Esquire Jazz Concerts

[mjzee]

I've seen these releases in various lo-fi semi-bootleg releases over the years. Does anyone know the circumstances of the original concerts and how they were recorded? Are there any "official" releases? Do any versions sound better than others? Which releases are the most complete? I heard the Laserlight version once, and audio was pretty bad. Any info would be appreciated. Here are some examples:

[jazzbo]

It's been a long time since I last researched this, but the last one posted I found most complete and best-sounding.

[ejp626]

Is this related to Esquire's All-American Hot Jazz Sessions?

Same concerts? Or same general groupings but different recordings?

[jazzbo]

Those are studio sessions, not exactly the same musicians.

http://www.allmusic.com/album/esquires-all-american-hot-jazz-sessions-mw0000199619

Edited July 19, 2012 by jazzbo

[medjuck]

It's been a long time since I last researched this, but the last one posted I found most complete and best-sounding.

Ditto.

[Pete C]

Spotify links

[bichos]

The first Esquire Jazz Concert was in 1944 and featured the winners and runners-up of the very first Esquire Jazz Poll. The idea for the poll was born at a Duke Ellington concert in 1943. Seated in the audience was the Esquire editor, Arnold Gingrich, along with jazz critics Leonard Feather and Robert Goffin. By the time the concert was over, the Esquire Jazz Poll was born. The Esquire poll lasted for four years.

The idea was to assemble a panel of jazz experts, including Feather and Goffin, to vote for the best jazz musicians of the time. There was, of course, controversy surrounding the poll with allegations of favoritism and reverse discrimination because there was a smaller percentage of white winners than in other jazz polls. Then there were allegations that the experts tended to vote for more traditional, dixieland style musicians than modern style musicians.

Regardless of the controversy, there were still some stellar names include Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and Woody Herman.

After the polls were published, the winners and runners were featured in concerts benefiting the Navy League. Attendees of the concerts bought war bonds to get a seat. The 1944 concert was the first jazz concert at the Metropolitan Opera House.

http://archive.org/details/1944EsquireAll-americanJazzConcert

http://archive.org/details/Esquires1946All-americanJazzBandConcert

keep boppin´

marcel

[GA Russell]

Thanks, Marcel. That's very informative!

[mjzee]

Thanks, Marcel. I've found a copy of the first concert that sounds closer to the original source material (the archive.org file sounds no-noised). I haven't bought it yet, but I might:

Old Time Radio Catalog

As for the second concert (1945), this might be the best version, but it would be nice to know how complete it is:

eMusic

[Ted O'Reilly]

Thanks, Marcel. That's very informative!

It's copied from http://www.otrcat.com/esquire-jazz-concert-p-49312.html. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

[medjuck]

It's been a long time since I last researched this, but the last one posted I found most complete and best-sounding.

Ditto.

I just remembered that none of the above cds have the Benny Goodman material for some reason. However I just downloaded the concerts from the site bichos recommended and ti seems to be the complete concert.