Storyvilles at Daedalus

[Hot Ptah]

Now that several of us have most likely received some of the very inexpensive Storyvilles at Daedalus Music, what do you think of them?

I have been struck by two discs in particular as I begin to listen to the twenty or so that I ordered.

Teddy Wilson's "Keystone Transcriptions 1939-40" is an outstanding solo piano album, to me. I find it beautiful, swinging, and compelling. It has shot to near the top of my favorite jazz solo piano albums.

The "Midnight at V Disc" album is a surprise. There is some unexpectedly memorable soloing by Don Byas and Ben Webster on some of the cuts. I don't think that I have ever been quite as blown away by Byas before.

There are also sparkling moments from Jack Teagarden, Louis Armstrong (including one nice vocal), Hot Lips Page, Bobby Hackett, Charlie Shavers, Flip Phillips, Woody Herman.... I didn't know what to expect from this album, but it is getting heavy play in my car.

Has anyone else made any favorable, or unfavorable, discoveries?

[jazzbo]

Glad you bought that Midnight cd, I've been enjoying that one for years, really a great cd.

In this batch I've been spinning the John Kirby I picked up, the one that I hadn't had before of the three, and the Doctor Jazz with Bobby Hackett, both good cds indeed.

[Free For All]

I don't think that I have ever been quite as blown away by Byas before.

The Byas recording that first blew me away was a cut on the Smithsonian collection. It was I Got Rhythm, done as a duo with Slam Stewart, full of hard swing, impeccable time and a ton of contemporary harmonic content. I became a fan at that point!

[kh1958]

I also really enjoyed the Midnight at V-Discs. In addition, Jumpin' Jubilee Jam Sessions 1945-46 is quite good as well, featuring the Willie Smith/Benny Carter/Charlie Parker medley (I did have this already on Bird's Eyes), and a Coleman Hawkins/Lester Young/Buck Clayton session from 1946. The Bobby Hackett/Willie Smith track on this one is nice as well. Also, the Dizzy Chester Pennsylvania concert from 1957 is very nicely recorded and performed.