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Very Good Chu Sampling

08/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sad that Leon "Chu" Berry's death at 33 in an auto wreck (on his way to a date with the Cab Calloway band in Canada) put him in a position to be eclipsed by Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Hodges, et al. Although these men are undisputed Giants, Chu unquestionably had what it took take his place alongside them. Even with the fragmentary recorded career, I'd say he belongs there. If you want to hear the ripe beauty of Chu's tone and his elegant, laidback phrasing, try this collection. Because it isn't a volume of a sequential discographical release series, they are free to hop around more to show you Chu in different periods and settings. I give this one a definite thumbs up for value and diversity of selection."

Chu or Chew ?

J.P. BADELLON | Versailles FRANCE | 10/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Few people today have heard about Chu Berry. He died 60 years ago, when his style and way of playing were increasing every day. During Coleman Hawkins was in Europa, and Lester just begining, he was the tenor number one. He unfortunately disappeared before birth of a new kind of music, called be-bop. One can wonder how would have Chu play music if he was alive until the 60' or the 70'"

GONE BUT FORGOTTEN

Raymond Leach | AUSTIN, TEXAS United States | 08/08/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"ONE OF THE BEST SAXMEN TO EVER PLAY WITH LOTS HIS BEST WORK. REALLY GREAT WHEN HE JAMS WITH "LITTLE JAZ" ROY ELDRIDGE. ALSO TUNES WITH WINGY MALONE, GENE KRUPPA,AND LIONEL HAMPTON. GOOD PRE-WAR SWING. JUST MAKES YOU WISH THAT HE HAD NOT DIED IN 41."