For sheer power, substance and depth, there is nothing in the world quite like the voice of
Bessie Smith. Any portion of her recorded legacy can be rewarding if the listener takes the time to contemplate the interplay between singer and accompanists while the theatrical tale of each song unfurls itself. This particular grouping of 24 recordings made between October 1923 and August 1924 reveals a visceral young woman on her way to completely dominating the scene as the definitive female
blues singer of the 1920s. One of the great delights in studying
Smith's music is the science of paying attention to her backing instrumentalists.
Fletcher Henderson, who accompanied so many
blues vocalists throughout the early '20s, sounds like he's in perfect accord with the singer on "Any Woman's Blues." Teamed with
Don Redman on six titles,
Henderson blows on a siren whistle during the "Haunted House Blues," causing
Smith to holler "Lord, help us to get right!"
Harry Reser, banjo/guitar ace and leader of various hunky-dory
novelty groups including the
Cliquot Club Eskimos, appears twice on this CD, providing exceptionally fine accompaniment and incidentally doing his part to break up the color line six years before
Eddie Condon recorded with a racially mixed group for Victor. The disc finishes off with four selections featuring trombonist
Big Charlie Green, arguably the most sympathetic instrumentalist that
Smith ever worked with. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide
