A perfect example of why the Charlie Ventura group was one of the most popular live acts on the west coast scene of it's day! Producer Gene Norman really manages to capture the charm of the group in all its glory – recorded live in a lineup that features Conte Candoli on trumpet, Bennie Green on trombone, and Boots Mussulli on alto – plus some great scatted vocals from the team of Jackie & Roy! The recording's got a natural, flowing quality that really gets at the liveness of the set – and the horns come together beautifully throughout – in that wonderful mix of bop and swing that was the Ventura trademark! Titles include "Boptura", "Flamingo", "Birdland", "Dark Eyes", "High On An Open Mike", and "Lullaby In Rhythm". LP, Vinyl record album

Nice work from Charlie Ventura on a variety of horns – not just tenor, but also alto, baritone, and bass saxophone too – plus some vocals from Jackie & Roy – set to occasional larger backings from George Williams. LP, Vinyl record album

Classic bop work from Charlie Ventura – recorded with a large band that includes Neal Hefti, Bennie Green, Bill Harris, Tony Scott, and Jackie Cain on vocals. With a lineup like that, it's hard to miss – and the album's filled with the kind of raw energy that made Ventura a surprising crossover star during the 50s. Titles include "Misirlou", "Annie Annie Over", "Eleven Sixty", "Blue Champagne", and "Let's Jump For Rita". LP, Vinyl record album

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With Dave McKenna on piano, Billy Bean on guitar, Richard Davis on bass, and Mousie Alexander on drums. Titles include "Runnin' Wild", "Honeysuckle Rose", "Saints Go Marching In", "Paper Moon", "Stardust", "Sweet Lorraine", "I've Got You Under My Skin", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

From bop to swing – and everything in between! The album's a classic performance by Charlie Ventura – recorded in Pasadena in 1949, with his septet that included Benny Green on trombone, Boots Mussuli on alto, and vocalese bits by Jackie & Roy! Ventura was a key link in two jazz traditions of the late 40s, and with help from Green and Mussuli, he really cuts things up on the set. Jackie & Roy sing on "East Of Suez", "Euphoria", and "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" – and other tunes include "If I Had You", "Fine & Dandy", and "How High The Moon". LP, Vinyl record album

From bop to swing – and everything in between! A classic performance by Charlie Ventura – recorded in Pasadena in 1949, with his septet that included Benny Green on trombone, Boots Mussuli on alto, and vocalese bits by Jackie & Roy! Ventura was a key link in two jazz traditions of the late 40s, and with help from Green and Mussuli, he really cuts things up on the set. Jackie & Roy sing on "East Of Suez", "Euphoria", and "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" – and other tunes include "If I Had You", "Fine & Dandy", and "How High The Moon". LP, Vinyl record album

With Charlie Ventura on tenor, Nabil Totah on bass, and John Bunch on piano – and cuts that include "Undecided", "Tickle Toe", "I Love You", "Misty", "Flying Home", and "Cry Me A River". LP, Vinyl record album

A great 70s album, one that collects material from three historic Jazz At The Philharmonic Concerts in 1946 – with crucial solo work from the young Charlie Parker, as well as Lester Young – and other material from Dizzie Gillespie and Buck Clayton on trumpets, and Coleman Hawkins on tenor! Also features work from Willie Smith on alto, Charlie Ventura on tenor, Mel Powell and Arnold Ross on piano, and Irving Ashby on guitar. LP, Vinyl record album

With featured soloits Red Rodney, Charlie Ventura, Dick Taylor, Teddy Napoleon, Charlie Kennedy, Buddy Wise, and Ziggy Elmer. LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible document of a really crucial label during the postwar years – the important west coast indie, Black & White Records – home to an amazing array of top-shelf jazz, blues, and R&B recordings from the time! The scope of work here is fantastic – 243 tracks in all, much of it material that was only ever issued on 78rpm discs, including some in the 12" format – the longer version of the early single that Black & White often used to present longer versions of jazz recordings, with more room for solos. The focus here is on the jazz side of the label, and much of the material was recorded in LA, but some were done in New York and other cities too – including early production work by jazz giants like Leonard Feather and Norman Granz – which will give you an idea of the top-shelf quality of the sessions. The jazz recordings are a mix of vocal, bop, trad, and swing styles – and the late 40s sides often hit that spot where jazz and blues came together in jumping modes that represented early R&B – which almost makes the whole package an evolution in styles during these crucial 40s years. There's way too much to mention here, as you might guess from an 11CD set – and the package features work by Ivie Anderson, Etta Jones, Charlie Ventura, Wilbert Baranco, Erroll Garner, Joe Marsala, Jack McVea, Nat Jaffee, Red Callender, Phil Moore, Earl Spencer, Tommy Todd, Gerald Wilson, Howard McGhee, Lucky Thompson, Ernestine Anderson, Barney Bigard, the Hip Chicks, Jo Evans, Mushmouth Robinson, and many others – all presented with a very detailed booklet of notes. CD

Features Red Rodney and Charlie Ventura. Tracks include "Boogie Blues", "The Man I Love", "Night And Day", "How High The Moon", "Birdhouse", "Dear Old Southland", "By The River St. Marie", and "Blue Lou". 22 tracks total. CD

Includes performances by Stuff Smith Trio, Red Norvo Orchestra, Don Byas-Slam Stewart Duo, Flip Phillips and Teddy Wilson Quintet, Gene Krupa with the Charlie Ventura Trio, and Don Byas and Teddy Wilson Trio, and Bill Coleman Quartet. LP, Vinyl record album

Includes performances by Stuff Smith Trio, Red Norvo Orchestra, Don Byas-Slam Stewart Duo, Flip Phillips and Teddy Wilson Quintet, Gene Krupa with the Charlie Ventura Trio, and Teddy Wilson Trio. LP, Vinyl record album

A nice collection of famous work by tenor players recorded for Verve and Norgran – all packaged in a classic David Stone Martin cover! Titles include "All Of Me" and "Pastel" by Illinois Jacquet, "Tenderly" and "Almost Like Being In Love" by Ben Webster, "With The Wind & The Rain In Your Hair" and "I Hadn't Anyone Till You" by Stan Getz, "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" and "Take The A Train" by Flip Phillips, and "Swinging On A Star" and "Charlie's Venture" by Charlie Ventura. LP, Vinyl record album

A classic concert from 1945 – with work by Teddy Wilson, Don Byas, Red Norvo, Bill Coleman, Gene Krupa, Stuff Smith, and Charlie Ventura! LP, Vinyl record album