ProJazz.net

24 great tracks from session 1924-1925. A special re-release of original Parlophone recordings that sold over 50,000 albums when first released.

“Two major figures of English jazz, drummer Jack Parnell and guitarist Vic Lewis co-led a band in the 1944-1945 time frame. This album compiles the entire recorded output of the outfit, all recorded for the Parlophone label. Many members were World War II RAF veterans ready to get back to work playing jazz. Their exuberance at being back is heard on all the sessions. They played swing and traditional jazz, a mix of Chicago and New Orleans with a touch of British flavor thrown in. The group worked well in ensemble and had outstanding individual playing, as demonstrated on “Prince of Wails,” featuring Billy Riddick on trumpet and Dick Katz on piano. Although born in Baltimore, MD, Katz spent some time playing in England before returning to the U.S. Lewis was to come to the U.S. much later to produce bop-oriented albums with West Coast jazzmen, and Parnell joined the Ted Heath band. The sessions were not limited to up-tempo material by any means. There’s a traditional blues number, “Mean Old Bed Bug Blues,” with Vic Lewis taking the vocal, with Riddick once again on trumpet. Riddick had an exceptionally clean, pure sound which contrasted nicely with the wail of Derek Hawkins’ clarinet. This track is one of the finest on this 24-track set. The play list also is one of the reasons this album is attractive. In addition to well-known traditional swing tunes like “Ja-Da,” there are some excellent lesser-known gems such as the Katz/Parnell/Lewis “Dick’s Boogie” and Johnny Mince’s “Johnny’s Idea.” It would be easy to relegate these sessions as items of historical interest and then dismiss them. But in fact the music and the performances hold up very well and should be welcomed by fans of traditional swing.”- Dave Nathan/AllMusic.

Track listings:
1 Johnny’s Idea
2 Mean Old Bed Bug Blues
3 Jazz Band Jump
4 I’m Coming Virginia
5 Jazz Men Blues
6 Ja-Da
7 Why Begin Again? (Pastel Blue)
8 Sugar
9 I Found a New Baby
10 That’s a Plenty
11 Ugly Child (You’re Some Pretty Doll)
12 Dick’s Boogie
13 Mop Mop
14 Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby?
15 Get Happy
16 (Back Home Again in) Indiana
17 Someday Sweetheart
18 I Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll
19 Singin’ the Blues
20 At the Jazz Band Ball
21 Royal Garden Blues
22 Singin’ the Blues
23 Prince of Wails
24 Sugar

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Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2001
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ February 21, 2009
Label ‏ : ‎ Upbeat Jazz Uk