Panamanian pianist Luis Russell may not have a place in the jazz pantheon, but the sides he and his band cut between 1929-1930 deserve wider recognition. Charting the shift from early jazz to swing, the 22 tracks featured on this JSP collection bristle with top-notch ensemble passages and solo work. The disc eclipses the two Classics collections as far as sound quality goes and offers the best overall value in a one-volume package. Highlights abound here, from the minor mood fantasy "Call of the Freaks" to the irrepressible flag-waver "Jersey Lightning." The quality is sustained throughout, in fact, thanks to such luminaries as trumpeter Henry Allen, trombonist J.C. Higginbotham, saxophonists Albert Nichols and Charlie Holmes, and the incredible rhythm tandem of bassist Pops Foster and drummer Paul Barbarin. For fans of such other sophisticated bands of the day as McKinney's Cotton Pickers, the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, and the many fine outfits Fletcher Henderson manned, this Luis Russell disc will be a major find. ~ Stephen Cook, All Music Guide
