Search - King Oliver :: King Oliver 1930 1931

The King has fallen,...

Peter Acebal | Christiansburg, VA United States | 01/02/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD contains many moments of inspired pre-Swing big band jazz but there are (were) two major omens mitigating against this music;first,the Great Depression had by 1930 become a daily reality (least of all in Hooverville riddled Central Park) and then Oliver's advanced dental disease (the result of his truly unbelievable sweet tooth) was also becoming a daily reality as well,making it very painful for him to play the trumpet at all,...
It is indeed difficult to tell just what Oliver intended with these records,-the New Orleans polyphony he epitomized so brilliantly in Chicago a couple or so years earlier is now put on the backburner in favor of a more New York style of sophisticated 'dance' music (read : more "White" sounding),,,I for one suspect the spectre of A&R agents arranging these sessions!
And its sad because for the above stated problems AND oliver's bad managerial decisions,Oliver was a Great musical mind who just did not deserve to go out with the shrunken swan-song this depressing CD represents,...on "Nelson Stomp" the band DOES come to life but only briefly,..the odds were just too great.
New York had licked Oliver just like it broke his New Orleans comrade Jelly Roll Morton also by this time,...Oliver lovers like me want this CD but customers looking for GREAT King Oliver are advised to buy the "1926-1928" set OR the phenomenal "Complete Set" by King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band..."

King Oliver's later recordings are wonderful...

Classic Jazz Fan | 11/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These under-rated last recordings by the New Orleans trumpet great are great. Oliver's playing is hot & inspired throughout. His big band is wonderful, and there are plenty of jazz solos. This CD is highly recomedned, for an early example of swing"