Customer Reviews

Time and Again

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Stuff Smith ranks with Stephane Grappelli and Joe Venuti as one of the three great early jazz violinists, and in a way he may be the most fun of all to listen to (though Grappelli was probably the most musically sophisticated of the three). The recordings on this 2-CD set range from mainstream jazz to hard-driving swing tunes with almost an old-time jug band sound. Although these sides were all recorded during the 1930s and 1940s, the fine digital remastering brings the sound back to life --- and there's probably never been anybody who could swing on the violin with the drive and sheer joy of Stuff Smith. Smith's co-star in the band, Jonah Jones (who also recorded with Billie Holiday) makes a great contribution on the trumpet as well. If you like old-time swing tunes, remarkable violin playing, or just great music in general, I'm sure you'll really enjoy Stuff Smith.

Not too many people know of Stuff Smith, which is a shame 'cause he was a great musician who had a real swingin' band way back when. This is a great CD, with a lot of tracks you've never heard. Stuff Smith was not as good as Stephen Grapelli, but definitely swings more, kind of the way Oscar Aleman's swinging guitar was a nice contrast to Django Reinhardt (if you don't know about Oscar, get his CD "Swing Guitar Masterpieces").

This is a generous helping of Stuff Smith. The first CD contains all the issued sides recorded by his Onyx Club Boys between 1936 and 1940, with the exception of four sides recorded for the Variety label in 1939, and the second CD presents 24 recordings by the Stuff Smith Trio between 1943 and 1945. Material varies between novelty numbers like "Knock, Knock, Who's There?" and outright jazz. At its best it's eminently listenable small group swing, and if it's Stuff you want to listen to then you'll get an uninterrupted earful on the second disc. I'd hesitate to place him on a par with either Joe Venuti or Stephane Grappelli, but that's setting the bar high, and shouldn't dissuade you from purchasing this set.

A very enjoyable experience. COVERED many years of playing showing wide range of talent, liked his more recent career cuts.