Customer Reviews

Strictly Jive

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ella Fitzgerald is a featured performer on this collection and she doesn't appear until cut number 4 (Sing Me A Swing Song). The first three songs are instrumental and really set the tone for what I imagine would be similar to an actual set list from a night's performance at the Savoy. Eventually Ella's reputation would overshadow Chick Webb and his orchestra. This makes the search for a recording of both good sound quality and an excellent representation of Chick Webb and his band while they were the headliners, difficult. There are many Ella Fitzgerald recordings so, if you want an album that defines Chick Webb and his band at their best - this is it!

John R.T. Davies was the remastering master who was on a mission from God to preserve the best of the old jazz recordings. I have made several attempts to find a recording that does justice to Chick. The Proper Box set is generous in quantity but (as usual for PB), there appears to be no effort made to clean up the sound. The Decca set I had high hopes for (access to the masters and all), but has a dull and somewhat cluttered sound. An obscure Allegro 2CD set captures the brightness of the brass, has a nice "hot" sound, but there is distortion in the louder horn solos and you can't hear the drums very well. This CD has an amazingly open, uncluttered sound to it. The band feels bigger, with lots of "air" around each instrument. A little duller than the Allegro, probably a compromise while removing surface noise. But the very big deal is: finally I can clearly hear the drummming! At last, I can hear the little guy driving the whole orchestra with his kit.

Unlike all the other Webb collections I've heard, this one is not freighted with cornball crooning ("Moonlight and Magnolias", ugh), and/or the kitschy "Little Chicks" subgroup that often featured ricky-tick flute duets.

My "Desert Island Collection" of the top 50 out of my 800+ CD collection now includes this, and I'm ordering the companion CD Rhythm Man forthwith. Of all the fabulous big bands of the swing era, I find Chick Webb the most exciting. The patrons of the Savoy Ballroom apparently felt the same, Webb having knocked off most of the competition in the many "battle of the bands" there against Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and other top bands of the day.

I found this CD quite by accident on iTunes. Just listening to a few samples and I was smitten! This album features some very lively tunes, superb drumming by Chick Webb, and some fine vocals by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jourdan. This CD is a treasure!

There are a total of 26 tracks on the CD, which comes to an hour and 20 minutes (a full CD). The sound quality varies slightly, but all tunes have a full range of low to high, minus low frequencies below 60 Hz (the technology didn't exist). Some tracks have a high frequency hiss in them, but the hiss does not distract. These are superb recordings for the time (circa 1930 - 1939).

Most notable is the fun factor. These tunes are charming, bouncy, and just plain fun! Chick wails on his drums in some tracks, and all of the vocals are delightful. The arrangements are reminiscent of Fletcher Henderson's, who was good enough at arranging to be hired by Benny Goodman.

About 20 percent of the tracks are vocals. Two stand out -- "MacPherson is Rehearsin' (Swing)", and "Sing Me a Swing Song". Both feature Ella Fitzgerald. Then there's another sung by Louis Jourdan titled "Ella". There's no wonder why this was written. The very young Ella Fitzgerald set the world on it's ear! Then there are other vocals that are almost as delightful, by both Jourdan or Fitzgerald (there are no duets).

The bottom line -- this is one fun filled CD, suitable for a conversation starter at a dinner party, or for dance party. No matter your age, this CD is suitable for all audiences, and it includes a historical factor too. The music here sparks the imagination, and conjures up images of sweetness and fun. This one really swings!

Buy this CD!

[...]

Chick Webb must have been one of the most unlikely musicians in history (perhaps only comparable to German classical baritone Thomas Quasthoff), and also one of the most extraordinary ones. He was only four feet tall and spinal tuberculosis had disfigured his frame to such an extent that he was almost unable to walk. He overcame his physical handicap and went on to become one of the most revered drummers of jazz, given accolades by such later luminaries as Jo Jones, Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa. Webb's band fought many musical battles with other bands at the Savoy Ballroom and usually took home the laurels. After the discovery of a very young Ella Fitzgerald in 1935, the band's musical policy changed to a more commercial approach and the hard hitting instrumentals became fewer and further apart. Arguably the 22 best titles from mid-1935 to early 1939 (just before Webb died at the tragically young age of 30) and four by the Ella-led band (early 1940) can be found on this well filled disc, which is compiled, remastered and annotated to Hep's usual high standards. The disc offers a generous helping of some great music making by all concerned (with only a handful of vocals), Webb's drums front and centre in many short but tasteful and very musical breaks and solos. As long as the discs are still available, my advice would be to get one while you still can.

This is the best single big-band swing CD I own, and I own plenty. The sound is clear, the tunes are classic, Fitzgerald is at her vintage best, and all but 3 track have good kick-up-your-heels-and-dance music. Webb's drumming does come through the recording nicely. I consider this a "desert island" CD.

This is the best when you need a pick=me=up or just want great music. Love it!

Chick Webb, drummer and band leader, is the headline persona of this compilation. Lots of tunes, a number of them standards, and some more original. Sometimes emphasizing the drumming and sometimes not. Therefore 3 stars.

Co-musicians of Mr. Webb are Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan. Chick Webb is to me known as the now forgotten competitor of Gene Krupa. For the afiniciados, Webb is the slightly better of the two. I would have liked more Webb and less of standards.

Though, it is still a good record with some really delightful singing and occassionally an extra drum roll.

Had I not been a regular listener to the BBC I would have not been aware of Chick Webb. Listen carefully for in this selection lies the core of what would later be glorified by Goodman, the Dorsey Brothers, and other big bands of the Jim Crow era. The only African American musician featured on this recording who would be revered for her talent was Ella Fitzgerald.

This is very good "big band" music, but not

as "hot jazz" as I expected.