1944

Artist: James P. Johnson Label: Melodie Jazz Classic Category: Music Average customer rating: Media: Audio CD Number Of Discs: 1 UPC: 789368223725 EAN: 0789368223725 ASIN: B000001NR5 Release Date: 1996-11-19

Tracks:

1. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
2. Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now
3. Squeeze Me
4. Honeysuckle Rose
5. I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling
6. Honeysuckle Rose
7. Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now
8. My Fate Is In Your Hands
9. Hesitation Blues
10. The Boogie Dream
11. Four O'Clock Groove
12. The Dream (Slow Drag)
13. Hot Harlem
14. Euphonic Sounds
15. Everybody Loves My Baby
16. Ballin' The Jack
17. Who's Sorry Now?
18. The Call Of The Blues

Customer Reviews:

Good solos.......2001-10-13

Tracks 1 - 4 are solo tracks recorded as a tribute to Fats Waller for Decca (see also tracks 17 - 20 of the previous volume). "Honeysucke Rose" is a wonderful ilustration of Johnson's disciplined approach to stride improvisation and his ability to build a solo. For some reason, Decca rejected these recordings and re-recorded them with superfluous drum accompaniment, and tracks 5 - 8 are the result. They are generally taken at a slightly faster tempo than the solo versions, but for my taste at least, the first sessions are the better ones.

Tracks 9 - 13 are small band tracks recorded by Asch, featuring Frankie Newton on trumpet, James P. and a rhythm section. They include some rare Johnson tunes and the jazz tango "The Dream" which Johnson later recorded as a solo. "Euphonic Sounds" is a solo version of a 1909 Scott Joplin rag, similar in approach to Jelly Roll Morton's recordings of "Maple Leaf Rag" & "Original Rag". The final tracks are by Johnson's "Blue Note Jazz Men", 4 minute plus performances featuring Sidney De Paris, Edmund Hall and Vic Dickenson. To my taste, Johnson was at his best in solo or trio formats: in a band setting he rarely stamped his personality on the ensemble in the way that Jelly Roll Morton did. Nevertheless, these are enjoyable pieces.

An interesting disc, if not the best in the series.

Music CD:

1. Intimate Secrets ~ Rick Braun
2. Warning ~ Gigolo Supreme
3. Standard Project: New Bottles Old Wine ~ Herbert Joos
4. Battle of Saxes, Vol. 1 ~ Richie Cole with Eric Kloss
5. It Rhymes ~ Wally Schnalle
6. Go Commercial ~ Kolner Saxophon Mafia
7. 1944 ~ Coleman Hawkins
8. 1935-1936 ~ Putney Dandridge & His Orchestra
9. Fourmost ~ Jimmy Smith
10. Best of Out of the Cool, Vol. 2 ~ Various Artists

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