Although Eddie Condon was a fine tenor guitarist, his true talent was the ability to create a space, be it a band, a radio show, or a nightclub, where the best musicians of his day could play pure jazz. The Classic Sessio... more »ns, 1928-1949 is a four-CD set that collects the best of these sessions, which include performances by legends such as Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, and Billie Holiday, as well as Condon's regular circle of friends such as Gene Krupa, Bud Freeman, Miff Mole, and Muggsy Spanier. Condon's brand of hot jazz is sometimes mislabeled as Dixieland, and while most of the tracks have the same sense of driving rhythm as New Orleans jazz, many of the soloists, particularly Freeman on tenor sax, were playing lines as melodically sophisticated as anything heard in the more popular swing bands. Condon and his compatriots play classics such as "Liza," "Georgia," "Wolverine Blues," and "Nobody's Sweetheart" with an intoxicating blend of passion, power, and panache. These songs have been played by thousands of musicians since these tracks were recorded, but they have rarely been played as well. --Michael Simmons« less
Although Eddie Condon was a fine tenor guitarist, his true talent was the ability to create a space, be it a band, a radio show, or a nightclub, where the best musicians of his day could play pure jazz. The Classic Sessions, 1928-1949 is a four-CD set that collects the best of these sessions, which include performances by legends such as Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, and Billie Holiday, as well as Condon's regular circle of friends such as Gene Krupa, Bud Freeman, Miff Mole, and Muggsy Spanier. Condon's brand of hot jazz is sometimes mislabeled as Dixieland, and while most of the tracks have the same sense of driving rhythm as New Orleans jazz, many of the soloists, particularly Freeman on tenor sax, were playing lines as melodically sophisticated as anything heard in the more popular swing bands. Condon and his compatriots play classics such as "Liza," "Georgia," "Wolverine Blues," and "Nobody's Sweetheart" with an intoxicating blend of passion, power, and panache. These songs have been played by thousands of musicians since these tracks were recorded, but they have rarely been played as well. --Michael Simmons
CD Reviews
Great Condon collection addition !
T. Givens | Virginia , USA | 06/20/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This JSP set has some highlights of Condon as a leader, but focuses on Condon as a sideman. You get The Jungle Kings, The Chicago Rhythm Kings, The Mound City Blue Blowers. You get the leaders: Red McKenzie, Fats Waller, Billy Banks, Bunny Berigan, Bud Freeman, Joe Marsala, Art Hodes, and others. Fellow sidemen include Coleman Hawkins, Artie Shaw, Gene Krupa, Henry "Red" Allen, and others. Billie Holiday sings a track, and Satchmo blows one.There is a full discography, and good liner notes, and John R.T. Davies' outstanding remastering. At an amazing price for four CDs with 98 tracks !I have only two minor criticisms. The last four tracks of disc one are listed in mixed-up order, but they all have vocals so this is easy to correct for. And the outer package for the four jewel boxes can't decide if this set begins in 1927 or 28. It begins in 1927 with "Sugar", Eddie's first record.This JSP set is a perfect companion to the French Classics issues of Condon, which cover all of his sides as a leader to late 1950 (so far). I recommend it to any Condon fan as essential !"
Deservedly titled "classics" reborn by JSP
Ian Muldoon | Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia | 08/18/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A mightily impressive collection of some of the best jazz records ever waxed. Consider the wonder of say of Track 20 on CD 1 - One Hour by the Mound City Blowers with vocal by Red McKenzie and solos by Pee Wee Russel on clarinet and Glenn Miller on Trombone, or You Rascal, You (superior in my view to Mr Armstrongs' version) by the same leader but with Mugsy Spanier on cornet and Coleman Hawkins on Tenor et al. If you hear these, you'll say they alone are worth the asking price of $29 but there are 96 other tracks, aout five hours of music besides.
The remastering of the earliest works from December 1927 is frankly revelatory and a credit to JSP engineers.
The fact is Mr Condon had a spirit, or enthusiasm for the music, whether live in his club or elsewhere including the studio that lifted the musicians just that extra bit to give of their best. The fact is if Mr Condon is on a record it's a safe bet the music is worth a listen, and more than likely the company he's in is among the best available at the time. Some of his best is also on Jammin at Condon's and Jam Session Coast to Coast. These, and now this Box Set are among my favourite jazz records."
Classic Jazz Bargain of the Season!
wtb4 | walnut Creek, CA United States | 12/07/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"4 CD's of great traditional-style jazz of the Chicago school. Bud Freeman, Pee Wee Russell, Frankie Teschemacher, Jack Teagarten, and Muggsy Spanier provide the solos; Eddie Condon lays down the rhythm. Many other excellent sidemen and soloists cycle through these sessions. As work your way through these CD's, you can hear Bud Freeman's development from a wobbly-sounding adolescent to a peerless swing technician - in my opinion, he was the best uptempo tenor sax man of the 30s. If anyone doubts Freeman's importance as a tenor sax pioneer, this Condon collection provides plenty of evidence (along with the wonderful but hard-to-find Bud Freeman reissue produced by Robert Parker, which you can get at Amazon United Kingdom). Much of this material has been reissued on other collections (e.g., Chronological Classics), but these transfers sound far better and the price can't be beat."
Confidentially, It's Condon!
LAURENCE A CHAPMAN | HINGHAM, MA USA | 08/04/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD presents most of the significant Condon material from the '20's through 1949. Especially good are the 20's sessions which feature some of the members of the old Austin High Gang, including the great Frank Teschemacher, whose appraoch to the clarinet could be likened to Bix Beiderbecke's treatment of the cornet. Excellent reproduction...great fidelity."
Early offerings
Robert L. Cardinal | Virginia Beach, VA. | 07/26/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This album by virtue of it's title say's it all.
The groth years and his contributions to "The age of Jazz",
are nurtured by all of the talent of his day and it is these individuals who made a lasting inpression on Condon who later utilized not only his own talents in "American Jazz" but all of the best talent of the day to be gathered by this musician and recorded some of the best Jazz available for future generations to study and enjoy. Eddie Condon has in his lifetime helped create an encylopedia of material on a unique music which is totally American and is one of the better things we have left for all the world to enjoy."
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1