36 tracks over two CDs featuring work by Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra plus small and midsize groups including his quartet, quintet, and sextet. Players include Kenny Dorham, Charles Mingus, Johnny Griffin, Arnett Cobb, and Leonard Feather. CD

Titles include "On The Sunny Side Of The Street", "La Vie En Rose", "Lazy River", "I Surrender Dear", "When It's Sleepy Time Down South", "You Rascal You" with Louis Jordan, and "Gone Fishin" with Bing Crosby. CD

A really great collection of momentous early recordings from the Basie Band! CD

Nat King Cole as a leader and a sideman – incredible material from 1936-1946 – featuring the King Cole Trio, side work with Eddie Cole's Solid Swingers, Dexter Gordon, The Keynoters and The Lester Young Trio! There's a number of great tunes here with Nat singing, but also a whole bunch of recordings that shine a light on his impeccable work as a group piano player of the finest caliber, working as Nat King Cole and under some funny pseudonyms while he was recording hits for Capitol! Packaged stunningly, even by Hip-O Select Standards – essentially housing the CDs in a hardcover book of 31-pages with an essay by David Ritz, 7 3/8" square package with detailed session notes, and beautifully reproduced art work from original 78s and 10-inch LPs! Disc one features 17 tracks by the King Cole Trio with Nat singing and at the piano, with Oscar Moore on guitar and and Wesley Prince on bass: "Sweet Lorraine", "This Side Up", "Babs", "Scotchin' With The Soda", "Slow Down", "Hit That Jive, Jack" and more. Disc one also includes 5 tracks with Eddie Cole's Solid Swingers, with Nat on piano, Eddie Cole on bass, Kenneth Roane on trumpet, Tommy Thompson on saxes and Jimmy Adams on drums:" Honey Hush" (with Eddie on vocals) plus an alternate take, "Thunder", "Stompin' At The Panama" and "(Bedtime) Sleep, Baby Sleep". Last up on disc one, four tracks by the Keynoters with Willie Smith on alto, Nat as Lord Calvert on piano, Red Callender on bass and Jackie Mills on drums: "The Way You Look Tonight", "My Old Flame" and more. Disc 2 is comprised of Jazz At The Philharmonic: Los Angeles, July 1944, with collective personal including Nat as Shorty Nadine on piano and singing on "Sweet Lorraine", Shorty Sherlock on trumpet, JJ Johnson on trombone, Illinois Jacquet and Jack McVea on tenor, Red Callender on bass, Lee Young on drums, and Carolyn Richards singing on "The Man I Love". Other titles include "Blues", "Tea For Two", "Rosetta", "Bugle Call Rag", "Oh, Lady, Be Good!" and more. Disc 3 starts with 1943/44 material by Dexter Gordon's group featuring Nat on piano, Sweets Edison on trumpet, Gordon on tenor, Red Callender or Johnny Miller on bass and Clifford Owens on drums: "I've Found A New Baby", "I Blowed And Gone" and more. That's followed by Lester Young Trio material of similar vintage with Nat as Aye Guy on piano, Young on Tenor and Buddy Rich on drums: "I Cover The Water Front", "The Man I Love", "Peg Of My Heart" and more. Last, but not least, Keynoters alternate takes including "The You You Look Tonight", "Airiness A La Nat" and "I can't Believe That You're In Love With Me". (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

Includes work with Jimmy Blythe's Owls, the Beale Street Washboard Band, and Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards featuring Louis Armstrong, and his own group the Black Bottom Stompers. 16 cuts in all. CD

Music from Duke Ellington And His Kentucky Club Orchestra, The Washingtonians, Traymore Orchestra, Duke Ellington And His Cotton Club Orchestra, The Hotsy Totsy Gang, the Jungle Gang, Bill Robinson accompanied by Irving Mills and His Hotsy Totsy Gang, The Six Jolly Jesters, and Earl Jackson And His Musical Champions. CD

Notable sidemen include Cootie Williams, Johnny Hodges, Tricky Sam Nanton, Barney Bigard, and Harry Carney. CD

With Illinois Jacquet, Arnett Cobb, Milt Buckner, Marshal Royal, and Dinah Washington. CD

With Dan Grissom, Jimmie Lunceford, Laforet Dent, and Willie Smith on alto saxophone, Earl Carruthers on baritone saxophone, Joe Thomas on tenor saxophone, Eddie Durham, Elmer Crumbley, Henry Wells, and Russell Bowles on trombone, Eddie Tompkins, Paul Webster, Sy Oliver, and Tommy Stevenson on trumpet, Willie Smith on clarinet, Al Norris and Eddie Durham on guitar, Ed Wilcox on piano, Moses Allen on bass, and Jimmy Crawford on drums. CD

A cool California concert from Louis Armstrong – surprisingly intimate, despite the setting – and recorded with a less-polished feel than some of his other 50s live dates! There's a relatively spontaneous quality to the music, and the album really helps keep the spirit of the concert intact – offering up snippits of Louis' commentary, and some strong audience response as well. Players include Armstrong on trumpet, Jack Teagarden on trombone, Barney Bigard on clarinet, Earl Hines on piano, Arvell Shaw on bass, and Cozy Cole on drums – and Armstrong sings, and is occasionally joined by Velma Middleton on vocals. Titles include "My Monday Date", "Baby It's Cold Outside", "Star Dust", "The Hucklebuck", "That's A Plenty", and "Just You Just Me". CD

With orchestra directed by Sy Oliver. CD

Charlie Haden on bass joined by Bela Fleck on banjo, Jerry Douglas on dobro, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Russ Barenberg on guitar and mandolin, Bryan Sutton, John Leventhal, and Pat Metheny on guitar, Buddy Greene on harmonica, Sam Bush on mandolin, Buck White on piano, Elvis Costello, Jack Black, Josh Haden, Rachel Haden, Rosanna Cash, and Vince Gill on vocals, Tanya Haden on vocals and vocals, Ricky Skaggs on vocals, guitar, mandolin and banjo, Dan Tyminski on vocals and mandolin, and Bruce Hornsby on piano and vocals. CD

One of the hipper Louis Armstrong albums of the 50s – a set that still has him singing in that charming comeback style of other sessions of the time – but which also has a slightly deeper groove overall! The New Orleans Nights title is taken very strongly here – and the session has a much more stretched out, open-ended feel than some of Armstrong's sessions from the time – almost the sort of material you'd hear in a Crescent City club in the small hours of the evening, polished a bit perhaps for a larger audience. Players include Barney Bigard on clarinet, Jack Teagarden on trombone, Bud Freeman on tenor, and Earl Hines on piano – and titles include the hip suite "New Orleans Function", which features narration by Armstrong – plus "Struttin With Some Barbecue", "Basin Street Blues", "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It", and "Bugle Call Rag". CD

Titles include "Lover", "Body And Soul", "Royal Garden Blues", "Mahogany Hall Stomp", "Tea For Two", "High Society", and "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home". CD

Includes the songs "Smiles", "Shady Lady", "That Old Black Magic", "Oh! Miss Jaxson", "Things Ain't What They Used To Be", "The Moose", "Pow-Wow", "The Great Lie", "Drop Me Off In Harlem", "Gulf Coast Blues", "Skyliner", "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall", "You Always Hurt The One You Love", "West End Blues", "Desert Sands", "E Bob O Le Bob", "Andy's Boogie", "Dark Bayou", "Zanesville Zohio ZZZ", and "Lonesome As The Night Is Long". CD

Features Lester Young on tenor and Jimmy Rushing on vocals. Tracks include "Exactly Like You", "Glory Of Love", "Pennies From Heaven", "Listen My Children And You Shall Hear", and "Time Out". CD

Includes the songs "After You've Gone", "The Gasser", "Jump Through the Window", "Minor Jive", "Stardust", "Oh, Lady Be Good", "I Surrender, Dear", "Body And Soul", "I Can't Get Started", "After You've Gone", "Fish Market", "Twilight Time", "St. Louis Blues", "Embraceable You", "All The Cats Join In", "Poor John", "Hi Ho Trailus Boot Whip", "Yard Dog", "Lover, Come Back to Me", "Rockin' Chair", "It's the Talk of the Town", and "Christopher Columbus". CD

A bit later than classic vintage for the UK jazz-rock scene – but a set that's right up there with the best of the early years, thanks to a flurry of keyboards from the great Neil Ardley! Neil's keys have more of a 70s feel than some of the 60s elements used before – heavy on Arp Odyssey, and a bit of synth as well – and supported by work from Ian Carr on trumpet, John Martyn on guitar, and Tony Coe and Barbara Thompson on reeds – all players who help make the set more of a fusion outing than a rockish one. The solos get a bit proggy, but they're never overdone – and the tunes are quite lean overall, which allows for a good emphasis on rhythmic progressions. Apart from a bit of vocalization by Norma Winstone, the album's mostly instrumental – and titles include "Glittering Circles", "Upstarts All", "Leap In The Dark", and "Headstrong Headlong". CD

20 Decca recordings. CD

Classic post-war material from Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra. The lineup shifts from track to track and features work by Johnny Griffin, Arnett Cobb, Kenny Dorham, and Charles Mingus. CD

The birth of genius – 2 key mid 60s albums from swinging Brit jazzer Johnny Keating – both of which showcase his tightly rhythmic "Keating Sound" approach! Keating had originally worked as an arranger in the 50s group of Ted Heath, but after stepping out on his own in the 60s, he came up with a really fresh approach to big band grooving – one that was highly syncopated, in a choppier style of rhythm than many other groups were using at the time, and which was very much in the snapping mode of the best 60s pop work of the time. This new sound meant that Keating could take just about any tune and swing it on its ear – cutting up the basic structure of the song, and rebuilding it in sharper, tighter blocks of sound. The result is a style that's quite different from the usual big band groove – one that makes for some extremely playful instrumentation, but which manages to still keep moving strongly ahead without resorting to too many tricks or gimmicks. For both albums, Keating's working with some great British talents that include Shake Keane on trumpet, Tubby Hayes on saxes, David Snell on harp, and Jim Sullivan on guitar. The CD features a total of 24 tracks that are a wonderful introduction to the Keating Sound of the 60s – with titles that inlcude "Paris", "Brave New World", "Serenata", "Speak Low", "Listen", "The Preacher", "Hey Girl", "Bee Bom", "My Kind Of Girl", and "The Chihuahua". CD

Includes 20 tracks by Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds of Joy, with arrangements and piano by Mary Lou Williams. CD

A cool session for Decca that has Carmen McRae's vocals flowing out wonderfully amidst some very haunting backings! The sound here is a bit unusual – given that the groups are headed by accordion Mat Mathews and pianist Dick Katz – both of whom have a good ear for unusual phrasing, and who help keep the record from being just another torchy vocal set from the 50s. Carmen's warmly fluid voice cascades nicely over the top of the tunes – and instrumentation often features a bit of guitar from Mundell Lowe luring in the background – furthering the warmth of the record, and almost giving it a nicely laidback, late nite quality. Titles include "Supper Time", "Yardbird Suite", "Something To Live For", "You Took Advantage Of Me", "I'll Remember April", and "This Will Make You Laugh". (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

A really wonderful album from the height of the exotica years – but a set that's got a fair bit more jazz in the mix than most from that generation too! Gene Rains plays vibes – and moves between moodier moments, ala Martin Denny/Arthur Lyman, and more straightforward jazz styles – which often have some great modal elements in the mix! The Rains group played hotels in Hawaii during the late 50s and early 60s – but are maybe more like a Pacific take on territory of the Quartette Tres Bien, thanks to strong work from Allen Watanabe on drums, Archie Grant on bass, and Byron Peterson on piano. Titles include "Mapuana", "Bancock Cock Fight", "Tiki", "Off Shore", "Shadow Of Love", "Jasmine & Jade", and "Lonely Winter". (Now Sound, Jazz) CD

Bluebird, Columbia, and Decca recordings – with Jack Teagarden, Max Kaminsky, Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Condon, and Dave Bowman. Tracks include "The Eel", "Satanic Blues", "I've Found A New Baby", "I Need Some Pettin", "Tia Juana", "Prince Of Wails", and "Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble". 24 tracks total. CD

A wonderful pairing of this German pianist and American tenor star Zoot Sims – and an album that may well be the greatest that Jutta Hipp ever cut! Hipp was one of the rising stars of the German postwar jazz scene in the 50s – and although she issued other American albums in the decade for Blue Note and Decca, this side's probably the best-remembered of the bunch – thanks to the presence of Zoot, and support from a great rhythm section that includes Ahmed Abdul-Malik on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums – both of whom match the modern tones of Jutta's piano, but also give a solidly soulful Blue Note feel to the set. The group's completed by trumpeter Jerry Lloyd, who helps bring a nice sparkle to the frontline – and titles include "Just Blues", "Wee Dot", "Almost Like Being In Love", and "Down Home". CD features 2 bonus tracks – "S'Wonderful" and "These Foolish Things". CD

Classic work by Django Reinhardt – and a CD that reissues material that originally appeared on Decca 78s from the early 40s. All the work was recorded in 1939, by Django and the Hot Club Of France (which included Stephane Grappelli, Joseph Reinhardt, and Pierre Barro Ferret). Titles include "Twelfth Year", "Jeepers Creepers", "Swing 39", "Japanese Sandman", "Tea For Two", "I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight", "Time On My Hands", and "Hungaria". CD

An nice lost session by modernist George Russell – recorded in New York in 1960, with one of his more obscure groups of the time. The set was originally recorded for the Decca label, as one of Russell's few LPs for the imprint – and like the others, it's got a fresh, unacademic tone that marks it as different from his other sides at the time. Russell's still got his head in the clouds theory-wise, but he also really manages a good swing on the record, weaving complex grooves alongside the trumpet of Al Kiger, the trombone of David Baker, and the tenor of David Young. Titles include "Swingdom Come", "Beast Blues", "121 Bank Street", and "Moment's Notice". CD

A seminal bit of work from Mike Westbrook – recorded back in the early years of his career, when he still had a pretty sharp edge! Like Westbrook's first few albums on Decca, this set features the British avant jazz maestro playing piano with a large ensemble of some of England's finest jazzmen – including Ray Warleigh, Alan Skidmore, Harry Beckett, Kenny Wheeler, Paul Rutehrford, and Harry Miller. Norma Winstone sings on a few tracks, bringing in her lovely voice in the way that she does on Westbrook's best albums – but overall, the set's a bit more out there and more avant than some of his earlier work, but still has the majestic cohesiveness that makes his work of the time so great. The work is one long piece, split into 9 segments. CD

A seminal bit of work from Mike Westbrook – recorded back in the early years of his career, when he still had a pretty sharp edge! Like Westbrook's first few albums on Decca, this set features the British avant jazz maestro playing piano with a large ensemble of some of England's finest jazzmen – including Ray Warleigh, Alan Skidmore, Harry Beckett, Kenny Wheeler, Paul Rutehrford, and Harry Miller. Norma Winstone sings on a few tracks, bringing in her lovely voice in the way that she does on Westbrook's best albums – but overall, the set's a bit more out there and more avant than some of his earlier work, but still has the majestic cohesiveness that makes his work of the time so great. The work is one long piece, split into 9 segments. CD

A landmark session that gathered together just about every hip British jazz and jazz/rock musician of the time – and brought them together into one super-cool orchestra of sound! Robert Fripp produced the record, and Keith Tippett is the overall music director – but the album's got a feel that's much more in the avant side of the UK jazz spectrum – particularly the trippier side of the Deram/Decca label of the late 60s – like work by Mike Westbrook or Mike Gibbs! The lineup is huge – with Elton Dean and Dudu Pukwana on alto sax, Alan Skidmore and Gary Windo on tenor, Ian Carr and Mongesi Fesa on trumpets, Mark Charig on cornet, Nick Evans and Paul Rutherford on trombone, Keith Tippett on piano, Brian Godding on guitar, Robert Wyatt and John Marshall on drums, and Maggie Nicholls, Julie Tippett, Mike Patto, and Zoot Money on vocals – plus lots of strings as well! Great 2CD version – remastered from the original tapes, with much better sound than previous versions. CD

An amazing set – really really beautiful, and a whopping 10CDs' worth of material that Billie Holiday recorded during the 78rpm era – for labels that include Columbia, Okeh, Vocalion, Decca, and Parlophone! The package has an oversize cover, with a giant book in the middle – and the set features Holiday singing with Duke Ellington, Teddy Wilson Eddie Heywood, Benny Goodman, and her own group as well. 239 tracks in all – and a bargain at this price! (Vocalists, Jazz) CD

A nice collection of Decca sessions with Taft Jordan on trumpet and Louis Jordan on alto! CD

Two excellent vocal albums that Louis cut for Verve – some of the best of his career, and both graced with amazing arrangements by Russ Garcia! The sound's a lot purer than some of the pop vocal albums that Louis cut for other labels, like Decca – and he both sings and plays trumpet on tracks like "When Your Lover Has Gone", "We'll Be Together Again", "You Turned The Tables On Me", "I've Got The World On A String", "Top Hat White Tie & Tails", "Home", "East Of The Sun", "Stormy Weather", and "Have You Met Miss Jones". CD

A landmark session that gathered together just about every hip British jazz and jazz/rock musician of the time – and brought them together into one super-cool orchestra of sound! Robert Fripp produced the record, and Keith Tippett is the overall music director – but the album's got a feel that's much more in the avant side of the UK jazz spectrum – particularly the trippier side of the Deram/Decca label of the late 60s – like work by Mike Westbrook or Mike Gibbs! The lineup is huge – with Elton Dean and Dudu Pukwana on alto sax, Alan Skidmore and Gary Windo on tenor, Ian Carr and Mongesi Fesa on trumpets, Mark Charig on cornet, Nick Evans and Paul Rutherford on trombone, Keith Tippett on piano, Brian Godding on guitar, Robert Wyatt and John Marshall on drums, and Maggie Nicholls, Julie Tippett, Mike Patto, and Zoot Money on vocals – plus lots of strings as well! CD

A wonderful pairing of this German pianist and American tenor star Zoot Sims – and an album that may well be the greatest that Jutta Hipp ever cut! Hipp was one of the rising stars of the German postwar jazz scene in the 50s – and although she issued other American albums in the decade for Blue Note and Decca, this side's probably the best-remembered of the bunch – thanks to the presence of Zoot, and support from a great rhythm section that includes Ahmed Abdul-Malik on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums – both of whom match the modern tones of Jutta's piano, but also give a solidly soulful Blue Note feel to the set. The group's completed by trumpeter Jerry Lloyd, who helps bring a nice sparkle to the frontline – and titles include "Just Blues", "Wee Dot", "Almost Like Being In Love", and "Down Home". CD

Pulled from his Decca, Barclay, and Blue Star sessions – other players include Stephane Grappelli, Pierre Michelot, and Joseph Reinhardt. 16 tracks total. CD

Rare 78s for Mercury, Decca, and Jazz Limited – with work by Truck Parham, Red Richards, and George Brunies! CD