Joe Venuti & Zoot Sims

Joe Venuti & Zoot Sims

Joe Venuti & Zoot Sims

ASIN: B000003H8T

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Since jazz is a continuous process of learning and experimenting, many artists have continued to thrive well into their autumn years, even if not quite at past levels. Yet, in the cases of both Joe Venuti and Zoot Sims, their most memorable and spirited work actually came in the 1970s, when Venuti was in his 70s and Sims his 50s. The first thing that comes across when listening to this record, which combines four cuts from a 1974 session with a complete 1975 session, is just how closely Venuti and Sims are listening to each other's ideas. They very often feed off each other, finishing one another's sentences even when talking simultaneously, and engaging in a playful game of hide and seek. Both possess an extraordinary combination of tenderness and wit as well as unyielding respect for the old and often obscure melodies they choose to interpret. Venuti's playing shows amazing versatility and range, weeping one moment, grinning brightly the next, swinging with modern flair and then reverting to Old World styles. Based on the pair's compatibility alone, this makes for delightful, enchanting listening. --Marc Greilsamer

Joe Venuti & Zoot Sims,Joe Venuti,Zoot Sims,Chiaroscuro Records,Jazz,Jazz Music,Jazz Traditional,Pop
Joe & Zoot & More
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • It swings!!
 Joe & Zoot & More
Joe Venuti , and Zoot Sims
Manufacturer: Chiaroscuro Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Joe Venuti and Zoot Sims
  2. Alone at the Palace
  3. Never Before...Never Again
  4. Hot Sonatas
  5. S'Wonderful: 4 Giants Of Swing

ASIN: B00006CTFB
Release Date: 2002-09-03

Tracks:

  1. I Found A New Baby
  2. There's A Small Hotel
  3. Indiana
  4. My One And Only Love
  5. The Wild Cat
  6. It's The Girl
  7. Oh, Lady Be Good
  8. Someday Sweetheart
  9. C Jam Blues
  10. Blue Too
  11. Oh, Lady Be Good
  12. Dinah
  13. Tea For Three
  14. Diga Diga Do
  15. I'll Never Be The Same
  16. String The Blues
  17. The Blue Room

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars It swings!!.......2003-02-15

I first saw this album mentioned in Down Beat, and the two title stars obviously caught my attention, but that didn't completely convince me that I should run out and buy it. That was achieved by the Down Beat writer's use of the magic words - Adrian Rollini. No, Rollini isn't on this session (he wasn't even around then, seeing as he died in the mid-fiftes), but the reviewer noted that Spencer Clark played in the Rollini style on this album, and not badly, either.

I think Adrian would have liked Clark's work here very much. I also think Adrian would have told the sound engineer to get a better balance between the bass sax and everyone else at times, but that's beside the point. Of course the two title stars are great on the album as well! Zoot Sims plays on the first nine songs, and he plays more on the soprano sax than he does on his tenor. After listening to him on soprano, I think I have finally become de-traumatized and gotten over my sopsaxophobia brought on by having heard the ubiquitous so-called jazz musician Kenny G. That being said, Zoot's tenor work is also enjoyable; breathy, but not without focus. Venuti plays the hot numbers extraordinarily hot and the ballads wonderfully. The blend he achieves with Zoot is especially notable. Other big names on the album include Milt Hinton and Bucky Pizzarelli.

The style of all the songs is not limited to a single genre. Elements of everything from trad to bop are thrown in and used tastefully. All in all, it swings!
S'Wonderful: 4 Giants Of Swing
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		S'Wonderful: 4 Giants Of Swing
    Joe Venuti
    Manufacturer: Flying Fish Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    1. Back to Back
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    3. Bye Bye Blues
    4. The Puritan Sessions
    5. Joe Venuti and Zoot Sims

    ASIN: B000000MDS
    Release Date: 1992-09-29

    Tracks:

    1. Take The A Train
    2. Satin Doll
    3. Sophisticated Lady
    4. C Jam Blues
    5. There Will Never Be Another You
    6. Lime House Blues
    7. S'Wonderful
    8. Summertime
    9. Lady Be Good
    10. Rhapsody in Blue/I Got Rhythm
    11. Caravan

    Amazon.com

    The giants in question are violinist Joe Venuti, guitarist and former Texas Playboy Eldon Shamblin, steel guitarist Curley Chalker, and mandolinist Jethro Burns. The music is mostly George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. Despite the country music experience of Shamblin, Burns, and Chalker (and the usual country setting of steel and mandolin), the group holds to a strict jazz aesthetic, with sophisticated, polished improvisation. Recorded in 1977, this blowing session balances refined elegance with blazing ferocity. Chalker coaxes some amazing, unique sounds from his pedal steel (especially on the ballads) while Burns and Shamblin, usually lumped in the country bag, show their amazing facility with the jazz idiom. Of course, Venuti's jazz credibility was never in question. --Marc Greilsamer
    Joe Venuti and Zoot Sims
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Joe Venuti and Zoot Sims
      Joe Venuti with Zoot Sims
      Manufacturer: Chiaroscuro Records
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      Cool JazzCool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
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      ASIN: B000003H8T
      Release Date: 1994-02-08

      Tracks:

      1. My Honey's Lovin' Arms
      2. Deep Night
      3. Remember
      4. I Got Rhythm
      5. Avalon
      6. I Surrender Dear
      7. Wait 'Til You See Her
      8. Russian Lullaby
      9. Lady Of The Evening
      10. Where Or When
      11. Lover Come Back To Me
      12. I'll See You In My Dreams
      13. Don't Take Your Love From Me
      14. Shine

      Amazon.com

      Since jazz is a continuous process of learning and experimenting, many artists have continued to thrive well into their autumn years, even if not quite at past levels. Yet, in the cases of both Joe Venuti and Zoot Sims, their most memorable and spirited work actually came in the 1970s, when Venuti was in his 70s and Sims his 50s. The first thing that comes across when listening to this record, which combines four cuts from a 1974 session with a complete 1975 session, is just how closely Venuti and Sims are listening to each other's ideas. They very often feed off each other, finishing one another's sentences even when talking simultaneously, and engaging in a playful game of hide and seek. Both possess an extraordinary combination of tenderness and wit as well as unyielding respect for the old and often obscure melodies they choose to interpret. Venuti's playing shows amazing versatility and range, weeping one moment, grinning brightly the next, swinging with modern flair and then reverting to Old World styles. Based on the pair's compatibility alone, this makes for delightful, enchanting listening. --Marc Greilsamer
      Wild Cats
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • Good early jazz duo
      		 Wild Cats
      Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang
      Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      3. The Dark Angel of the Fiddle
      4. Violin Jazz 1927-1934
      5. A Handful of Riffs

      ASIN: B00005B15T
      Release Date: 2001-05-22

      Tracks:

      1. Stringing The Blues - Eddie Lang
      2. Bugle Call Rag - Red Nichols & His Five Pennies
      3. Doin' Things - Eddie Lang
      4. Goin' Places - Eddie Lang
      5. Kickin' The Cat - Joe Venuti's Blue Four
      6. Beatin' The Dog - Joe Venuti's Blue Four
      7. A Mug Of Ale - Joe Venuti's Blue Four
      8. Four String Joe - Eddie Lang
      9. Dinah - Joe Venuti's Blue Four
      10. The Wild Dog - Joe Venuti's Blue Four
      11. The Man From The South - Joe Venuti's Blue Four
      12. Wild Cat - Eddie Lang
      13. Running Ragged (Bamboozlin' The Bassoon) - Joe Venuti's Blue Four
      14. I've Found A New Baby - Joe Venuti's Blue Four
      15. Little Girl - Joe Venuti's Blue Four
      16. I'll Never Be The Same (Little Buttercup) - Joe Venuti's Blue Four
      17. To To Blues - Joe Venuti's Rhythm Boys
      18. Raggin' The Scale - The Joe Venuti-Eddie Lang Blue Five
      19. Hey, Young Fella! - The Joe Venuti-Eddie Lang Blue Five
      20. Jig Saw Puzzle Blues - The Joe Venuti-Eddie Lang Blue Five
      21. Pink Elephants - The Joe Venuti-Eddie Lang Blue Five
      22. Beale Street Blues - The Venuti/Lang All Star Orchestra
      23. After You've Gone - The Venuti/Lang All Star Orchestra
      24. Someday, Sweetheart - The Venuti/Lang All Star Orchestra
      25. Farewell Blues - The Venuti/Lang All Star Orchestra

      Customer Reviews:

      4 out of 5 stars Good early jazz duo.......2006-09-29

      ASV living era does a great job of remastering and repackaging old 78 records. Here are a number of tasty guitar and violin pieces from the late twenties and early thirties. These guys were excellent musicians who could really cut loose in 4/4 time. This is enjoyable for background or focused listening. Another winner from this fine company.
      Violin Jazz 1927-1934
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Nice Quality
      • The Greatest
      • A great way to get introduced to Joe Venuti...
      • Hot Jazz Violin at its best. Truly delightful.
      		 Violin Jazz 1927-1934
      Joe Venuti
      Manufacturer: Yazoo
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      ASIN: B000000G7Z
      Release Date: 1990-02-27

      Tracks:

      1. Sensation
      2. Apple Blossoms
      3. Raggin' The Scale
      4. Satan's Holiday
      5. A Mug Of Ale
      6. Hey! Young Fella
      7. Wild Cat
      8. The Wild Dog
      9. Sweet Lorraine
      10. Kickin' The Cat
      11. Jig Saw Puzzle Blues
      12. Hiawatha's Lullaby
      13. Four String Joe
      14. Goin' Places

      Customer Reviews:

      4 out of 5 stars Nice Quality.......2002-08-12

      This cd has a nice quality. But I have smelled better. My feet smell better then this cd. To tell you the truth, I think any one's feet would. But it is enjoyable. Especially listening to it while taking a bath. It soothes like the soap bubbles. I swish my feet around to it's beat. It's fun. It really hits the hammer on it's jackpot let me tell you. I recommend it.

      5 out of 5 stars The Greatest.......2002-04-13

      Nobody comes close to Venuti when it comes to jazz violin. You'll love this CD.

      Scott Alexander
      The Red Hot Jazz Archive

      5 out of 5 stars A great way to get introduced to Joe Venuti..........2000-09-28

      Although serious collectors will alreasy have this music in more complete formats, this is a fine sampler, which includes jazz violenist Venuti's hottest sessions(most which feature bass sax great Adrian Rollini). Most of these sides also feature guitar duets with Eddie Lang. This CD is overall excellent, and is surprisingy well done considering it was done on a small US label Yazoo, usually a CD of this sort is a European import. This excellent CD includes such classics as "Kickn' The Cat" and " The Wild Dog" and "Sensation." Every track is a classic. This will give one a difinitive overview of why Voe Venuti is such an important jazz violenist. Highly recomednded.

      5 out of 5 stars Hot Jazz Violin at its best. Truly delightful........1999-02-26

      This CD presents some extremely fine examples of hot jazz violin playing from electric recordings made between 1927 & 1934. In addition to Venuti's outstanding virtuosity, noteworthy performances are turned out by such greats as Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey, Frankie Trumbauer, Adrian Rollini, Joe Sullivan and ever present jazz guitar partner Eddie Lang among others. The fourteen cuts come through in excellent archival quality transfers that have long been a distinguishing characteristics of historic Yazoo collections. Session personnel are included for each cut but there is the usual glaring omission of discographic information which is one of the few annoying shortcomings of this labels otherwise superb products. Titles include Sensation; Apple Blossoms; Raggin the Scale; Satan's Holiday; A Mug of Ale; Hey! Young Fella; Wild Cat; The Wild Dog; Sweet Lorraine; Kickin' the Cat; Jig Saw Puzzle Blues; Hiawatha's Lullaby; Four String Joe; Goin' Places.
      Never Before...Never Again
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Two Giants- Must buy
      • Great Venuti
      		 Never Before...Never Again
      Joe Venuti , and Tony Romano
      Manufacturer: Justin Time Records
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      ASIN: B00004Z3TK
      Release Date: 2000-10-31

      Tracks:

      1. You Know You Belong To Somebody Else
      2. Feeling Free And Easy
      3. Almost Like Being In Love
      4. Autumn Leaves
      5. I Want To Be Happy
      6. Summertime
      7. I Remember Joe
      8. Angelina
      9. An Interview With Tony Romano
      10. New England In The Fall
      11. It's Easy To Remember
      12. Tattle Tale Eyes
      13. Johnny Come Lately

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Two Giants- Must buy .......2006-07-25

      This is one of Venuti's best albums - he loved it and when he came and visited us in Philadelphia he brough my MOM (his niece) a copy. We almost wore it out and it was relaesed again on vinyl which I bought and I now have thw CD- the ORIGINAL VINYL PRESSING which I still have, has the warmest sound. Joe Venuti was my great uncle and he loved classical music which I played when he came for dinner. His technique and tone and training were classical.

      Tony Romano was the best jazz guitarist after Eddie Lang - he is amazing what a tone and phrasing.

      5 out of 5 stars Great Venuti.......2001-05-14

      Of a significantly different style than many of his 20's and 30's recordings, this recording highlights both Venuti's technical ability and his wonderful tone and style. Though he certainly displays his ability in all of his recordings, in this one he seems to take more time with melodies and enjoy them more. "Summertime" for example, is excellent; slow at times, fast at times, never dull, and always beautiful. It is clear that Venuti is enjoying himself. Indeed most of the tracks are composed similarly. Tony Romano is an excellent part of these recordings-not simply accompanying Venuti. His talent and beautiful playing is highlighted, and he is an integral part of the recordings. The vocals in "Angelina" are wonderful, and the interview with Mr. Romano provides the listener with amusing anecdotes of the two(Venuti and Romano) It's a mixture of different styles that can be listened to over and over, without losing much of its freshness.
      Dixieland Jazz - This Was the Jazz Age (10 Cd Box Set) 200 Tracks
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Dixieland Jazz - This Was the Jazz Age (10 Cd Box Set) 200 Tracks
        Bobby Hackett Quintet , Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers , Sidney Bechet , Scott Joplin , Phil Baxter And His Orchestra , Louis Armstrong's Hot Seven , Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang , Jack Pettis & His Pets , Clarence Williams , and Bud Freeman
        Manufacturer: Membran Music
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        Swing GeneralSwing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
        ASIN: B000KJI7C4

        Product Description

        Import //10 CD Box Set // Dixieland Jazz-This Was`The Jazz`Age //200 Tracks - Featuring Andy Preer And The Cotton Club Orchestra, Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra, Boyd Senter & His Senterpedes, Bennetts Swamplanders, Bud Freeman, Buster Bailey Bobby Hackett Quintet, Bill Coleman, Clarence Williams, Charles Dornberger & His Orchestra, Charles Creath's Jazz-O-Maniacs, Dixon's Jazz Maniacs, Edna Winston, Edmond Hall, George Wettling's Dixielanders, George Lewis, George Olsen's Music, George McClennon's Jazz Devils, Henry Allen & His New York Orchestra, Johnny De Troit And His New Orleans Orchestra, J. Neal Montgomery And His Orchestra, Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang, Jack Pettis & His Pets, Johnny Dodd's Orchestra, Jack Teagarden, Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, Kid Ory, King Oliver's Creole Jazzband, Luis Russell's Hot Six, Louis Dumaine's Jazzola, Lou Weimer's Gold And Black Aces, Louis Armstrong's Hot Seven, Muggsy Spanier, McKinney's Cotton Pickers, Napoleon's Emperors, New Orleans Rhythm Kings, New Orleans Feetwarmers, New Orleans Owls, Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Original Memphis Five, Pee Wee Russell, Phil Baxter And His Orchestra, Paul Howard's Quality Serenaders, Phil Napoleon & His Orchestra, Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra, Ross De Luxe Syncopaters, Red And Miff's Stompers, Red Nicholas Stompers, Roger Wolfe Kahn & His Orchestra, Reb Spikes Majors And Minors, Scott Joplin, Sidney Bechet, Sam Morgan's Jazz Band, Slim Lamar's Southerners, Thomas Morris And His Seven Hot Babies, The Whoopee Makers, Wild Bill Davison, Wilbur De Paris And New Orleans Band//
        Joe Venuti: Vol. 1 & 2-The 1920's & 1930's Sides
        Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
        • Hot string jazz
        • I wish there were more from Lang
        		 Joe Venuti: Vol. 1 & 2-The 1920's & 1930's Sides
        Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang
        Manufacturer: Jsp Records
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

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        ASIN: B000056V23
        Release Date: 2001-02-13

        Tracks:

        1. Black And Blue Bottom - Eddie Lang/Joe Venuti
        2. Stringing The Blues - Eddie Lang/Joe Venuti
        3. Stringing The Blues - Eddie Lang/Joe Venuti
        4. Wild Cat - Eddie Lang/Joe Venuti
        5. Sunshine - Eddie Lang/Joe Venuti
        6. Doin' Things - Eddie Lang/Joe Venuti/Arthur Schutt
        7. Goin Places - Eddie Lang/Joe Venuti/Arthur Schutt
        8. Kickin' The Cat
        9. Beatin' The Dog
        10. Cheese And Crackers
        11. A Mug Of Ale
        12. Penn Beach Blues - Joe Venuti/Don Murray/Frank Signorelli/Eddie Lang/Justin Ring
        13. Four String Joe - Joe Venuti/Don Murray/Frank Signorelli/Eddie Lang/Justin Ring
        14. Dinah
        15. The Wild Dog
        16. The Man From The South
        17. Pretty Trix
        18. Doin' Things
        19. Wild Cat
        20. The Blue Room
        21. A Sensation

        Tracks:

        1. My Honey's Lovin' Arms
        2. Goin' Home
        3. Runnin' Ragged (Bamboozlin' The Bassoon)
        4. Apple Blossoms
        5. Raggin' The Scale
        6. Put And Take
        7. Put And Take
        8. The Wild Dog
        9. Really Blue
        10. I've Found A New Baby
        11. Sweet Sue-Just You
        12. Pardon Me Pretty Baby
        13. Little Girl
        14. Little Buttercup (I'll Never Be The Same)
        15. Tempi Di Modernage
        16. There's No Other Girl - Joe Venuti's Rhythm Boys
        17. Now That I Need You You're Gone - Joe Venuti's Rhythm Boys
        18. The Wolf Wobble - Joe Venuti's Rhythm Boys
        19. To To Blues - Joe Venuti's Rhythm Boys
        20. Doin' Things - Joe Venuti's Rhythm Boys
        21. Wild Cat - Joe Venuti's Rhythm Boys

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars Hot string jazz.......2003-02-24

        I had heard a few Eddie Lang/Joe Venuti records before purchasing this 2-disc set and liked them well enough but didn't count them among my favorites (I usually prefer the 1920s dance bands). I saw this set in a music store and decided to buy it to "expand my horizons" a bit more. This was one of the best music purchases I have made in a long time!

        Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti were masters of their instruments (guitar and violin, respectively). They were pioneers in the "string swing" type of jazz, almost a decade before Django and Stephane Grappelli started doing it over in France (admitting to have been influenced by Lang and Venuti). Only a few of the selections on these two discs are popular tunes of the day, most of the others are compositions of those performing (and it's not just Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang--we also hear Jimmy Dorsey, Frankie Trumbauer, Rube Bloom, Adrian Rollini, and some others on some of the "Blue Four" tracks). These recordings were ahead of their time, and they hold up remarkably well today.

        Thanks to the excellent remastering by John R. T. Davies, the recordings sound fresher than the few previous re-issues I had heard (on RCA Victor). Joe Venuti's high-pitched harmonics come through sparkling clear as a bell, and Adrian Rollini's bass sax is so warm and rounded, it's the best thing we have to hearing the group perform live.

        Most of the tracks on the disc have the same overall texture. If you like one, you'll like 'em all. If you don't like what you hear in the Amazon.com RealAudio samples, you probably won't care much for the rest of the tracks on these discs. Since buying this set, however, it has really grown on me, and I now count it among the best discs in my jazz collection.

        3 out of 5 stars I wish there were more from Lang.......2001-03-01

        My first exposure to either of these two men were the great duo's that Eddie Lang (guitar) did with blues guitarist, Lonnie Johnson, around the same time as these recordings were made. Lang was a great guitarist and he was the leading factor in my purchase of this cd. Maybe that is why I am somewhat disappointed in it. Now I realize that Joe Venuti (violin) was definitely the leader of this band. Venuti takes one or two solos in every single track on this set. Lang, on the other hand, takes about six or eight solos on the entire 2-disk set.

        Lang does display great and creative rhythm-guitar talents on almost every tune but I would have really liked to hear him take at least a few more solos. Overall though this does end up being an enjoyable collection. Jimmy Dorsey has a few very nice clarinet and/or alto-sax solos throughout. Venuti is quite a soloist but after two disks of him thoroughly dominating every tune I really found myself wishing that either Dorsey or Lang would have taken more solos just to mix things up.

        Oh, if you aren't really familiar with this music, this is what I'd consider "string swing", although yes, horns and pianos do appear as well. The bands on this set are sort of considered to be the predecessors to Django and Stephane's bands.

        Many of you may be more familiar with these particular Venuti-Lang bands than I am. If you've loved them before from other partial issuings of the music contained herein, I am quite sure you'll love this set. It was re-mastered by the same guy (John R.T. Davies) who has done the recent brilliant re-masterings on JSP's Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton box-sets. Sonically, this is as good as it gets for material recorded back then. If you love this band I am quite sure this will be an upgrade in sonic-quality for you.

        Not as much from Lang as I was expecting and hoping for, but an enjoyable collection of pre-war string-swing nonetheless.
        Alone at the Palace
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • A personal favorite.
        • Hard swinging CD!
        		 Alone at the Palace
        Joe Venuti with Dave McKenna
        Manufacturer: Chiaroscuro Records
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

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        5. Violin Jazz 1927-1934

        ASIN: B000003H93
        Release Date: 1993-06-28

        Tracks:

        1. At The Jazz Band Ball
        2. More Than You Know
        3. The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise
        4. Runnin' Ragged
        5. Speak Low
        6. Oh, Lady Be Good
        7. Take The 'A' Train
        8. A Cottage For Sale
        9. Satin And Velvet
        10. That's A'Plenty
        11. Send In The Clowns
        12. The Other Side Of The Walk
        13. At The Jazz Band Ball #2
        14. At The Jazz Band Ball #3
        15. Runnin' Ragged #2
        16. They Can't Take That Away From Me
        17. Esterllita
        18. Variations On Tea For Three
        19. Ain't Doin' Bad Doin' Nothin'

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars A personal favorite........1999-07-27

        One of my personal favorites. The alternate takes of Jazz Band Ball included on the CD are better than the original LP version.

        5 out of 5 stars Hard swinging CD!.......1998-12-01

        Venuti is an underrated master, one of the hardest swinging musicians of all time. McKenna is a perfect match, his piano playing here is is on a level with Art Tatum-maybe better. This was given to me as a gift. I can't believe how good these guys are...this CD is fantastic.
        Stringing the Blues
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • the original hot jazz string duo
        • Great Collection From Jazz Pioneers Lang and Venuti!
        • Venuti & Lang doin' what they do best...
        		 Stringing the Blues
        Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang
        Manufacturer: Koch Records
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

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        1. Stuff Smith-Dizzy Gillespie-Oscar Peterson
        2. Cat on a Hot Fiddle
        3. From This Moment On
        4. Half the Perfect World
        5. Not Too Late

        ASIN: B00003OOV5
        Release Date: 2000-03-28

        Tracks:

        1. Goin' Places
        2. Doin' Things
        3. Perfect
        4. Cheese And Crackers
        5. Stringing The Blues
        6. I'm Somebody's Somebody Now
        7. Two-Tone Stomp
        8. Beatin' The Dog
        9. The Wild Dog
        10. Dinah
        11. In The Bottle Blues
        12. Wild Cat
        13. Guitar Blues
        14. Bull Frog Moan
        15. Jet Black Blues
        16. Penn Beach Blues

        Tracks:

        1. It's Right Here For You
        2. You Can't Cheat A Cheater
        3. Tiger Rag
        4. A Handful Of Riffs
        5. Running Ragged
        6. Pardon Me Pretty Baby
        7. I'll Never Be The Same
        8. I've Found A New Baby
        9. Little Girl
        10. I Got Rhythm
        11. I Wanna Count Sheep Till The Cows Come Home
        12. Church Street Sobbin' Blues
        13. Vibraphonia
        14. Hey! Young Fella
        15. Some Of These Days
        16. Raggin' The Scale

        Amazon.com

        Kudos to Koch Records for unearthing this essential 1962 double-album Columbia set featuring the work of two vital jazz pioneers. Guitarist Eddie Lang and violinist Joe Venuti were central figures in the jazz world of the late 1920s and early 1930s, gigging with bands of all shapes, sizes, and styles and taking their respective instruments to places they hadn't been previously. These 32 cuts range from 1928 to 1933, and they are not only wonderful examples of the genius of Lang and Venuti, but they give a vivid picture of the complete jazz landscape of the day. Everyone from Bing Crosby to Clarence Williams to Tommy Dorsey (on trumpet) to Frankie Trumbauer to King Oliver pops up on the set. Lang and Venuti are also heard leading their own magnificent duets, trios, and quartets, and there's a handful of the landmark blues duets featuring Lang (billed as Blind Willie Dunn) and Lonnie Johnson. Highlights are plentiful: Listen to the incredibly tricky arrangement on Venuti's aptly named barnburner "The Wild Dog." Or how a stately intro gives way to an ebullient romp on "I've Found a New Baby." Or how on "It's Right Here for You," Lang effortlessly moves from superb single-string soloing to vibrant rhythm work. Both musicians love to teeter in the upper registers--Venuti on "I Got Rhythm," Lang on "Church Street Sobbin' Blues." Hear Venuti mischievously plucking away on "Cheese and Crackers." Across novelties and standards alike, the duo display a wonderful sense of humor that never devolves into camp, technical mastery that never gets in the way of flair or fun, and a magical effervescence that still glows decades later. --Marc Greilsamer

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars the original hot jazz string duo.......2006-06-04

        before there was Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt, Oscar Aleman, or Stuff Smith, there was Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang, the originators of violin and guitar hot jazz. This is a great overview of their output from the late 20's to early 30's, when Eddie Lang died. Anyone who appreciates jazz wioll like this CD, which still sounds goood today.

        5 out of 5 stars Great Collection From Jazz Pioneers Lang and Venuti!.......2003-09-23

        From "Dinah" to "Tiger Rag" this collection illuminates the magnificent musical abilities of the first great Jazz violinst, Joe Venuti and his equally innovative buddy, Eddie Lang (born Salvatore Massaro), who practically invented jazz guitar in the 1920s. Long before Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, and Stephane Grappelli, there was Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang, both musical prodigies from South Philadelphia who had brilliant careers that began in the early days of Jazz. Lang's career was cut tragically short when he died of complications from surgery for infected tonsils at the age of 31 in 1933 (remember, this was long before the discovery of antibiotics). Like Venuti, Lang recorded with such immortals as Bix Beiderbecke, Hoagy Carmichael, Bing Crosby (who was Lang's best friend), Mildred Bailey, Red Norvo, and Frankie Trumbauer, among many others. Lang was a magnificent accompanist as well as a creative lead player who put single string improvisational guitar-playing on the musical map. That's Eddie playing incredibly behind and around Bix on the immortal "Sing'n the Blues." Venuti was the first violinist to play stunning lead solos on an instrument that previously was not even accepted in the jazz world. Whether playing a haunting ballad or an uptempo eight-to-the-bar number, Venuti was an incredible improvisor. It should be noted by Jazz afficionados that Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in the 1930s modeled their playing on that of Lang and Venuti in the 1920s. This collection is a marvelous one, and I enthusiastically recommend it to all jazz buffs who appreciate two true immortals of the genre.

        5 out of 5 stars Venuti & Lang doin' what they do best..........2000-09-28

        Joe Venuti perhaphs the finest jazz violenist ever and Ediie Land perhaphs the greatest jazz guitarist ever(with the exception of Django Reinhart) are together here for some red hot duets, leading their own groups and appearing with different vocalists or as sidemem, whatever it is they get plaenty of solos space, and this CD is consistantly enjoyable. This is an essentail set well worh the price.

        Jazz Music:

        1. John Swana and Friends
        2. Let Him Hear My Heart
        3. Live Around the World [Live] [Original recording remastered] [Import]
        4. Luggumt
        5. Made in Mango
        6. Music of Duke Ellington, Vol. 12
        7. My Foolish Heart: Live at the Left Bank [Live]
        8. Mylab
        9. Nuf Said [Original recording remastered]
        10. Only Human

        Jazz Music

        Jazz Music