Featuring Noble Sissle

Featuring Noble Sissle Artist: James Reese Europe
Label: Iajrc Records
Category: Music



Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 602551101221
EAN: 0602551101221
ASIN: B000003KWD


Release Date: 1996-04-23

Related Categories:

General General
Related | Jazz | Styles | Music
Swing General Swing General
Related | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Classic Big Band Classic Big Band
Related | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Contemporary Big Band Contemporary Big Band
Related | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General General
Related | Pop | Styles | Music

Tracks:

  1. Broadway 'Hit' Medley. Intro; I've Got The Blue Ridge Blues/Madelon/Till We Meet Again/Smiles
  2. St. Louis Blues
  3. How 'Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down On The Farm?
  4. Arabian Knights
  5. Indianola
  6. Darktown Strutter's Ball
  7. Hesitating Blues
  8. Plantation Echoes
  9. That Moaning Trombone
  10. Memphis Blues
  11. Russian Rag
  12. Ja Da
  13. Mirandy
  14. On Patrol In No Man's Land
  15. Jizz Baby
  16. All Of No Man's Land Is Ours
  17. Jazzola
  18. When The Bees Make Honey
  19. The Dancing Deacon
  20. That's Got 'Em
  21. Clarinet Marmalade
  22. Missouri Blues
  23. Dixie Is Dixie Once More
  24. My Choc'late Soldier Sammy Boy

Similar Items:

  1. James Reese Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band
  2. Memories of You
  3. A LIFE IN RAGTIME: A Biography of James Reese Europe
  4. Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry, 1890-1919 (Music in American Life)
  5. Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Fletcher Henderson

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Historically significant recordings, off-center masters.......2002-01-13

The other reviews posted here are correct as to the historical value, as well as the entertainment value, of these recordings. James Europe's place in Jazz history is beyond dispute. I take issue with the re-mastering process.

Some of the discs that these samples were taken from were not properly centered on the turntable during mastering. It varies from song to song from barely noticeable ("Mirandy", "Dixie is Dixie Once More") to sickening ("Broadway Hit Medley", "Plantation Echoes"). A little more care would have made for a more enjoyable CD.

The disc noise is not that much of a problem - it is endemic to the process, especially for acoustic Pathe discs (which is what these are). I could handle the surface noise if it weren't for the pitch bending with every revolution of the original disc.

I haven't heard the other re-issue of these recordings yet; I just hope it's better.

5 out of 5 stars James Europe deserves to be remembered!.......2001-06-02

This is an album of original recordings by James Reese Europe and the 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band. Recorded in 1919, it is a really awesome collection for anyone who is interested in listening to the authentic music of the time. I am a collector of pre-1920's music, and have a number of Europe's dance recordings done for Vernon and Irene Castle. This album complements those originals beautifully, and proves that Europe was a great artist in his own right. If you are a fan of early 20th century music, Vernon and Irene Castle, or just good music, you will enjoy this collection. Especially liked "Darktown Strutters Ball." Makes you want to get up and do a nice old fashioned fox trot!

5 out of 5 stars An essential disc for the American music lover.......2001-05-16

I am thrilled to own this wonderful disc. James Reese Europe is an essential part of American Music history and is finally starting to get his due. The music on this disc is comprised of Europe's complete recordings made at the Pathý recordings studios in New York City during the months of March and May of 1919. It will be very obvious to anyone listening that these recordings were made during the record industry's infancy; hiss and pops abound. However R.T. Davies, the same man who did the highly regarded Louis Armstrong Hot Fives and Hot Sevens remasters for the J.S.P. label, does not disappoint here. He has cleaned up the sound as much as possible without distorting the music. Europe's entire ensemble can be heard as well as technology will allow.

Europe is usually not omitted from university jazz history classes; he is far too important. However, as of last year, main stream America was largely ignorant of him. Ken Burns, in his documentary Jazz, gives Europe a good amount of tape, and more people are coming to his music. Europe is so important because he bridges the gap between the military brass bands playing marches and the prototype big band led by Fletcher Henderson and Don Redman out of New York. Given Europe's high profile and status after W.W.I, it is impossible to think that Fletcher Henderson would be unfamiliar with his music. Europe was a direct and powerful influence on the future evolution of American music.

His war record is also worth mentioning. A good number of songs on this disc relate directly to the war; "On Patrol In No Man's Land," and "All Of No Man's Land Is Ours," are both examples of this. These songs are not based on a behind the scenes view of the war. In W.W.I, army musicians fought. In Mark Berresford's substantial booklet that accompanies this disc, we learn that the 369th U.S. Infantry (Europe's all African American Regiment) were not allowed to fight alongside their white counterparts. They were placed under the command of the French Army and made their effect known. To quote Berresford: "The troops of the 369th saw action in both the Meuse Argonne area and in the Vosges mountains of Eastern France... Europe himself saw action as commander of a machine gun company, and in June 1918 was badly gassed." They performed so well under combat conditions that the French nicknamed the regiment the "Hell Fighters."

After risking his life for his country Europe came home and served us by playing the important role in the evolution of American music outlined above. I strongly recommend you purchase this disc. An intimate relationship with this music will enrich your life.

5 out of 5 stars Europe's arrangements come close to swinging.......2000-10-26

With the exception of singer/comedian Bert Williams and a few obscure gospel groups, James Reese Europe and his orchestra were the first black musicians to ever record. Europe's Society Orchestra cut eight numbers during 1913-14, several years before the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. It would be inaccurate to call that music jazz since it was essentially written-out arrangements without any real improvising, but Europe's performances were influenced by ragtime and hinted slightly at the syncopations of jazz. Unfortunately, none of those historic performances have yet been reissued on CD but his 1919 "Hell Fighters" Band's 24 recordings have been released on Featuring Noble Sissle from the collector's IAJRC label. Tragically, Europe was stabbed to death by an irate drummer just two days after the final recording which is why he is obscure in jazz history and was unable to make his mark in music in the 1920s. Europe had a large and unusual group that was comprised of four trumpets, four trombones, seven clarinets, two saxophones, two baritone horns, a tuba and two drums; in addition, Noble Sissle took occasional vocals and C. Creighton Thompson sings "Jazz Baby." Such future jazz standards as "St. Louis Blues," "Darktown Strutters' Ball," "Ja Da" and "Clarinet Marmalade" are among the songs performed but this is prejazz dance music (although much hipper than nearly all of the orchestras and military band on record at the time). Europe's arrangements come close to swinging, four years before King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton made their first records. An essential acquisition for collectors.

5 out of 5 stars Europe's arrangements come close to swinging.......2000-10-26

With the exception of singer/comedian Bert Williams and a few obscure gospel groups, James Reese Europe and his orchestra were the first black musicians to ever record. Europe's Society Orchestra cut eight numbers during 1913-14, several years before the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. It would be inaccurate to call that music jazz since it was essentially written-out arrangements without any real improvising, but Europe's performances were influenced by ragtime and hinted slightly at the syncopations of jazz. Unfortunately, none of those historic performances have yet been reissued on CD but his 1919 "Hell Fighters" Band's 24 recordings have been released on Featuring Noble Sissle from the collector's IAJRC label. Tragically, Europe was stabbed to death by an irate drummer just two days after the final recording which is why he is obscure in jazz history and was unable to make his mark in music in the 1920s. Europe had a large and unusual group that was comprised of four trumpets, four trombones, seven clarinets, two saxophones, two baritone horns, a tuba and two drums; in addition, Noble Sissle took occasional vocals and C. Creighton Thompson sings "Jazz Baby." Such future jazz standards as "St. Louis Blues," "Darktown Strutters' Ball," "Ja Da" and "Clarinet Marmalade" are among the songs performed but this is prejazz dance music (although much hipper than nearly all of the orchestras and military band on record at the time). Europe's arrangements come close to swinging, four years before King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton made their first records. An essential acquisition for collectors.

Music CD:

  1. Complete American Small Group Recordings ~ Don Byas
  2. The Sun and the Moon Getting It On ~ Perplexa
  3. It's Gonna Be Good ~ Chieli Minucci
  4. Iridescence ~ Warren Vache
  5. Alternate Changes for Bud ~ Mike Melillo
  6. Introducing Bob Sneider
  7. This Is Jazz, Vol. 7 ~ Duke Ellington
  8. S'Us Four ~ Cal Collins
  9. The Calling ~ Hamiet Bluiett
  10. The Difference Is Dinah ~ Dinah Washington

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

Strictly The Best Vol. 11 ~ Various Artists

Extraordinary Machine ~ Fiona Apple

Understanding a Guarantee ~ Downtown Singapore

The Experience Sessions ~ Noel Redding

Best of Lynyrd Skynyrd

Nantucket Sleighride ~ Mountain

Choose Today ~ Faith in Action

Sweet Sexy Thing ~ Nu Flavor

Bass Check, Vol. 1 ~ Various Artists

1st Infantry ~ The Alchemist