Edmond Hall - The Chronological Classics: 1937-1944 '1995

Tracks list

Those who missed out on Mosaics limited-edition reissue of Edmond Halls superb
Blue Note recordings may want to pounce on this segment of the clarinetists
chronology. Everything there is to love about small-group swing is present at
full potency in these remarkably solid performances. For the session of February
5, 1941 Meade Lux Lewis put all of his best blues and boogie energies into a
celeste, that tinkling little keyboard instrument that sounds like a
glockenspiel. The combination of a celestial Lewis and the soulful Hall with
guitarist Charlie Christian and bassist Israel Crosby resulted in music unlike
anything heard before or since. On November 29, 1943 the Edmond Hall Blue Note
Jazzmen had Vic Dickenson and a very inspired Sidney DeParis on the front line.
The humbly majestic James P. Johnson makes the music feel like ritual. Three hot
numbers are fountains of joy, but the real magic develops during two
collectively improvised blues taken at relaxed tempos. Nothing could be finer or
more pleasing than this confluence of master improvisers, drawing upon the
highly evolved traditions of New York and New Orleans as they listened ever so
carefully to each other while inventing their own grammar of straightforward
blues, swing and boogie-woogie. The Edmond Hall Sextet recorded four sides for
Commodore on December 18, 1943. Guitarist Al Casey sat in on this occasion, only
three days after the passing of his mentor, Fats Waller. Eddie Heywood was a
great pianist, much less humble than James P. Johnson but formidable enough to
rock the hell out of the Downtown Café Boogie. The piano introduction to a
very relaxed Uptown Café Blues sounds similar to the beginning of Heywoods
blues collaborations with Billie Holiday. Edmond Halls way of handling the blues
is unforgettably immediate and sincere. Both of the 1943 dates are towed into
port by the exceptionally fine drumming of Big Sid Catlett. Back with Blue Note
on January 25, Edmond Hall leads his All Star Quintet in developing four of his
own original compositions. While Rompin in 44, the band moves with gently
pronounced modernity, rooted in tradition but responding to new ideas and
updated styles. Red Norvo, always aware of fresh influences, had something to do
with this development. Blue Interval is something like a course in organic
gardening; Smooth Sailin is a solid upbeat piece of blues, as is the rocking
restless jam called Seein Red. As a gesture of chronological completeness,
Classics tacked on a pair of sides from 1937 with vocals by Henry Nemo. These
would be more enjoyable if he didnt closely imitate Fats Wallers singing style,
right down to the expostulations and tag lines. Considering the wealth of
outstanding jazz on this one CD, these two oddities are a neat bonus. They do
not detract in any way from the masterpieces gathered together in memory of the
great Edmond Hall.


Tracks:

1. Joe The Bomber
2. Fade-Out
3. Jammin In Four
4. Edmond Hall Blues
5. Profoundly Blue
6. Celestial Express
7. High Society
8. Blues At Blue Note
9. Night Shift Blues
10. Royal Garden Blues
11. Blue Note Boogie
12. The Man I Love
13. Downtown Cafe Boogie
14. Uptown Cafe Blues
15. Coquette
16. Rompin In 44
17. Blue Interval
18. Smooth Sailin
19. Seein Red 

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