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- Release Date: 1946 03 -1955 02 04
- Total Time: 152:14
- Type: Collection (various artists)
- Genre: Jazz
Review
In 1949 producer Norman Granz released a remarkable album of 78s that consisted of a dozen selections (many of them specially recorded for the occasion) that perfectly summed up the modern jazz scene of the time. The deluxe set consisted of two Duke Ellington features for baritonist Harry Carney with strings, a pair of complex Neal Hefti arrangements, small-group sides by Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell and altoist Willie Smith, Machito's "Tanga," major works by arrangers Ralph Burns and George Handy and, as the piece-de-resistance, Coleman Hawkins's pioneering unaccompanied tenor solo "Picasso." Now all of this music has been reissued on a very attractive double-CD set that also contains five alternate takes plus three previously unknown Billy Strayhorn piano solos, further examples of Lester Young and Willie Smith, an obscure Hawkins session with J.J. Johnson from 1949, a few numbers from a forgotten Flip Phillips session and three selections by Ralph Burns in 1955, two of which feature explosive trumpet work from Roy Eldridge. The new packaging is magnificent with many Gjon Mili photographs of the top jazzmen of the era and extensive liner notes. This was one of the top reissues of 1994 and is essential for all serious historical jazz collections. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music GuideTracks
CD 1
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Sono | Duke Ellington | (4:34) | |
| Frustration | Duke Ellington | Duke Ellington | (3:32) |
| Rhumbacito | Neal Hefti | Neal Hefti | (4:44) |
| Repetition | Neal Hefti | Neal Hefti | (2:59) |
| I Want to Be Happy | Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar | Lester Young | (3:56) |
| Picasso | Coleman Hawkins | Coleman Hawkins | (3:15) |
| Introspection | Ralph Burns | Ralph Burns | (4:46) |
| The Bloos | George Handy | (4:45) | |
| The Bird | Charlie Parker | Charlie Parker | (4:46) |
| Sophisticated Lady | Irving Mills, Duke Ellington, Mitchell Parish | (4:09) | |
| Tanga | Mario Bauzá | Machito | (5:08) |
| Cherokee | Ray Noble | Bud Powell | (3:37) |
| Sono [*] | Duke Ellington | Duke Ellington | (4:34) |
| Introspection [*] | Ralph Burns | Ralph Burns | (4:52) |
| The Bloos [*] | George Handy | (4:41) | |
| Tanga [*] | Machito | (4:52) | |
| Tanga [*] | Machito | (6:54) |
CD 2
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Halfway to Dawn [*] | Billy Strayhorn | Billy Strayhorn | (4:21) |
| Tailspin [*] | Billy Strayhorn | Billy Strayhorn | (3:52) |
| Halfway to Dawn | Billy Strayhorn | Billy Strayhorn | (4:44) |
| Back to the Land [*] | Lester Young | Lester Young | (3:57) |
| Tea for Two [*] | Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar | (3:49) | |
| Tea for Two [*] | Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar | (3:12) | |
| Not So Bop Blues [*] | Willie Smith | Willie Smith | (2:55) |
| Not So Bop Blues | Willie Smith | Willie Smith | (2:56) |
| The Big Head [*] | Coleman Hawkins | Coleman Hawkins | (3:21) |
| Skippy [*] | Coleman Hawkins | Coleman Hawkins | (3:33) |
| Skippy [*] | Coleman Hawkins | Coleman Hawkins | (3:29) |
| Platinum Love [*] | Coleman Hawkins | Coleman Hawkins | (3:25) |
| Platinum Love [*] | Coleman Hawkins | Coleman Hawkins | (3:24) |
| There's a Small Hotel [*] | Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart | Coleman Hawkins | (3:02) |
| Swingin' for Julie and Brownie [*] | Flip Phillips | Flip Phillips | (3:39) |
| Swingin' for Julie and Brownie [*] | Flip Phillips | Flip Phillips | (3:34) |
| Lazy River [*] | Hoagy Carmichael, Sidney Arodin | Flip Phillips | (3:06) |
| Flip's Idea [*] | Flip Phillips | Flip Phillips | (2:40) |
| Spring in Naples [*] | Ralph Burns | Ralph Burns | (4:33) |
| Music for a Stripteaser [*] | Ralph Burns | Ralph Burns | (4:00) |
| Sprang [*] | Ralph Burns | Ralph Burns | (4:38) |
