From a historic standpoint, this is a significant CD reissue (a straight reproduction of a long-out-of-print Onyx Lp from 1973), but the shaky recording quality makes it of primary interest to serious jazz record collectors. The great swing trumpeter and vocalist
Hot Lips Page is heard in several live jam sessions during 1940-41 that were saved for history by Jerry Newman, a college student who owned portable disc recording equipment. The first four selections, recorded in Newman's apartment during a party, matches trumpeter
Page in a trio with tenor saxophonist
Herbie Fields and pianist
Donald Lambert. While
Lambert, who rarely recorded, was a great stride player,
Fields was just a so-so and overly heated tenorman, and he sometimes gets in the way. The other five numbers feature
Page jamming in a club (possibly Monroe's Uptown House) with musicians who vary greatly in quality. The young
Thelonious Monk is heard at the beginning of his career, but he is only on two numbers, sounding surprisingly influenced by
Earl Hines during his short spots. Guitarist
Tiny Grimes on "I've Found a New Baby" shows off the strong influence of
Charlie Christian, while trumpeter
Joe Guy does his best but is overshadowed by
Page; other saxophonists pass through without making much of an impression. Actually, the most remarkable moments during this CD are
Page's brilliant scat singing on "Konk," sounding like an extension of
Leo Watson. Interesting and historic music, but not essential. ~ Scott Yanow