2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy this CD!!!, June 23, 1999
This review is from: 22 Original Recordings (Audio CD)
One of the true "finds" in my collection, as I bought this without any real knowledge of what was on it. It turned out to be great! A collection on non-commercial recordings, some transcriptions, some live performances, some radio broadcasts, by five swinging bands. Since they were mostly done during WWII, none of the bands were really at their historical best, as the draft had taken many of the top musicians, but you can hardly tell. Starts off with Erskine Hawkins and a version of "Tuxedo Junction" which runs nearly 6 minutes, and that performance is equaled by Duke Ellington, Jimmie Lunceford, Andy Kirk, and Count Basie, who even had Artie Shaw sitting in on one number. If you like big band swing, this is a must; if you discovered swing through such modern groups as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, this is the original stuff.
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