Blue Jazz is a collection of various bands stretching back to 1927 and going as far ahead as 1941, defining pre-swing era vintage jazz, the short-lived swing era, and big bands that came through both. Early
Frankie Trumbauer and
Bix Beiderbecke lead into
Eddie Condon's Chicagoans,
Teddy Wilson, and
Count Basie with
Jimmy Rushing, followed by the
Duke Ellington and
Benny Goodman bands. Twenty-four selections are more weighted towards music in the '30s, thirteen total. As the tracks are not arranged in chronological order you don't really hear the progression of styles, but the "blue" thread is evident in all of the ensembles. Collectors might be more interested in the obscure selections included in this slice of jazz Americana.