 12); Trombone – Kai Winding (tracks: 13 to 16), Vic Dickenson (tracks: 5 to 8); Trumpet – Howard McGhee (tracks: 1 to 12), Miles Davis (tracks: 13 to 16)

Hollywood Stampede

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Ruby Braff - Linger Awhile

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:10
Size: 158,9 MB
Art: Front

( 9:19)  1. Sweet Sue
( 7:25)  2. Ghost of a Chance
( 3:17)  3. Wishing
( 8:29)  4. I Cover the Waterfront
( 5:52)  5. Keeping Out of Mischief Now
( 5:00)  6. Linger Awhile
( 5:50)  7. I'm in the Market for You
( 6:55)  8. Romance in the Dark
( 5:59)  9. When You Wish Upon a Star
(11:00) 10. I Can't Get Started

This compilation combines tracks from three separate early-'50s recording sessions. Braff, heard on trumpet rather than cornet, is in great form, and is joined by Vic Dickenson, Nat Pierce, and now-obscure tenor saxophonist Samuel Margolis on a swinging "Sweet Sue." Two tracks come from a Dickenson-led date; the best is a very relaxed take on "I Cover the Waterfront." Only one selection comes from a meeting of Braff and fellow trumpeter Buck Clayton, but it's a gem an extended look at "I Can't Get Started." As with many Vanguard reissues of recent vintage, the only complaint is that each of the record dates merited a separate re-release instead of this enjoyable but piecemeal anthology CD. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/linger-awhile-mw0000258734

Personnel:  Trumpet – Buck Clayton (tracks: 10), Ruby Braff;  Bass – Aaron Bell (tracks: 10), Walter Page (tracks: 1 to 9);  Clarinet – Edmond Hall (tracks: 4, 5);  Drums – Bobby Donaldson (tracks: 10), Jo Jones (tracks: 1 to 3, 6 to 9), Les Erskine (tracks: 4, 5);  Guitar – Steve Jordan (3) (tracks: 4, 5, 10);  Piano – Jimmy Jones (3) (tracks: 10), Nat Pierce (tracks: 1 to 3, 6 to 9), Sir Charles Thompson (tracks: 4, 5);  Saxophone – Buddy Tate (tracks: 10), Samuel Margolis (tracks: 1 to 3, 6 to 9);  Trombone – Benny Morton (tracks: 10), Vic Dickenson (tracks: 1 to 9)

Linger Awhile

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Lester Young - The Jazz Giants

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:31
Size: 100,9 MB
Art: Front

( 9:35)  1. I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan
(10:06)  2. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
( 6:54)  3. Gigantic Blues
( 6:49)  4. This Year's Kisses
( 9:06)  5. You Can Depend On Me

Even critics who feel (against the recorded evidence to the contrary) that little of tenor saxophonist Lester Young's postwar playing is at the level of his earlier performances make an exception for this session. Young was clearly inspired by the other musicians (trumpeter Roy Eldridge, trombonist Vic Dickenson, pianist Teddy Wilson, guitarist Freddie Green, bassist Gene Ramey, and drummer Jo Jones), who together made for a very potent band of swing all-stars. The five songs on this album include some memorable renditions of ballads and a fine version of "You Can Depend on Me," but it is the explosive joy of the fiery "Gigantic Blues" that takes honors. This set, a real gem, is highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-jazz-giants-56-mw0000192693

Personnel: Lester Young (tenor saxophone); Freddie Green, Herb Ellis (guitar); Buddy DeFranco (clarinet); Flip Phillips (tenor saxophone); Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge (trumpet); Vic Dickenson, Bill Harris (trombone); Oscar Peterson, Teddy Wilson (piano); Jo Jones All Stars , Jo Jones , Louie Bellson (drums).

The Jazz Giants

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Vic Dickenson - Gentleman of the Trombone

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:23
Size: 134,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:05)  1. Too Marvelous for Words
(6:03)  2. Nice and Easy Blues
(4:59)  3. Just Too Late
(4:18)  4. Shine
(5:03)  5. Sweet Sue, Just You
(6:19)  6. Bye Bye Blackbird
(3:01)  7. More Rain
(8:01)  8. S'posin'
(4:29)  9. Love Letters in the Sand
(5:28) 10. Christopher Columbus
(5:34) 11. I Ain't Got Nobody

Vic Dickenson was one of the great trombone stylists whose relaxed sound, slurred notes, and impeccable feel invested every solo with a unique warmth never duplicated by anyone else. While he was often recorded as a sideman, he was rarely captured as a leader. This mid-'70s studio session, recorded late in his career, features a mature Dickenson leading a sympathetic rhythm section of pianist Johnny Guarnieri, bassist Bill Pemberton, and drummer Oliver Jackson. The real treasure is the chance to hear the trombonist playing tunes with which he was comfortable and improvising at length. His renditions of "Sweet Sue, Just You," "Christopher Columbus," and "Bye Bye Blackbird" are perfect expositions of his classy way of capturing the essence of a tune. The trombonist sings on a couple of tracks ("Just Too Late" and "More Rain"), but his vocals are more of interest as novelty items for completists. Johnny Guarnieri struts his stuff on "Shine," with a hot solo worthy of the era in which the piece was written. ~ Steve Loewy http://www.allmusic.com/album/gentleman-of-the-trombone-mw0000232307

Vic Dickenson (vocal and trombone), Johnny Guarnieri (piano), Bill Pemberton (bass), Oliver Jackson (drums).

Gentleman of the Trombone

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Vic Dickenson & Joe Thomas & Their All-Star Bands - Mainstream

Styles: Trombone And Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:23
Size: 88,2 MB
Art: Front

( 4:52)  1. Sweethearts On Parade
( 5:58)  2. I Can't Believe You're In Love With Me
( 4:47)  3. Undecided
( 3:39)  4. Crazy Rhythm
( 6:15)  5. The Lamp Is Low
(12:50)  6. Blues For Baby

Mainstream presents swing masters Joe Thomas and Vic Dickenson fronting all-star bands in a time when swing music was elbowing for attention amidst the world of be-bop, cool, and other modern jazz movements. The year was 1958, and English jazz critic Albert J. McCarthy was in New York City writing a book on swing. Surprised to find how difficult a time even the best swing musicians were having in the homeland of jazz, he approached Atlantic Records to sponsor two recording sessions. The first session featured underrated trumpeter Joe Thomas with a band that included Dickie Wells, Buddy Tate, Buster Bailey, and oddly enough, modernist Herbie Nichols on piano. The second session featured the great trombonist Vic Dickenson, Buck Clayton, and Gene Ramey. Both sessions have been re-mastered; the sound quality is excellent. So are the performances. 

Joe Thomas is still grotesquely underrated, and if anyone needs evidence of his mastery this is the recording to bring home that Thomas was among the best of his instrument. Over the years he played and recorded with Fletcher Henderson, Teddy Wilson, and Art Tatum to mention a few. His clear, assured sound and technical skill makes it obvious why McCarthy felt compelled to document this neglected musician. Two-thirds of the disc features Thomas and his band. The other third features Vic Dickenson who has faired better in the annals of jazz history. He is known for his bluesy-toned trombone of exquisite phrasing. Lauded by the famous French jazz critic Andre Hodeir as one of the best of all early jazz musicians, Dickenson doesn’t disappoint on this disc. Although his solo time is limited in the ensemble focus of the arrangements, his solo on "The Lamp Is Low" is particularly memorable. Actually, with either Dickie Wells or Vic Dickenson playing trombone and either Joe Thomas or Buck Clayton playing lead trumpet this is a brass player’s disc if there ever was one. In short, if you’re interested in a satisfying, swing recording featuring a line-up of outstanding soloists, good rhythm sections, and a selection of solid arrangements, then Mainstream is definitely worth checking out. Recommended. ~ Mike Neely https://www.allaboutjazz.com/mainstream-vic-dickenson-koch-international-jazz-review-by-mike-neely.php

Personnel: Joe Thomas, trumpet; Johnny Letman, 2nd trumpet; Dickie Wells, trombone; Buddy Tate, tenor sax; Buster Bailey, clarinet; Herbie Nichols, piano; Everett Barksdale, guitar; Bill Pemberton, bass; and Jimmy Crawford, drums. Vic Dickenson, trombone; Buck Clayton, trumpet; Hal Singer, tenor sax; Herbie Hall, clarinet; Al Williams, piano; Danny Barker, guitar; Gene Ramey, bass; and Marquis Foster, drums.

Mainstream

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