Riverside History of Classic Jazz

[Dmitry]

Is this set recommended for someone who doesn't want to [financially] dive head first into the pre-swing era? It looks like a good primer, what do you think?

[Christiern]

Great recordings, Dmitry, but not worth it unless they did a radical remastering job. The original release of this set was abominable as far as the sound was concerned.

[mailman]

I bought this one years ago on LP. Atrocious sound, great sounds. I haven't played it in a very long time. I'd try to hear any CD reissue before bying it.

[montg]

Maybe a better point of entry would be some stuff recorded by pre-swing greats in the50s/60s...you get the best of both worlds: hi fi and great music by some folks around at the dawning of jazz. ANything from Kid Ory recored for Good Time Jazz or the New Orleans Living Legends series for Riverside (produced, incidentally by Chris Albertson) would be good places to start.