5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Early Big T is great!, June 21, 2001
This review is from: 1928/1931 Volume 1 (Audio CD)
This CD is a rare find because it focuses on Jack Teagarden's eary work as a sideman with small bands such as that of Red Nichols and Ben Pollack, while most collections concentrate on his later work. As for the music, it is some of the best early jazz I have ever heard. I cannot emphasize enough what an amazing, talented trombonist Jack Teagarden is. I, myself, play a little jazz trombone, and I think that Teagarden was the most gifted trombone player who ever lived. His solos are the highlight of the CD. They are incredibly bluesy, but have a modern, progressive quality to them. Teagarden's solos on "She's a Great Girl" and "Futuristic Rhythm" are absolutely inspired. The bands can get really, really, bluesy, but can also swing hard when they want to. This CD is also worth buying because we also get a chance to hear some great jazzmen eary in their careers, such as Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Pee Wee Russell, and Fats Waller. The sound quality is not excellent, and some of the vocals are not understandable, but it is of relatively good quality for a 70 year old recording, and it is by all means listenable. This is an excellent CD to have if you like early jazz, are interested in early Teagarden, or just want to hear a truly breathtaking trombone player.
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