Big Band Jazz: The Jubilee Sessions 1943-1946

• Artist: Various Artists
• Release Date: October 19, 1998
• Type: Collection (various artists), Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Hindsight Records has put out more than its share of superior, even excellent CDs of 1940s radio transcription performances, but this three-disc set is special even in that company. The Jubilee radio show was an Armed Forces broadcast aimed at black military personnel around the world, and was aired from 1942 through 1953 in that format. The participants included most of the top talent of the period, among them Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Carter, Earl "Fatha" Hines and his orchestra, Cootie Williams, Jimmy Mundy, Billy Eckstine, the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, and Jimmy Lunceford & His Harlem Express, playing the numbers that their black audiences wanted to hear. Everything on this set moves from strength to strength, with no let up -- Benny Carter and his orchestra kick things off with a hot rendition of "Sweet Georgia Brown," featuring a killer performance on drums by a young Max Roach, followed by "Habanera," a jazzed-up bit of Carmen on which the trumpets and saxes romp and stomp all over Bizet, and the "Jubilee Jump," which offers a hot guitar solo from Herman Mitchell amid the showcasing of the reeds and horns; Earl "Fatha" Hines leads a brisk rendition of "Stomping at the Savoy" highlighted by a dazzling performance on vibraphone by Bill Thompson, while Hines's piano is at the elegant, lyrical center of "Rosetta." Along with the established legends in the middle of their careers, such as Basie and Ellington, this set is also a showcase for talent that was just starting to emerge, such as trumpet man Gerald Wilson and future rock & roll/R&B legend Johnny Otis (the only white artist on this set), veteran arrangers like Jimmy Mundy, performing ensembles of the period such as the all-female International Sweethearts of Rhythm, and local musical figures from Los Angeles such as Elmer Fain. Considering that much of this material was cut during the infamous recording bans imposed by the musicians union and offered repertory that the record labels often overlooked, it's a unique look even at the talents who recorded extensively -- just the performance by Jo Jones at the drums on the five Count Basie numbers on disc one makes them worth hearing, and the whole band is in top form, as is singer Jimmy Rushing. Multi-artist sets of this kind sometimes seem like too much of a pastiche, but this set is more in the category of a huge, multi-course musical feast. Moreover, the sources for the material contained are all in very good shape, showing signs of minimal processing and all sounding very natural and close, so there are no apologies to be made on a technical level, apart from perhaps a tiny bit more bassiness than one is used to. The producers have also done us a service by including the introductions to each group, which go a long way toward capturing the pace, spirit, and ambience of the time in which these sides were cut and the audience toward whom they were directed. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Jubilee Program Intro		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(:34)
Sweet Georgia Brown	Maceo Pinkard, Kenneth Casey, Ben Bernie	Benny Carter	(2:33)
Habanera	Georges Bizet	Benny Carter	(2:24)
Jubilee Jump	Benny Carter	Benny Carter	(3:16)
Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(:23)
Stompin' at the Savoy	Edgar Sampson, Chick Webb, Benny Goodman, Andy Razaf	Earl Hines & His Orchestra	(2:59)
Scoops, Carry Mary		Earl Hines & His Orchestra	(2:48)
Rosetta	Henri Woode, Earl Hines	Earl Hines & His Orchestra, Lord Essex	(3:08)
The Honeydripper	Joe Liggins	Earl Hines & His Orchestra	(3:46)
Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(:23)
Stampede in G Minor	Elmer Fain		(2:11)
Bolero at the Savoy	Gene Krupa, Remo Biondi, Jimmy Mundy, Charles Carpenter		(2:50)
Pick a Rib	Barney Bigard		(2:47)
Let's Jump	Al Killian	Count Basie Orchestra	(3:57)
I Found a New Baby	Spencer Williams	Count Basie Orchestra	(2:52)
I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town	Will Weldon, Andy Razaf	Count Basie Orchestra, Jimmy Rushing	(2:45)
My, What a Fry	Sir Charles	Count Basie Orchestra	(3:58)
Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(:19)
On the Alamo	Gus Kahn, Isham Jones	Gerald Wilson	(3:02)
Stardust	Mitchell Parish, Hoagy Carmichael	Gerald Wilson	(5:12)
Frantic on the Atlantic	Cabell "Cab" Calloway	Gerald Wilson	(3:47)
Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(:16)
Shower		Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra	(2:07)
The Bear Mash Blues	Erskine Hawkins	Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra	(4:48)
After Hours	Erskine Hawkins, Avery Parrish	Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra	(3:42)
Closing Theme: One O'Clock Jump	Harry James, Count Basie	Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra	(1:06)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Jubilee Program Intro		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(1:04)
Blowing the Blues Away	Gerald Valentine, Billy Eckstine	Billy Eckstine	(1:56)
'Deed I Do	Walter Hirsch, Fred Rose	Billy Eckstine, Lena Horne	(1:56)
I Want to Talk About You	Billy Eckstine	Billy Eckstine	(2:50)
Don't Blame Me (Lyrics)	Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields	Sarah Vaughan, Billy Eckstine	(3:02)
Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(:04)
Roll 'Em	Mary Lou Williams	Cootie Williams	(2:53)
Air Mail Special	Charlie Christian, Jimmy Mundy, Benny Goodman	Cootie Williams	(2:29)
Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(:18)
It's Sand, Man	Edward Lewis	Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra	(2:40)
Ready, Set, Jump		Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra	(3:11)
Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(4:16)
Hello, Goodbye, Forget It	Jimmy Mundy, Lee Gaines	Jimmy Mundy Orchestra	(3:37)
One O'Clock Boogie	Jimmy Mundy	Jimmy Mundy Orchestra	(4:05)
Fiesta in Brass	Jimmy Mundy	Jimmy Mundy Orchestra	(:31)
Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(2:03)
You're Driving Me Crazy	Walter Donaldson	Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra	(2:58)
King Porter Stomp	Jelly Roll Morton	Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra	(:09)
Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(2:22)
Blue Lou	Irving Mills, Edgar Sampson	International Sweethearts of Rhythm	(3:37)
Tuxedo Junction	Erskine Hawkins	International Sweethearts of Rhythm	(1:29)
Swing Shift	Buck Clayton	International Sweethearts of Rhythm	(:16)
Ida James		Ida James	(3:12)
Let's Have a Session		Claude Hopkins & His Orchestra	(3:03)
Let's Hop	Claude Hopkins	Claude Hopkins & His Orchestra	(:23)
Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(3:33)
Wednesday Night Hop	Andy Kirk	Andy Kirk & His Clouds of Joy	(3:49)
McGhee Special	Howard McGhee	Andy Kirk & His Clouds of Joy	(4:01)
Basin Street Blues	Spencer Williams	Andy Kirk & His Clouds of Joy, June Richmond	(1:54)
Peepin' Through the Keyhole		Andy Kirk & His Clouds of Joy	(1:31)
Closing Theme: One O'Clock Jump	Count Basie, Harry James	Andy Kirk & His Clouds of Joy

CD 3

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Jubilee Program Intro		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(1:13)
Three Bones	Lucky Millinder	Lucky Millinder	(3:18)
I Never Knew	Ted Fio Rito, Gus Kahn	Lucky Millinder	(3:17)
I'll Always Be in Love With You	Sam H. Stept, Bud Green, Herman Ruby	Lucky Millinder	(3:29)
Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(:17)
Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop	Curley Hamner, Lionel Hampton	Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra	(4:27)
Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? (Lyrics)	Bill Austin, Louis Jordan	Dinah Washington, Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra	(2:21)
K-Ration Hop		Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra	(3:58)
Million Dollar Smile	Porter Roberts, Lionel Hampton	Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra, Dinah Washington	(2:44)
Flying Home, No. 2	Benny Goodman, Sydney Robin, Lionel Hampton	Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra	(7:10)
Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(:16)
J.T. Stomp	Johnny Otis	Johnny Otis & His Orchestra	(2:43)
Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(:29)
Bugle Call Rag	Jack Pettis, Billy Meyers, Elmer Schoebel		(3:07)
Night and Day (Lyrics)	Cole Porter		(3:12)
The Baranco Boogie	Wilbert Barranco		(5:54)
Yesterdays	Otto Harbach, Jerome Kern	Jimmie Lunceford & His Harlem Express	(5:35)
Hallelujah	Ralph J. Gleason	Jimmie Lunceford & His Harlem Express	(2:06)
Alone Together	Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz	Jimmie Lunceford & His Harlem Express	(5:05)
Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman		Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman	(:16)
The Canteen Bounce	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(1:41)
Hayfoot, Strawfoot	H.J. Lengsfelder, Ervin Drake, Paul McGrane	Duke Ellington	(1:53)
A Slip of the Lip (Can Sink a Ship)	Walton Farrar	Ray Nance, Duke Ellington	(2:19)
One O'Clock Jump (Closing Theme)	Count Basie, Harry James	Duke Ellington	(1:32)

Credits

Joe "Streamline" Ewing (Trombone), Cliff Haughton (Trumpet), Herbie Fields (Sax (Alto)), Lawrence Brown (Trombone), Fernando Arbello (Trombone), Curtis Counce (Bass), Pauline Braddy (Drums), Don Hill (Sax (Alto)), Ted Donnelly (Trombone), George Treadwell (Trumpet), John Jungklaus (Mixing), Ed Loving (Sax (Baritone)), Sammy Lowe (Trumpet), Sarah Vaughan (Vocals), Rudy Rutherford (Sax (Baritone)), Grace Bayron (Sax (Tenor)), Ray Nance (Vocals), Vernon Brown (Trombone), Lena Horne (Vocals), Joe Newman (Trumpet), John Malachi (Piano), Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (Sax (Tenor)), Lord Essex (Performer), Herman Mitchell (Guitar), Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra (Performer), Norman Keenan (Bass), Pete Kline (Producer), Léon Beck (Sax (Baritone)), Leroy Kirkland (Guitar), Rodney Richardson (Bass), John Harrington (Clarinet), Jimmy Butts (Bass), Alton Moore (Trombone), Donald Coles (Trombone), Connie Wainwright (Guitar), Fred Radcliffe (Drums), Henry Tucker Green (Drums), Sonny Craven (Trombone), Violet Burnside (Sax (Tenor)), Irving Ashby (Guitar), Bud Harper (Guitar), Gerald Wilson (Piano), Bob Mitchell (Trumpet), Preston Love (Sax (Alto)), Emmett Berry (Trumpet), Curtis Murphy (Trumpet), Fletcher Henderson (Leader), John Harding (Photography), Bart Varsalona (Trombone), Duke Anderson (Piano), Count Red Hastings (Sax (Tenor)), Joe Jordan (Trumpet), Harry Carney (Sax (Baritone)), Clyde Hurley (Trumpet), Shirley Clay (Trumpet), Wendell Culley (Trumpet), Lionel Hampton (Piano), Joe Garland (Sax (Tenor)), Helen Jones (Trombone), Charlie Holmes (Sax (Alto)), Max Roach (Drums), George Jenkins (Drums), Jamie McComber (Digital Mastering), Elmer Williams (Sax (Tenor)), Johnny Otis (Drums), John Harrington (Sax (Alto)), Charlie Fowlkes (Sax (Baritone)), Jewell L. Grant (Sax (Alto)), Red Mack (Trumpet), Earl Hines (Arranger), Shorty McConnell (Trumpet), Cootie Williams (Trumpet), Omer Simeon (Clarinet), Truck Parham (Bass), Druie Bess (Trombone), Kenneth Pope (Sax (Alto)), Les Robinson (Sax (Alto)), Omer Simeon (Reeds), Benny Waters (Sax (Alto)), Omer Simeon (Sax (Alto)), Andrew Penn (Trombone), Lamar Wright (Trumpet), Paul Quinichette (Sax (Tenor)), Ralph Bledsoe (Trombone), Earl Carruthers (Sax (Alto)), Ray Hagan (Drums), Porter Kilbert (Sax (Alto)), Raven Mandell (Trumpet), Scoops Carey (Clarinet), Earl Carruthers (Clarinet), George Dorsey (Clarinet), Jamie McComber (Transfers), Andy Kirk (Leader), Tom Reed (Annotation), David Page (Trumpet), Ed Glover (Trombone), Wilbert Barranco (Piano), Ted Barnett (Sax (Tenor)), Ben Thigpen (Drums), June Richmond (Performer), Al Hayes (Trombone), Loyal Walker (Trumpet), Wayman Richardson (Trombone), Jimmie Lunceford (Leader), Big Sid Catlett (Drums), Sammy Yates (Trumpet), Jack Kelson, Jr. (Sax (Alto)), Paul Cohen (Trumpet), Al Killian (Trumpet), Erskine Hawkins (Leader), Benny Carter (Arranger), Harold Clarke (Sax (Tenor)), Joe Britton (Trombone), Kermit Scott (Sax (Tenor)), Ray Linn (Trumpet), Jeff Means (Sax (Baritone)), Lionel Hampton (Leader), Panama Francis (Drums), Norman Green (Trombone), Bob Horton (Trombone), Ernest Leavy (Sax (Baritone)), Lucky Millinder (Leader), Johnny Griffin (Sax (Tenor)), Bobby Smith (Sax (Alto)), Bob Harris (Sax (Alto)), Elisha Hanna (Trumpet), Earl Hardy (Trombone), Karl George (Trumpet), Willard Brown (Sax (Alto)), Floyd Turnham (Sax (Alto)), Arthur Walker (Trumpet), Allen Durham (Trombone), W.J. Edwards (Guitar), Chuck Jones (Trumpet), Wilbert Barranco (Leader), Jimmy Hamilton (Sax (Tenor)), Willard Brown (Sax (Baritone)), Willie Cook (Trumpet), Maurice Simon (Sax (Tenor)), Jerry Valentine (Trombone), John Taylor (Sax (Baritone)), Edmond Gregory (Sax (Alto)), Eli Robinson (Trombone), Wardell Gray (Sax (Tenor)), Louis Taylor (Trombone), Bill Brookins (Bass), Count Basie (Leader), Bob Murray (Trombone), Trombone Charlie (Trombone), Melba Liston (Trombone), Shelton Hemphill (Trumpet), John Young (Piano), Art Blakey (Drums), Billy Douglas (Trumpet), Joe Baird (Trombone), Dave James (Trombone), Shorty Haughton (Trombone), Fletcher Henderson (Arranger), Leon Comegys (Trombone), Russell Bowles (Trombone), John Jackson (Sax (Alto)), Gerald Wilson (Arranger), Bernard Addison (Guitar), Joe Guy (Trumpet), Benny Carter (Trumpet), Peabody Brown (Bass), Fred Becklett (Trombone), Woodrow Key (Sax (Tenor)), Elton Hill (Trumpet), Pete Kline (Annotation), Joe "Red" Kelly (Trumpet), Gail Brockman (Trumpet), Gus Evans (Sax (Alto)), Alfonso King (Trombone), Jimmy Bunn (Piano), Taswell Baird (Trombone), Fred Simon (Sax (Tenor)), Rex Stewart (Trumpet), Julian Dash (Sax (Tenor)), Bill Swindell (Sax (Alto)), Jimmy Mundy (Arranger), Britt Woodman (Trombone), J.D. King (Sax (Tenor)), Snooky Young (Trumpet), Lucille Dixon (Bass), Earl Carruthers (Sax (Baritone)), Count Basie (Piano), Jimmy Wormick (Trombone), Bobby Sanchez (Trombone), Edwin Wilcox (Piano), Leonard Heavy Swain (Bass), John Anderson (Trumpet), Russell Green (Trumpet), John Jungklaus (Digital Restoration), Ernest Leavy (Clarinet), Boonie Hazel (Trumpet), Jake "Vernon" Porter (Trombone), Dicky Wells (Trombone), Tom Reed (Liner Notes), Dan Grissom (Sax (Alto)), Talib Dawud (Trumpet), Toby Butler (Bass), Eddie Davis (Trumpet), Paul Bascomb (Sax (Tenor)), Teddy Buckner (Trumpet), Gerald Wilson (Leader), Ed Sims (Trombone), Charles Drayton (Bass), Earle Warren (Sax (Alto)), Jo Jones (Drums), Tiny Bradshaw (Leader), James Benjamin (Bass), Sonny Greer (Drums), Dick Clark (Sax (Baritone)), Rufus Webster (Piano), Hobart Dotson (Trumpet), Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra (Performer), George Dorsey (Sax (Alto)), Earl Hines & His Orchestra (Performer), Erskine Hawkins (Trumpet), Otis Finch (Sax (Tenor)), Isaac Livingstone (Trombone), Buddy Collette (Sax (Alto)), Ben Kynard (Sax (Alto)), Cootie Williams & His Orchestra (Performer), Ace Harris (Piano), Ernest V. Perry (Trumpet), Willie Mae Wong (Sax (Alto)), Ernest Purce (Sax (Tenor)), Taft Jordan (Trumpet), Harry Lawson (Trumpet), Freddy Webster (Trumpet), Emerson Harper (Sax (Alto)), Earl Watkins (Drums), Eddie Preston (Trumpet), Duke Ellington (Piano), Kirkland Bradford (Sax (Alto)), Pinky Williams (Sax (Alto)), Johnny Hodges (Sax (Alto)), George Washington (Trombone), Claude Jones (Trombone), Jimmy Hamilton (Clarinet), Duke Ellington (Leader), Ben Smith (Sax (Alto)), Lionel Hampton (Vibraphone), Booker Collins (Guitar), Howard McGhee (Trumpet), Bobby Plater (Sax (Alto)), Billy Mackel (Guitar), Jimmy Williams (Trombone), Claude Hopkins (Leader), Ernest Leavy (Sax (Alto)), Arthur Capehart (Trumpet), Gene Simon (Trombone), Earl Hines (Piano), Johnny Hodges (Sax (Soprano)), Ray Carter (Trumpet), Ernie Cobbs (Guitar), Joe Thomas (Sax (Tenor)), Ina Belle Byrd (Trombone), Jon Carroll (Trumpet), Pee Wee Jackson (Trumpet), Claude Hopkins (Piano), Toby Butler (Trumpet), Joseph Nanton (Trombone), James Van Streeter (Sax (Tenor)), Bennie Green (Trombone), Bill Thompson (Vibraphone), Ted Sinclair (Bass), Walter Williams (Trumpet), Jimmy Archey (Trombone), George Duvivier (Bass), Anna Mae Winburn (Leader), Bumps Myers (Sax (Tenor)), Helen Saine (Sax (Baritone)), Chippy Oultcalt (Trombone), Harry "Sweets" Edison (Trumpet), Walter Harris (Trombone), Slim Moore (Trombone), Margaret "Trump" Gipson (Trumpet), Al Williams (Drums), Billy Eckstine & His Orchestra (Performer), Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra (Performer), Booty Wood (Trombone), Jimmy Crawford (Drums), Vivian Glasby (Piano), Joe Brown (Trombone), Manny Klein (Trumpet), John Williams (Sax (Baritone)), Trummy Young (Trombone), Lee Pope (Sax (Tenor)), Henry Owens (Piano), Willie Smith (Sax (Alto)), Lloyd Smith (Sax (Alto)), Andy Kirk & His Clouds of Joy (Performer), Gus Evans (Clarinet), Alfred Cobbs (Trombone), Leo Parker (Sax (Baritone)), Buddy Tate (Sax (Tenor)), Junior Raglin (Bass), Benny Carter (Sax (Alto)), Wilbert Kirk (Drums), Palmer "Fats" Davis (Trumpet), Fred Guy (Guitar), Paul Webster (Trumpet), Fats Palmer (Trumpet), Gene Ammons (Sax (Tenor)), Scoops Carey (Sax (Alto)), Count Basie Orchestra (Performer), John Harrington (Sax (Tenor)), Arnett Cobb (Sax (Tenor)), Johnny Otis (Leader), Al Norris (Guitar), Lucky Thompson (Sax (Tenor)), Jimmy Mundy (Leader), Bud Powell (Piano), Lester Current (Trumpet), Haywood Henry (Clarinet), Jimmy Mitchelle (Sax (Alto)), Mack Lewis (Trombone), International Sweethearts of Rhythm (Performer), Willie Wells (Trumpet), Juan Tizol (Trombone), Money Johnson (Trumpet), Charlie Harris (Bass), Erskine Hawkins (Vocals), Freddie Green (Guitar), Carl Loeffler (Trombone), Gerald Wilson (Trumpet), Fats Navarro (Trumpet), Ed Lewis (Trumpet), Reuben Phillips (Sax (Alto)), John Ricks (Sax (Baritone)), Ida James (Performer), Sonny Stitt (Sax (Alto)), Robert Budd (Bass), Tommy Potter (Bass), Joe Morris (Trumpet), Anna Mae Winburn (Trumpet), Big Nick Nicholas (Sax (Tenor)), Betty Roché (Vocals), Budd Johnson (Sax (Tenor)), Jimmy Nottingham (Trumpet), Rene Hall (Guitar), Edward Burke (Trombone), Milton Fletcher (Trumpet), Rudy Rutherford (Clarinet), Herbie Fields (Clarinet), Jimmy Rushing (Vocals), Haywood Henry (Sax (Baritone)), John Pettigrew (Trombone), Gene Porter (Sax (Baritone)), Leemie Stanfield (Bass), Lester Young (Sax (Tenor)), Claude Hopkins & His Orchestra (Performer), Otto Hardwick (Sax (Alto)), J.J. Johnson (Trombone), Gene Thomas (Bass), Sir Charles Thompson (Piano), Ernestine Davis (Trumpet), Vess Payne (Drums), Melvin Moore (Trumpet), Sandy Williams (Trombone), Rosalind Cron (Sax (Alto)), Bill Frazier (Sax (Alto)), Lionel Hampton (Drums), Chick Booth (Drums), Harry Carney (Clarinet), Kenneth Roane (Trumpet), Charles Mingus (Bass), Ernestine Davis (Dance (Tap)), Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (Sax (Alto)), Robert Scott (Trombone), Ray Nance (Trumpet), Milt Buckner (Piano), Lionel Hampton (Vocals), Vernon Smith (Trumpet), Henry Coker (Trombone), Earl Hines (Leader), Billy Ford (Trumpet), Kelly Martin (Drums), Dinah Washington (Vocals), Milt Raskin (Piano), Jimmy Forrest (Sax (Tenor))