Search - Various Artists :: Swingin' Uptown: Big Band 1923-1952

Fabulous gems trapped in muddy sound

02/17/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"With Orin Keepnews as the producer of this collection, I hoped for the stunning sound one hears on his Decca Jazz label productions. However, on the RCA Victor label, other reissues of 78s have had spotty to very poor sound (e.g. Fats Waller - Greatest Hits). Unfortunatly, poor sound prevailed on this reissue. Paul Brizzi and Dennis Ferrante were the restoration engineers. They create an tired, old sound by overly severe noise reduction. I get classic Swing music to dance to. You can't play music for dancers if it sounds old and tired. What a shame these fabulous performances are trapped in this "graying photograph" sound, when plenty of reissues show how vibrant the sound is that is captured on those 78s, beginning with the first electric recordings in 1925 (e.g. "Bessie Smith 1925-1933" or "Duke Ellington 1927-1934" on Nimbus). The selections here capture the best early Jazz of the RCA Victor Label. They will have to await different engineers before their power will be accessible to us again."

Great Overview of the real Big Band Era

02/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The selections on this album make it a better than average compilation. BMG has given us an important overview of the big bands, not just the usual familiar hit material from Miller, Goodman, Shaw and Dorsey (though that's pretty darn good too). Great, but nearly forgotten bands can be heard here like Joe Haymes (a forgotten innovator),Jean Goldkette, Ben Pollack (the "farm club" for some of the greatest musicians of the swing era), and Isham Jones; perhaps the most incredible "find" in this collection is the Benson Orchestra of Chicago. All meticulously restored. From the roots right into the Swing Era, this album is a great overview and introduction to the real Big Band Era!"