Customer Reviews

Dippermouth Blues: His 25 Greatest

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While no expert, I have listened to a fair share of 20s jazz. The cover of this CD lies, as it proclaims this is King Oliver's 25 Greatest Hits. That is not true.

Like most listeners of music from this era, I knew the name of Oliver as one of the pivotal figures, mentor and bandleader to a host of musicians whose fame would far transcend his own. I actually was familiar with just one recording, "Too Late" from an anthology CD I bought. It is an infectious ditty, with a blistering cornet and a perfect arrangement. I expected great things from this CD, where "Too Late" was not even good enough to crack the Top 25.

But that was not to be. This all feels like pretty standard stuff. Not great, not bad. Just somewhere in the vast middle. While the liner notes proclaim the first four tracks to among the greatest in the history of recorded jazz, I cannot share his enthusiasm. The sound quality hurts the final product (these are, after all, from 1923) and the band generates no sparks. Early studio recordings often sound stiff and formal; I guess the musicians missed their usual venue. Jazz was meant to be played, not recorded, and there is a formality that renders them placid. So I can hear all the good things; they just do not coalesce into worthy whole.

The later tracks have better sound, but no better performances. Some are fun and some bristle a bit, but compared to Benny Moten's recordings from the same time, these sound like robots.

Historically, I have found ASV (along with Mosaic at times) to be the premier label for 78 transfers.

I have never heard Oliver (& rarely heard 20's recordings in general) sound this good. If you have any interest in Oliver this is THE ONE to get, the transfers & mastering are superb. The sonic improvement is so strong that this is the first time I've ever heard Oliver that I like.

My understanding is that Sanctuary UK is slowly shutting ASV down. If that is true, get this one while you can!